When I turned “Now” into my mission
In my work, I have a strong sense of vision and mission, with lots of plans and goals. I put my mind and energy into them, and I work my hardest to make them happen. But sometimes goals don’t happen, or at least not according to plan.
For instance, when we originally planned to create our third DVD, that should have taken about a year. But we had an unexpected, serious medical situation in the family, and it took more than a year. In fact it took three years!
I learned and grew a lot during that time. Learning to stay happy in very difficult situations, stepping up and doing things I thought I couldn’t, and letting go. Letting go of my exact vision and the timeline of my goals and readjusting to the mission that’s been given to me here and now – being there for my family.
Which doesn’t mean I had to give up on my longer-term goals. That was also part of the challenge – figuring out a way to make time to make incremental progress on projects that are important to me, even if it’s just a few minutes a day, a few hours a week. In fact doing that, and also making sure to spend time taking care of myself – getting enough rest and exercise, and eating right – also helped give me the strength to take care of those I love in difficult times.
It takes work to set a goal and achieve it, but it takes a different kind of work to let go and find peace and happiness in the mission that’s right in front of us. I may not have achieved my goal of putting out the DVD “on schedule,” but I achieved the much more important goal of being there for my family. And with a little patience, and a lot of resolve, I eventually got the DVD out too!
This Rosh Hashanah, I bless everyone to reach for their dreams, to set goals and put their all into accomplishing them, and also to recognize that part of the “larger goal” is to be present with life, including all of its challenges, and to learn to live each moment with a sense of mission, and with peace, satisfaction and joy.
Comments? I’d love to hear about the times your plans were altered but you grew as a person because of it.
Shana Tova!
Kerry Bar-Cohn
Rebbetzin Tap
