Find Your Next Mission
Take Control by Finding Your Mission
A client recently introduced me to the psychology term “locus of control”. He believes that people with an internal locus of control, which is the belief that they can influence outcomes, will generally have better oral and full body health.
The same concept can be applied to almost any outcome in your life and I love the way retired Navy SEAL and podcaster Jocko WIllink describes the process of Finding Your Next Mission. In episode #98 (warning - almost 4 hours long), he discusses the difficulty some military veterans have when they leave military service and don’t have the drive that they once did to move forward. Jocko and his guests conclude that the primary reason is related to not taking responsibility for their future (i.e. - having an external locus of control) and that the solution is developing a mission. By finding your next mission, you will center your focus on personal responsibility, discipline and taking ownership in your outcomes.
Here are five ways take-aways from the podcast that can help you develop and accomplish your next mission:
The Importance of a Plan - Having a clear, forward-looking plan helps you endure misery and provides hope. Just like a good budget, a plan sets a direction and helps you make daily decisions that support that plan.
Discipline Equals Freedom - A core Jocko tenet. The idea is that self-discipline, routine and resilience create a structure needed to pursue meaningful goals and navigate life effectively. This inner discipline will lead to a feeling of freedom and self-respect.
Embracing Responsibility - If the meaning of life is to make the world a better place, then you need to voluntarily accept your responsibility to shoulder that mission. Instead of complaining about the world’s problems or the current job market, start by getting your own house in order.
The Problem of a “Wretched Loop” - The negative spiral of bitterness and resentment that failure and lack of purpose causes can be never-ending. You can break that downward loop by taking on a meaningful and challenging task.
Starting Small - You don’t need to sort out your whole life mission today. Instead, start by identifying small and manageable areas where you want to improve. That could be improving your physical fitness or being more charitable with your time. Any action is a positive direction will lead to clarity and eventually reveal larger missions.
While Jocko is talk about your life mission, the same concepts can be applied your practice as well. Whether it is your tax bill or your staffing costs, you have the choice to blame the outside world (like the IRS or greedy hygienists) OR you can decide to make changes to our practice that will alleviate those issues. If you want a shorter, more leadership focused discussion with Jocko, check out his appearance on the Simon Sinek “A Bit of Optimism” podcast episode #163.