Some people call it a mission statement; some call it a daily
affirmation – that sentence or two that clearly describes what it is
that you were placed on this earth to accomplish. This statement is
not merely a whimsical platitude about an ideal future; but rather a
reaffirmation of your higher purpose. I call it a statement of
purpose; and mine is to "Empower Nurses to Become Extraordinary."

This is different from your hospital's mission statement. These are
the documents that were developed through months of board meetings;
they are often framed and placed in the hospital lobby where the true
meaning is quickly forgotten.

I write mine out every day at the top of my daily planning calendar.
Many times I will include details about the specific task that I am
doing on that day. For example: "Empower Cleveland Nurses to Pass
the CCRN." Now my attention is really focused on what it is that I
have to do today. This is a powerful tool. It keeps me focused on
the most important things and acts as a filter for evaluating
priorities. As author Steven Covey says "the main thing is to keep
the main thing the main thing."

To find out what your purpose is just allow yourself to daydream for
a few moments and remember why it was that you chose the job you have
now. What were you hoping to be able to do? What kind of impact did
you want to achieve? Spend a few moments really thinking about these
questions; and don't be judgmental!

Most people tell me that they give up on their dreams because
they "got real" or in some other way "joined reality." Not true! If
you've given up on your dream, it's because you gave it up. The
dream, the vision, the movie in your mind; this is your highest
purpose. Don't let it frighten you; it's big. Don't let people take
it away; it seems absurd. Hold on to it, cherish it; treat it like
you would a newborn baby. This is your destiny.

OK, back to reality (right?) A week of short-staffing, loads of new
competencies, orientation and other responsibilities threaten to rob
you of your higher purpose; and that's why I write it down every
day. Life will distract me from my higher purpose, but not if I make
a habit of looking at it every day and spend some time embracing it
on occasion.

So how do you keep first things first? By using your higher purpose
as a filter for what things are most important to do. When you do
this on a regular basis, you will find that some of the things that
you've been doing are really not that important; and as the less
important things start to drop away, you will have more time and
energy for what leads you to your higher purpose.

"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to
a worthy purpose." -Helen Keller

Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com

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