Creating your personal mission or purpose statement

Businesses create mission statements, so why not create a personal mission or purpose statement for yourself?

Let's define what a purpose statement is.

A purpose statement is a brief description of what you want to focus on, what you want to accomplish and who you want to become in a particular aspect of your life. It is a way to focus your energy, actions, behaviors and decisions towards the things that are most important to you.

How do you define who you are?

Defining and knowing who you are is essential to developing your purpose statement.

Having a purpose statement will help you clearly define why you exist. The statement will help you articulate your purpose to yourself and others; sort of like a 30-second elevator speech that we create for business networking. Your purpose statement is very similar.

Your purpose statement identifies your mission and purpose in life and will serve as your life's guide or blueprint for success.

Your purpose statement is less about the roles or hats you wear and more about who you are and what your purpose or objective is.

Tips for Creating Your Purpose Statement

* Keep it simple, clear and brief.
* Include specific actions, behaviors, habits and qualities that will have a positive impact in your life.
* Make it a part of your everyday life.
* Avoid negative statements — don’t include statements that say what you don't want to do or what you don't want to have or be.
* Make it emotional — this will infuse it with passion, making it more compelling and inspiring.

The statement you create is not iron clad. It can change and evolve as you continue to grow into the person you are to become. So don't get stuck, even with your purpose statement. It is a continuous process that should grow with you.

Open up your notebook and create your own purpose statement. And if you already have a purpose statement, this will give you an opportunity to review it and see if it needs tweaking.

Take your time with this exercise. Ask yourself: "What are you most passionate about?" Can you see it, feel it or believe (in) it? Think about the ways can you share or express your passion with others? What does that look like?

Write down what comes to you. Say it aloud. How does it resonate with you? Tweak as necessary until it works and flows with you.

Until next time, remember: “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” — James Allen

With definiteness of purpose,
Gwen Thibeaux