What Is Your Goal In Life?

I was asked the question recently “What is your goal in life?” It was from one of those books of questions to learn about another person.  There were 4 multiple choice answers and my wife of course knew the one that fit me, “To make the world a better place.” Of all the answers that was the obvious choice for me as well. Even if it was an open answer questions, that is probably what I would have put. For some reason that has stuck with me and I’ve been reflecting on it a lot lately. I tell myself that it is a great goal, who wants to make the world worse? But, in my life do I really make the world better?

I do know that I try, at work I try and help my co-workers. If I have information that will help them, even if it isn’t my job, I will share it. Not because I want to be a no-it-all, but because I truly like the feeling of helping someone and making their life easier or better. But then I beat myself up because I’m not perfect. I wish I was a better husband and be the romantic thoughtful person that is always there for my wife. Why do I get grumpy some times and bite her head off over nothing? I wish I was a better father and didn’t lose my patience and yell at my children when they frustrate me. How do I make the world a better place when I hurt the people I love the most?

I realize that I’m not perfect, and I’m only human, all of us are. All we can do is continue to work better at it each day. I’m sure I will still lose my patience in the future, get mad at the wrong things and beat myself up over something I should let go. My goal is for it to be less than it was before, to get better every day, and I think that I’m achieving that goal. When I think about the best way I can make the world a better place, it is to make myself be a better person, to everyone I interact with. What if you strived to be better every day as well? What kind of impact could we have in the world? What if everyone was a better person tomorrow then they are today? Imagine a world where 6 billion people are better than they were yesterday? Give that a year, or 10 years, and you can only imagine the possibilities.

So what is your goal in life?