Simple Living (part 2)- Purpose statement

Lately it seems that you can buy art that says "live, laugh, love" or "Dance like no one is watching" just about anywhere. I like to think of these as the modern-day, "Welcome Friends" country-blue art that my mother so loved in the 80's and 90's. But there can be significance in placing the words that resonate with you in your home. Chapter 3 of Organized Simplicity helps you identify your family's purpose statement for Living Holistically within your Family's Purpose

..."We're all given a finite amount of time, resources, and talents, which makes it rather impossible to achieve that noble, yet impossible ambition of doing everything well that you want to do. It's simply not possible, and it's a poor use of energy and devotion. One of the characteristics of a responsible adult is to recognize the difference between the important and the urgent. If your desire is to live simply, it's essential to know what's the most important stuff in life and what's urgency disguised as important. Within a busy world and a culture with an infinite list of demands, your soul needs some constant, a foundation that helps you determine what you can do and what you just can't or won't, and what can wait until later. This unshakable rock needs to be something that makes sense, that's clearly defined, and that is consistent with your priorities. This is when a purpose statement proves invaluably handy. I'm talking about a real, definitive, no-holds-barred statement that says what you are about. And if you're sharing a roof with other family members, it's a statement that says what all of you are about.
A purpose statement with an end goal to simplify your life should be simple in itself. It should be timeless. It should be general, but not too general (Live, laugh, love. HAHA) If it's too vague, it won't really help in your day-to-day decision making. If it's too specific, it may needlessly paint you into a corner you never intended.
Here is my family's purpose statement: As a family, we want to glorify God. We will: Put each other first, Cultivate deep relationships with one another, Extend love to those around us, LIve simply, Be true to who God made us, Take care of our health, Be good stewards of creation, Be lifelong learners. MaryJo Wieland, writer at TurnItUpMom.com and wife and mom in New Jersey, has shared her family's purpose statement as:
Kindness: Generosity of Spirit.We show people that we care. We are sympathetic and understanding, and we act with a warm heart. Responsibility: We have a responsibility to ourselves, our community, and the environment. Faith: We believe in God and in each other. We are loyal to each other, trusting that each person has something special to offer the world. Fun: We remember to approach life with a light-hearted playfulness, to laugh a lot, and the make memories together.
Pick these questions below that resonate most with you and jot down some thoughts. Write the first answer that comes into your mind, or simply write down some words that percolate as you mull over the topic.
1) What are a few strengths of each member of your family?
2) Collectively, we are at our best when we are...
3) Collectively we are at our worst when we are...
4) If we had a completely few day together as a family how would we spend it?
5) What are practical ways we can serve each other?
6) What are practical ways we can serve others outside our family?
7) Name three things we think we could do better as a family.
8) What would people say today about our family as a whole?
9) What would we like people to say about our family as a whole in thirty years?
10) If our home could be filled with one emotion, what emotion would it be?
11) Name three adjectives we would like people to describe our home environment.
12) What are the tope four priorities we want our family to value?
13) What is the main purpose of our home?
14) What is the secondary purpose of our home?
15) what is the individual purpose of each member of our family?
16) Describe the status of our family in ten years...financially, intellectually, emotionally, relationally, communally with our environment, physically, spiritually
19) What does your family/home look like in ten years?

Start drafting your purpose statement by way of your answers. There is no right or wrong way to write this, but remember to keep it simple and timeless. Consider displaying your statement somewhere for all family members to see. It is a powerful tool. It is a major instrument in your quest to live against the grain of modern-day culture. When you second-guess your decisions of your priorities, you can read your purpose statement and be encouraged that simple living is worth it.


The next blog will share her advice on time and money! Stay tuned.