Keep Your Original Purpose in Sight

Have you ever started out strong on a project only to find you’ve sidetracked off on other matters?

Getting Sidetracked

On a family drive some years ago, my husband and I began playing a word game.

The first person would name something he/she saw. Then the next person would have to see and say something that started with that last letter and the game would continue.

We had agreed to the rules beforehand and were enjoying a pleasant time when the two children with us ages 16 and 24 wanted to join in.

Of course we included them, but what was once a relaxing, enjoyable game now became exhausting!

They wanted to change the rules and argued why it should be the way each wanted.

Questions like, 

-Can the word be in a different language? 

-Can it be an adjective?

-A mountain contains an ecosystem and I can see a mountain, so why can’t ecosystem count?

On and on the debates raged and we did what any loving parents would do.

We kicked them out of the game.

Family Games

Getting through a family game with everyone happy has been a challenge for years!

What I once thought was a problem of differing ages and personalities, I later realized was a problem of losing sight of the original purpose.

I had intended the games to unify and strengthen family relationships. I loved the idea of creating memories that we would remember with joy.

Yet all too often we got caught up in frustrations and misunderstandings.

The original goal of strengthening relationships was overtaken by impatience and the stomping off in tears.  (And that wasn’t only by the children).

Losing sight of the original purpose

Do you ever lose sight of your original purpose and find yourself focused on matters of lesser importance?

Do you too easily get sidetracked when something does not go as planned?

The Solution

When the goal has derailed, you may have lost sight of your original purpose. 

Take action that will lead you to your intended outcome.

It takes practice, but each time you recognize and remind yourself of your original purpose, you get that much closer to achieving your goal.

Much love,