PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

A small, but telling, unofficial poll suggests that only one third of the general population knows the 'mission' of their life. Sad.

Some cultures encourage their people to question themselves about their Life Path even as a preschooler. Living one's path is considered a sacred agreement with the Universe to do one's part.

Other cultures promote the notion that acquiring a marketable skill trumps 'being who you are'. Taking care of basic (bodily) needs is the primary goal.

Regardless of the camp you subscribe to, composing a mission statement about your life is a valuable exercise. The fundamental idea is to think through who you are, the values you stand by and therefore, how you conduct yourself. Having a mission statement provides a touchstone to evaluate the soundness (for you) of any given decision.

WHAT TO DO – PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

• Research Mission Statements to inspire your process

• Brainstorm about your top 10 values.

• Prioritize the values in order of importance.

• Choose the top 3 values; top 5 or all values to expand upon.

• Write a simple statement, about how each of your top 3, 5 or 10 points will manifest your purpose.

You may need to ponder your first draft for a month or two to determine if it truly expresses who you are and what your mission is. Once you are sure that it is you — consider rendering it as artwork and displaying it in your home or office.

ALTERNATIVELY

• Write a one-sentence mission statement about your life … and carry it with you.

THE LAST 2%

• Read your mission statement once a week … or more.

• Revisit your mission statement every year. Refresh if necessary.