When I was reading Stephen Covey‘s, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I came across the concept of a personal mission statement for the first time. Covey describes how a vision or individual purpose statement may help you live a more balanced life. 

The most effective way I know to begin with the end in mind is to develop a personal mission statement or philosophy, or creed.

Stephen Covey’s

A personal mission statement is a reliable and effective productivity tool that helps you make better decisions and explain your life’s purpose. Establishing one enables you to examine your life’s purpose and how you intend to attain your objectives. It takes time to develop a personal mission statement. It must be evaluated regularly.

Here are a few easy pointers to help you through the procedure.

• Everyone has a different opinion on which occupations to pursue, which relationships to create, and which aspirations to pursue.
• A personal purpose statement might be helpful if you’re stuck. Mission statements aren’t only for corporations and organisations.

According to Stephen R. Covey, effective people are guided by their missions and live according to ideals. Ineffective people are regarded as following other people’s agendas and organising their life around important issues.

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Creating a Personal Mission Statement, in brief

1. Begin by thinking about who you are and who you want to be.
2. Make a list of the essential things, what you want your legacy to be, and what you are most passionate about. Imagine how you want your life to be at the end of your work path if this is tough.
3. Dream large and take the time to explain your most important goals rather than making restrictive and short-term plans.
4. Inquire with peers or mentors about their perceptions of your most extraordinary skills, and examine what distinguishes you from others with comparable knowledge.
5. Consider what type of imprint you want on the world and how your talents may assist you.
6. Keep it brief. If required, attempt a writing exercise in which you write only five words representing yourself and your goal, then two, then one. Use these phrases as a starting point for your mission statement.
7. Be true to yourself by ensuring that your mission statement correctly expresses your main passion and what you genuinely feel your long-term purpose of being.

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Two Ways a Personal Mission Statement Can Assist You in Changing

1. Self-Awareness

Introspection, self-analysis, and textual expression are all required for a personal purpose statement. As opposed to being something that can be completed in 5 minutes, a personal goal might take weeks, if not months, to complete. Drafting the statement is crucial since it will help you explain your innermost ideas and feelings. You’ll better know who you are, what you stand for, and what you value.

2. Making a Decision

A mission statement becomes a personal constitution. It will help you to make significant life-changing decisions and little everyday ones. It will not make such decisions more accessible, but it will provide focus and direction. Consider it a road plan to which you may turn for advice as you go through life.

How do I write a mission statement for myself?

Step 1: Determine What Is Important

Writing a personal mission statement is similar to developing a personal brand, but the stakes are higher. Before writing your personal goal statement, you can use a mind map to arrange your life into major categories. Typically, these areas are as follows:

• Relationships
• Health
• Religion
• Career
• Finance
• Education
• Family

Consider each of your duties as well. These include spouse, parent, employer/employee, student, and brother/sister. Consider these topics regarding your goals, values, ideals, progress to date, areas of worry, and so on. In an ideal world, you’ll establish three or four principles guiding your vision or personal mission statement.

Step 2: Make Use of Outside Resources

Next, think about what you value in the world. Consider inspirational leaders, individuals you want to be like, and those you want to avoid. How can you put teachings and learning into practice? What blunders should you avoid? You may know just as much from failure as from victory. You might also discuss your prior achievements and disappointments with friends or family members. 

Step 3: Pose Difficult Questions to Yourself

Asking and answering difficult questions will assist you in developing a more honest mission statement. Pose queries such as:

What

• are my inherent abilities?
• matters most to me, both personally and professionally?
• motivates me to get out of bed in the morning, and what makes me want to stay in bed?
• what does my ideal day entail?
• are the values that influence my job, study, and relationships?
• ideals am I unwilling to violate? This might involve professional charters that you’ve agreed to join.
• mistakes have I made thus far, and how can I prevent making them again?
• are my objectives?
• When am I most and least effective as a parent, employer, employee, or spouse?

You may create a personal question and response document, bullet points, or handwritten notes. The answers to these questions should assist you in identifying insufficient resources and abilities and other aspects of your professional or personal life that require clarity.

