Your mission determines the quality of your life for all time. It places you on a passionate lifelong self-improvement program. It's something you must have to avoid the unwanted alternative.

Should you not have a mission then you will be on missin'. A missin' is the emptiness of life you get from not deciding to have a Mission.

Without a mission you perish. With a mission you prosper.

Websters defines "mission" in the traditional Church sense of the word - in addition it declares it to be - "a pre-imposed objective or purpose"

In the 1960's when I entered the workforce it was common for men to retire and pass away within 12 months. Experts concluded it was because they had a mission as long as they were at work. Then had a sense of loss or emptiness when they finished up. They went on a missin' and it cost them their lives.

In our own family we knew this truth only too well.

At 55 my Father lost his job of 37 years, came home , sat down to tell my Mother and had a fatal heart attack.

Today no babyboomer needs to face that fate when they get their last pay from a long term employer.

Here's a plan to help you find and keep a mission - and renew the vigor of your youth.

1. Your Mind Mission

Make a commitment to lifelong learning. Get on the Internet. Play and learn as you go. Develop new skills in areas where you loose a sense of time as you work.

With these new skills seek to solve the problems of others and you'll have a well-developed mission and multiple streams of income. This will motivate you to develop further streams.

2. Your Mouth Mission

When you talk to other retirees or pre-retirees put the future before the past.

Associate only with those who speak positively of the future. That will reinforce your belief in a bright future. You will become more motivated to get the most from life.

3. Your Walk Mission

Wherever you go walk with a sense of purpose in your stride. The way you walk says a lot about where you are headed. Walk as though you have an important destination and others of like-mind will be drawn to you.

4. Your Spiritual Mission

Share your faith in God with passion. Give Him thanks for the wonderful life you are having and let others know that in Him you have a blessed assurance about the future - together with a powerful vision for the future. Remember - "without a vision the people perish" (Proverbs 29.18)

Your blessed assurance will encourage others to follow your example.

Develop your four-part Mission - Your Mind Mission , Your Mouth Mission, Your Walk Mission , plus Your Spiritual Mission, and you will have the motivation to stay with a self-improvement program. This program will drive your forward into the best years of your life.