Why do you get up in the morning? What motivates you? What are the reasons behind your career, relationship, and other choices? If you already have a life purpose, than you should have no problem answering these questions. But the truth is, most of us haven’t taken the time to clarify the “why” behind everything we do.
While we continue to explore the connection between Identity and Purpose, here is an experiment that will force you to think about both. CEOs, celebrities and politicians alike taut “personal mission statements” as the driving force behind their success, but personal branding isn’t just for the famous or the already successful. Let’s not make the mistake of waiting for adulthood before discovering our life’s purpose. Whether you’re 20 and still learning your strengths, 25 and just beginning your career, or 29 and just starting a family, NOW is the time to ask: what is my life purpose?
First, here are some examples that may give you ideas:
“To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” –Oprah Winfrey, OWN Network
“To inspire and empower people to live their highest vision in a context of love and joy in harmony with the highest good of all concerned.” –Jack Canfield, Author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series
“To use my gifts of intelligence, charisma, and serial optimism to cultivate the self-worth and net-worth of women around the world.” –Amanda Steinberg, Dailyworth.com
Second, let’s breakdown the process of boiling down your entire life’s purpose to one single statement…
5 STEPS TO CREATING YOUR PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
Step 1: Identify 1 or 2 of your Strengths/Skills Example: I am insatiably curious and passionate.
Step 2: Identify your Core Values Example: I believe that happiness is a choice.
Step 3: Describe Your Perfect World Example: People are constantly striving to learn, grow and improve themselves and the world around them. People are choosing happiness.
Step 4: Set a Goal Example: I want to use my blog, and book as platforms to test happiness experiments for twentysomethings, so that they may lay the foundation for a happy and sustainable life.
Step 5: Combine the Prior Information to form a Complete Statement
Final Personal Mission Statement:
My life purpose is to choose happiness each day, inspire and empower my peers to do the same, and continue to explore the basic principles required to lay the foundation for a happy and balanced life.
–Jessica McKinley, Blogger, Fitness Coach at Team Beach Body
With all the distractions that we have to deal with, it’s easy to go through the day, week or year without really asking ourselves WHY? Your personal mission statement will help you decide what to focus on, as life is thrown at you.
Use your mission statement to help you live on purpose!
Looking for more inspiration? Here are 21 Outstanding Mission Statements for Your Life. What is YOUR personal mission statement? Tell me in the comments below!