Step 4: Concentrate on the Big Picture

An excellent mission statement includes specific long-term objectives. Consider where you want to go and who you want to be in a year, five years, or even ten years. Consider what you would do if you had infinite time, money, and resources. Think large while creating your own goals.

Step 5: Create a Personal Mission Statement

Gather your information in a permanent document, location, or source that you will revisit frequently. Consolidate your duties, responsibilities, beliefs, goals, and aspirations into a few core themes or concepts. The end product may be a mantra or slogan that you repeat to yourself. It might be a photograph, logo, or document you read once a week or once a month.

It should include all elements of your life, such as your job, health, and family, rather than just one, such as work. If you’re going to use words, start with verbs like:

• “I believe…”
• “I’m happiest when…”
• “I’m at my best when…”

Be honest with yourself. Your mission statement should represent your biggest passion and long-term goal. Recognise that revising your mission statement as you develop and learn is appropriate.

Step 6: Go through your personal mission statement again. Regularly

You may either hang your mission statement or store it privately yet accessible. You may also modify this goal statement and create one for your family. Maintaining a personal goal statement in a visible place is a good idea. Ideally, you should read it once per quarter.

In this manner, you’ll be able to determine whether you’re

1. 1. living true to your mission statement and 
2. 2. aligning it with your present core values. 

You may need to revise a mission statement as a result.

Writing an effective personal mission statement entails assessing if it suits your purpose and reflects how you wish to spend your time.

Personal Mission Statement Examples

Example 1 – Mahatma Gandhi

I shall

• not fear anyone on Earth.
• fear only God. 
• not bear ill will toward anyone. 
• not submit to injustice from anyone. 
• conquer untruth by truth.
• And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.

Example 2 – Anonym

• I will seek out and experience all life’s pleasures and delights in achieving happiness, satisfaction, and worth. 
• My basic principles are not impediments to my hedonistic pursuit of happiness. Instead, they serve as a framework for recognizing, seeking, and obtaining the joys that last the longest and are the most fulfilling. 
• Being deserving of the respect and admiration of family, friends, and business partners is the greatest delight of all.

Example 3 – Anonym

• Remember where I’ve been and where I’m fostering healthy relationships with family and friends—making a personal commitment to honesty and integrity to select the ethical path. 
• Discover inner peace by going within and utilising my heart to lead my dreams and ambitions and my mind to pursue knowledge while maintaining a sense of balance among all my commitments. 
• Be content with my surroundings and always know where my security resides. 
• Establish a reputation for being committed to every objective I set for myself while achieving success in my personal and professional life. 
• Savour every trip moment, discovering laughter, love, and happiness with each passing day.

Example 4 – Anonym

I will

• be kind and proactive in developing and sustaining connections with family and friends to be regarded as a successful spouse, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend.
• always behave with integrity and never compromise on honesty so that it may be claimed that I stand up for what is good and right.
• intend to approach life with a curious mind to better comprehend my inner and exterior environments.
• take care of my health by frequently exercising, eating healthily, and avoiding anything that may damage my body.
• shall see money as a servant rather than a master. Over time, I intend to work toward financial independence. My requirements and resources will constrain my desires. I plan to spend less than I make and save and invest a portion of my earnings regularly.
• plan to write posts for my blog that are both encouraging and motivational to assist people in living better lives.
• remember, when things get rough, there are so many things for which I’m grateful. As a result, I plan to give back to the community through donations and volunteering so that people in need can receive assistance.

Example 5 – Maya Angelou

My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive, to do so with some passion, compassion, humour, and style.

Conclusion

Writing a goal statement necessitates in-depth soul-searching, which takes time. It wouldn’t be worth doing if it were tricky people. If you still need assistance, Franklin Covey has created an online mission statement builder.

Whatever style you use, the benefits of a mission statement are enormous. In times of crisis or uncertainty, your mission statement will serve as a guidepost.

A personal mission statement is an individual declaration that defines who you want to be (character), what you want to do (contributions and accomplishments), and the values or principles that guide your being and doing. 

If you’re interested in another approach, please read how to design your purpose in life. For more about Stephen R. Covey, read Time Management Matrix. Good reading. David Gousset.

When you defined your Personal Mission Statement, it is time to think about How to Build Your Personal Brand