How to Write a Personal Mission Statement-
Mission Statements must –
- Be simple and brief
- Use positive language
- Contain emotionally charged words
- Be inclusive of yourself and others
- Be action statements i.e. use "Be" and "Do" words
- Be empowering
- Be experienced daily
- Make you happy
To create your own personal mission statement you must first ask yourself –
"What kind of person do I ultimately want to become in my lifetime?"
and
"What do I want my life to really be about?"
Identifying Values
Before writing your mission statement you must first identify your core values. The following table of values has been compiled to help you identify your own personal core values.
| Achievements | Faithful | Imagination | Openness |
| Action-Oriented | Family | Independence | Optimistic |
| Analytical | Fearless | Industrious | Organized |
| Careful | Forgiving | Integrity | Outgoing |
| Caring | Freedom | Intelligent | Passionate |
| Charity | Friendly | Joy | Positive Attitude |
| Community | Fun | Kindness | Power |
| Compassionate | Generous | Knowledge | Problem-solving |
| Contemplative | Giving | Leadership | Privacy |
| Creativity | God | Learning | Recognition |
| Credible | Grateful | Legacy | Relationship with God |
| Decision-maker | Happy | Leisure | Security |
| Determined | Hard-working | Love | Self-expression |
| Dignity | Helpfulness | Loyal | Service |
| Energetic | Home Life | Mercy | Spirituality |
| Enthusiastic | Honest | Nature | Tradition |
| Equality | Human Relationships | Nurturing | Wisdom |
Using the suggestions in the table above as a guide, list what you consider to be your 6 greatest values.
What is a value or trait you want to pass on to others?
List two of the most important people in your life?
What traits do you most admire in them?
Who do you want to influence?
When you daydream what do you see yourself doing?
If you had unlimited time and resources what would you choose to do?
Do the values you rated as important match your dream?
Describe yourself in one word.
When have you felt most successful and why?
When have you felt most powerful and why?
What do you enjoy most and why?
What do you enjoy least and why?
What talents and skills do you have, both developed and not yet developed?
What are your challenges/weaknesses?
How would others describe you?
Name 3 people you most admire. What qualities do they possess that you would like to emulate?
What are the most important roles in your life?
If you could achieve only one thing by the end of your life what would it be?
Are you ready to bring your values to life in your own personal mission statement?
Sift through everything you have written and choose what is most important to you. What phrases and words come to mind guiding you to create a powerful mission statement based upon the principles and core values for your life? Let the words flow and see what comes from your heart as you begin to write. You now have a mission statement built on the foundations of your core values and what you would like to achieve with those values. You can continue to write and revise your mission statement until you feel it reflects you and what you live.
Your mission statement, like your life, is an ongoing process. Over the years, your circumstances will change. Your priorities and goals will change. Your dreams will change. Change equals growth. As you grow and transform, revise and refine your mission statement so that it continues to reflect who you are and what you live.
Your mission statement needs to change and grow with you and guide you to Live Your Dream & Serve Your Purpose!
Examples
Your mission statement may, or may not, look something like the following examples.
"To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be."
"To have fun in [my] journey through life and learn from [my] mistakes." "In business, know how to be a good leader and always try to bring out the best in people. It's very simple: listen to them, trust in them, believe in them, respect them, and let them have a go!"
Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day:
• I shall not fear anyone on Earth.
• I shall fear only God.
• I shall not bear ill will toward anyone.
• I shall not submit to injustice from anyone.
• I shall conquer untruth by truth.
• And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day...
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.