In our office this summer at the Newtown, PA 8WW center, we are reviewing the 9 longevity principles from The Blue Zones:  Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner.  We are on week 3, Have A Purpose.

 Principle #3:  HAVE A PURPOSE

This is probably my most favorite principle in the book.  Those that live long healthy lives all have a purpose.  It’s that little feeling you have inside of you that says “now this is what I am meant to do, what I’m good at, and what I love.”  It’s that knowing that this is what God created me for. 

Okinawans call it ikigai and Sardinians call it plan de vida… translation:  why do you wake up each morning?  Is your purpose to be the best parent you can possibly be?  Is your purpose defined by your charitable work?  Is your purpose to be the best ‘widget’ maker your company has ever seen?  My French grandmother always would say to me, “Denise you must maintain that certain “joie de vivre” (joy of living) throughout your life.”  And I know what she meant now. 

Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”  Wayne Dyer states “Don’t die with your music still in you.”  Those that lead lives of quiet desperation or die with their music still in them are people that don’t have a purpose for living. 

 Some of you know exactly what your purpose is, while others really aren’t so sure.  So here are some steps you can take to more clearly define your purpose:

• Write your own mission statement.  Put in on an index card and recite it each day.  Many of you have heard our center’s mission statement that we recite together before the start of each shift.  It gets our minds focused on the task at hand which is serving YOU, our customers, with the best possible care and love that we can give.  What are you passionate about?  What gets up pumped up?  What gets you excited to start your day?  By answering these questions, you’ll more clearly define your personal mission statement.

• Find someone to talk with about your life’s purpose.  This could be a spouse, sibling, friend, co-worker, but essentially it’s someone that really knows you.  They know your likes and dislikes.  That know what makes you happy.  They know what you are good at (and what you aren’t so good at!)

• Keep your mind working – read, do crosswords, engage in lively discussions.

I know that I know that I know what my purpose is.  In the simplest terms it is to be an encourager of people.  I get excited each day when I wake up knowing that whoever I come in contact with that day, I have the opportunity to make their day better, whether this is through an amazing adjustment, with encouraging words, something I might enlighten them about their health, or simply through a hug.

I’m reading Caroline Myss’ book Invisible Acts of Power.  She quotes Marian Wright Edelman, ” Service is the rent we pay to be living.  It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.”  I have always said to our 8 Weeks to Wellness patients that by getting healthy physically, emotionally, spiritually and nutritionally, you are able to serve more.  Life is so so so so much more enjoyable when you learn to become less selfish and more self’less’.  And believe it or not when you are unhealthy by YOUR OWN choices, you are selfish.  Being selfless rather than selfish means that you aren’t thinking less of yourself but rather your are thinking about yourself less often.  Have a wonderful Friday and weekend.

I’ve just reread Good to Great by Jim Collins for the 4^th or 5^th time.  It’s one of my all-time favorites and I highly recommend it. In the book Jim Collins talks about a trait that CEOs of great companies share.  He describes the trait as the ‘mirror and the window’.  He explains that great CEOs when facing adversity or problems look in the mirror and blame themselves or take personal responsibility.  The weaker CEO’s look out the window and blame their problems or adversities on situations or people outside of themselves.

On the other hand, when crediting their success, great CEO’s rarely look in the mirror or take the credit.  They look out the window and give the credit to the people around them, as opposed to other CEO’s that take the credit for their companies successes.

We should take a look in the mirror and take responsibility for that which we can control.  Likewise, we should look out the window and thank those around us who make our lives beautiful: our children, spouses, friends,  wellness coaches, mentors, etc… Build a team of people around yourself that will hold you to a high standard of living life.  Steven Covey teaches us in his best selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, that responsibility means the ability to respond.  When you look in the mirror and accept responsibility for the current health status, rather than looking out the window and blaming others, you will be able to respond by making better healthcare choices.  Do you blame your genetics for your health (looking out the window) or do you know you could make better healthcare choices (looking in the mirror).  Do you blame your boss for working you too much and therefore you don’t have time to exercise (looking out the window) or do you commit to waking up 30 minutes earlier each day to begin an exercise program (looking in the mirror). Take responsibility for your health by choosing to respond to your health with a proactive approach.  And find a great wellness center that can hold you accountable to this higher standard.