Your Personal Mission Statement

Your Personal Mission Statement
By Pj Germain

One of the most powerful methods to cultivate the passion of vision is to create and live by a mission statement, philosophy, or creed. Such statements capture what you want to be and do – what qualities you want to develop, what you want to accomplish, what contributions you want to make. Clarity on these issues is critical because it affects everything else – the goals you set, the decisions you make, the paradigms you hold, and the way you spend your time.

A personal mission statement based on principles becomes a standard for an individual. It becomes a personal constitution, the basis for making life decisions as well as daily decisions in the midst of the circumstances and emotions that affect your life.

It is important to not become overwhelmed by the task of writing a personal mission statement or the need to make it perfect. Instead, write a rough draft and then work to refine it over the next several weeks or months. To help you get started, ask yourself the following questions:

>> What would I really like to be and do in my life?

>> What do I feel are my greatest strengths?

>> How do I want to be remembered?

>> Who has made the greatest positive impact in my life?

>> What have been my happiest moments in life?

>> If I had unlimited time and resources, what would I do?

>> What are the three or four most important things to me?

>> How can I best contribute to the world?

Because each individual is unique, a personal mission statement will reflect that uniqueness, both in content and form. An effective mission statement may consist of a few words or several pages. Mission statements can be written in poetry, prose, music or art, and written for individuals, couples, families, or organizations. Writing an empowering mission statement is not a “to do” list to be checked off. To be empowering, it has to become a living, breathing document. You must ponder it, memorize it, review it, update it, and write it into your heart and mind.

PJ Germain