Personal Mission Statement
A personal mission statement is an individual statement that declares who you want to be, what you want to do, and the values and principles upon which your life is based.
It is a concise, easy to remember statement that guides your actions and behaviors. It essentially describes how you want to live your life. Therefore, it should be aligned with your core values, beliefs, principles, ideals, and passions.
Like an organization’s mission statement, your personal statement is your reason for existence. It provides direction and illuminates your purpose in life. It can be thought of as your personal credo or philosophy.
A good mission statement is;
- Clear
- Concise
- Easy to memorize
- Inspirational
- Aligned with your core values, beliefs, and principles
- Realistic
Crafting your personal mission statement
Benefits of a Mission Statement
There are several benefits to creating a personal mission statement. First, it defines your purpose in life and provides direction for you throughout your life. It can act as a compass and show you the way and keep you focused on what you want to achieve in life. It also provides daily motivation and inspiration, as there is a solace in being able to return to a written statement of your essence and purpose in life.
Additionally, by creating a mission statement you become more self-aware because crafting a personal mission statement requires introspection through self-awareness and self-analysis. By discovering your mission, you will gain a greater understanding of who you are and what you value. When you clearly know who you want to be and what you want to do in your life, you feel a strong sense of purpose. You are not controlled by what life brings to you, but rather guided by a deep commitment to following your innermost values.
Since a mission statement represents your values and principles, it can help you make decisions throughout your life. As you travel on your life’s journey, you will find that you will take many side roads, and have to choose which roads are best for you. A mission statement becomes a personal constitution that can be turned to when making major life decisions. With a mission statement, you become an effective decision maker in both your professional life and personal life.
“When you are inspired by a great purpose, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” – Patanjali
