“To find your mission in life is to discover the intersection between your heart’s deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger.” – Frederick Buechner

We work for many reasons. For some it’s about fame and fortune; for others it’s simply about make enough to scrape through. Then there are the lucky few who work because that’s what they’re passionate about. Their work comes from the heart and it definitely shows. It’s like Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina: “If you work and study in order to get a reward, the work will seem hard to you; but when you work, if you love the work, you will find your reward in that.”

My advice to anyone trying to find a little meaning in their method would be to take the time to ask some questions. What is my goal? Why do I love my work? (Hint: If it’s purely about getting rich, I suggest you reconsider!) I wrote the following “mission statement” over a year ago before eventually setting up my blog. It really has helped me keep perspective throughout my journey and I hope it will give you some ideas for yours too:

“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost

One thing in my life I would really like to achieve is to get Work in Progress published as an e-book, which readers will be able to download free online. Either that, or publish my journal entries from my years at the University of Cape Town (which I will call Varsity Blah) either a free e-book or as an actual print. I would like this to lead to a regular blog I will write (also called Varsity Blah).

I want to achieve this because I am very passionate about writing and would love to share my life with the world. I feel as though what I go through are things a lot of other people go through as well. It would be so great for other people to find comfort in knowing that we all have problems and that they are not alone. It would also be great to show the world that overcoming them is in fact possible.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese proverb

Up to now, I have been held back for a number of reasons. I’ve had a number of my goals fail in the past, which has been very discouraging. Nowadays, even the small things barely work. A part of me feels as though the goal is unrealistic and that I shouldn’t even bother because I’d just be getting my hopes up. A part of me feels as though it’ll simply leave me feeling disappointed and worse off. It all boils down to the fact that I don’t believe it will actually work. I don’t believe I’m capable.

In order to achieve this, I will have to change my beliefs about myself. Right now I seem to think that I’m not good enough and that nobody actually cares what I have to say. I need to realise that I do in fact live a life of value and that what I have to say is also valuable. My writing has the potential to make a difference because I have the potential to make a difference.

In order to achieve this, I will also have to change my feelings about myself and my life. I need to feel a sense of optimism and hope. I need to feel as though despite the fact that things in my life haven’t worked out in the past, this is something that can work. I need to maintain a positive attitude. I need to show confidence in myself and in my work. I need to get off my butt and take the initiative to make this happen.

“To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself.” – Henry Mencken

(To download your completely free copy of the South African or International edition of Work in Progress, right-click and save the relevant link. Then open, enjoy, and repeat as needed.)