Make Personal Mission Statements Work For You

Personal mission statements guide you towards your goals. If you sometimes feel like you’re floundering, chart your course by putting your purpose into writing. Try these suggestions for applying personal mission statements to your professional and personal life.

Understanding The Basics Of Personal Mission Statements

(For More Detail, Read This Article As Well: Create A Personal Mission Statement for Your Life)

1. Take Stock Of Yourself.

Your personal mission statement encompasses who you are and what you want out of life. Consider your core values and beliefs. Review your past accomplishments. Look for common themes that suggest your strengths and priorities. Ask yourself what you want your legacy to be. Really! How do you want to be remembered?

2. Seek Inspiration.

One of the major benefits of mission statements is the motivation they provide. When you toil away at a tedious task or run into an obstacle, you can remind yourself of why you’re making the effort.

3. Write It Down.

Putting your thoughts down on paper makes them more concrete in your mind. It’s easier to see how you’re doing and hold yourself accountable.

4. Keep It Brief.

While there may be a lot of thought behind your mission statement, keep the final product short and powerful. That way you can pinpoint the values that matter most to you and measure your success.

5. Gather Feedback.

Welcome input from others as you create your mission statement and carry it out. Your friends and coworkers may notice factors that you tend to overlook.

6. Evaluate Your Progress. Mission Statements Evolve Over Time.

Your goals may change when you switch careers or turn 40. Advances in technology sometimes automate the tasks that used to take up your time, giving you a chance to pursue a new passion.

Using Mission Statements In Your Professional Life

Rewrite Your Job Description.

Take A Fresh Look At Your Position.

Your personal mission statement may suggest new tasks that you want to take on and old ones that you want to phase out. Maybe you’ll continue your current duties but approach them with greater meaning and commitment.

Talk With Your Supervisor.

Let your manager know that you’re trying to align your work more closely with the company mission statement. They may appreciate your initiative and offer helpful ideas.

Coach Yourself.

While support from your supervisor is valuable, you can also train and drill yourself. Construct a plan of action for integrating your mission statement into your daily routine.

Assess Your Fit.

Addressing fundamental issues may raise bigger questions about your future. You may decide that you’re in tune with your company or you may decide to move on.

Using Mission Statements In Your Personal Life

Get Your Act Together.

Stop wasting time on silly distractions. Define and know what is important to you so that you can do the things that meet those criteria. Do the things that you need to be doing, first. You can still watch the game or play online if you were a good boy and did your homework. Success means sacrifice. How bad do you want it? And if you are going to waste your time, at least you will know what you are giving up.

Enhance Your Health.

Fulfilling your mission depends on keeping your body strong. Cherishing your health can keep you on track with managing your weight, eating nutritious foods, exercising daily, and sleeping eight hours each night.

Strengthen Your Parenting.

If you have children, it’s natural to think about what you’re passing on to them with each decision you make. Focus on raising your sons and daughters to be independent, kind and responsible. Children need well-adjusted, strong, motivated fathers.

Deepen Your Relationships.

Your mission statement affects other relationships too. You may find that your marriage and friendships help you to develop the qualities you honor. They Should. If not, maybe something needs to change. Start with yourself.

Practice Your Spirituality.

If faith is the cornerstone of your life, your mission statement can help you to translate your beliefs into practical actions. Designate a percentage of your time for volunteer work with your church or sign up for classes with a spiritual guide whose teachings resonate with you.

Make Time To Improve.

Read. Learn. Do. Just because you may know what you want, are your efforts as efficient as they can be? Level up your knowledge and skills and then put them to good use.

Section Summary

Clarify your purpose by developing and updating your personal mission statement. Understanding your individual definition of success brings you closer to reaching your goals.

Focus The Purpose Of Your Life By Creating A Personal Mission Statement

Your mission statement tells the world who you are and what you plan to do with your life. It helps you focus throughout your life on what is important to you so and what you feel your purpose is.

Consider These Two Examples Of Personal Mission Statements:

A Working Parent’s Mission Statement:

“I want to be the best parent I can be and still excel in my sales career. My hope is to eventually become involved in a charity foundation that helps other people live safer, more secure, and productive lives.”

A Counselor’s Mission Statement:

“My purpose on earth is to assist others in resolving their life struggles and moving on to live their best life possible. Also, taking in and spreading knowledge through a variety of media such as speaking, writing, and teaching are important for me to live a life that truly matters. I want to experience what it’s like to learn and share knowledge at a deep level.”

Creating Your Mission Statement Will Enrich And Empower Your Life!

The process will help you clarify your hopes and dreams and discover what is most important to you. Then, you can create goals that support your mission and move your life toward fulfilling your purpose. And working towards those goals will become a joy in itself!

This 6-Step Process Will Help You Formulate Your Own Personal Mission Statement:

1. Reflect On Your Life Goals.

Describe your top four or five wishes for your entire life. Those are your life goals.

2. Identify What You Want To Learn.

Do you require more knowledge to work toward achieving your life goals? If so, you’ll want to include something about continuous learning or education in your statement.

3. Think In The Short-Term.

What is it you wish to work on over the next decade or so? Maybe it’s settling into a new community and establishing yourself as an expert in yoga. Perhaps it’s getting yourself through college and finding work that fulfills you.

4. Ponder The Long-Term — Throughout Your Life Span.

What do you want to be doing 30 or 40 years from now?

Consider elderly people in your life that you respect, admire, or consider as your mentors. How are they making a difference in their lives as they age?
As you mature, you’ll accumulate a lot of life knowledge, experience, and expertise in your field. How could you use it when you’re 60, 70, or even 80 years old? How would you like to use your knowledge and personal “gifts” for others?
How do you want your journey to unfold?

5. Ask Yourself, “What Do I Hope To Accomplish Before I Die?”

What would you like to be known for? How do you want others to remember you after you’ve passed on?

6. Use Your Own Words.

For example, you might say, “I want to help as many people as I can as a social worker in a large city.” Or “My main goals in life are to learn as much as I can about staying in shape and remaining in excellent health, and to help others learn to stay in good health, too.” Such specifics can be included in your statement.