Creating Your Personal Mission Statement

 

1. Gives focus.
2. Keeps us accountable.
3. Encourages us to do the best things rather than just the good things.
4. Simplifies our lives.
5. Increases productivity and morale.

 

Create a personal life mission statement based on your deepest convictions and beliefs. What are you to be about? Every goal you have should point to fulfilling your mission, otherwise you need to change your goal or change your mission. 

 

 

One of the simplest and fastest ways to write a personal mission statement is by thinking in terms of your obituary. What do you hope people will say at your funeral?

 

 

Think in terms of the greatest words you hope 6 different people groups would say:

 

1. Your spouse.
2. Your children/family.
3. Your friends.
4. Your Co-workers.
5. Those in your community, neighbors, fellow volunteers, church members, etc.
6. God.

 

Don’t think of what they will say, but rather what you most hope they will be able to say. For instance, you may hope your spouse will say, “He was person of integrity and an example of someone who always did what was loving and right.” To make your mission statement out of your obituary you simply put the word “To” in front of the sentence. In other words, the above line as a part of your mission would read, “To be person of integrity and an example of someone who…” This would be the statement under number 1.

 

Next, think of how you would want your children/family to remember you, and so on through the 6 different people groups.

 

Above all of the lines that start with “To” you simply write, “My Mission is”

 

1. To . . .

2. To . . .

3. To . . .

4. To . . .

5. To . . .

6. To . . .

 

Once you have written your first draft take some time to think through it. Can you make it shorter or clearer or more memorable so that it stays on top of your mind? Can you make it more actionable? Have you covered the important areas of your life? Do you need to add something that is unique to you?

 

 

1. Put it in a visible place.
2. Read it daily.
3. Share it with others. This will increase accountability.
4. Plan times to review and revise it either semi-annually or annually.