{"id":53650,"date":"2021-11-27T16:48:34","date_gmt":"2021-11-27T20:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=53650"},"modified":"2021-12-09T13:46:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T17:46:29","slug":"life-mission-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/life-mission-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create Your Life Mission Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is a life mission statement? What should your mission statement be based on? How do you develop one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A life mission statement is essentially a statement of your purpose<\/a>, priorities, and core values<\/a>. In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People<\/em>, Stephen Covey says that your personal mission statement<\/a> should be informed by your personal paradigm\u2014the lens through which you see the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn how to create a personal mission<\/a> statement, according to Stephen Covey’s model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Developing Your Life Mission Statement <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you create a life mission statement that centers around your values at the core of who you are<\/a> and who you want to be<\/a>, it will guide you through the many phases and changes in your life. In fact, crystallizing the changeless core of who you are actually helps you adapt to change<\/a>, because it reinforces such a secure sense of self that you won\u2019t be threatened by changes around you<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you sit down and think about how to create a life mission statement, start by looking at the most basic paradigms that dictate how you see the world. As you examine these paradigms, they\u2019ll reveal your innermost values and principles. Stephen Covey’s personal mission statements are meant to reflect these paradigms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each person\u2019s life mission statement will be distinct because everyone is unique and has individual experiences; rather than inventing your mission or emulating someone else\u2019s, try to find your mission through self-examination, reflection, and honest assessment of your unique strengths and values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process of writing your life<\/a> mission statement requires deep introspection and careful thought. Allow ample time for this \u2014 it may take weeks or months to take an honest and thorough look at your paradigms and driving forces. The process itself is just as important as the final result, because it makes you think through how you want to live your life and what actions reinforce that.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you develop your life mission statement, it helps to identify the many roles you have \u2014 spouse, son\/daughter, brother\/sister, father\/mother, friend, professional, individual \u2014 and create goals for each role. If you don\u2019t parse out your vision and goals to address each of your roles, it\u2019s easy to focus your mission statement too heavily on one area of your life and neglect others; you may accidentally make a mission statement too centered on work accomplishments and lose the balance in your goals that reflects a balanced life<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effective goals should focus on the end result you want, your destination, rather than the route to get there. Once you\u2019ve identified your destination, then you can figure out a path to reach it \u2014 and your personal mission statement will help you know when you\u2019ve arrived \u2014 but you must begin with the end in mind<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Checklist: Create Your Own Life Mission Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Habit 2 explains how you can develop a personal mission statement as a first step toward creating your own destiny<\/a>. Follow these steps to practice some of the techniques discussed in Habit 2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n