If you’ve read the mission statement of another person or an organization, you know that it is basically a concise description of what they are about and what they value. Some are as short as a sentence (e.g. “Ideas worth spreading”), or as long as a paragraph.
Your mission statement should explain the Who, What, How, and Why of you. It should include your goal or purpose in life, what skills you have been blessed with that will be used to reach it, and how you plan to use them.
Your mission statement doesn’t have to be set in stone. Over the years, you may want to make small changes as you refine your methods and get farther along on your journey. You may find that as you make your way in one direction, a new path opens up that you hadn’t considered before.
So how do you craft your own mission statement? Let’s start with some questions…
Who are you? What do you believe? How do you see the world? What is the overarching, guiding principle that shapes your life and your actions?
For me, being a wife and mother are important, but believing in God is the theme that runs through all aspects of my life. I see things through the lens of my faith, so I know that this is an important piece of my mission statement.
What is your purpose or goal in life? What do you want to accomplish in life? What are your long-term goals? Or even the important short-term ones?
Don’t worry if you don’t have a firm grasp on your purpose. This is something that may not be obvious, or perhaps it’s something that you’ve been searching for. I would suggest spending some time thinking about what you want to do, what you’re good at, and how you can use those skills best. What does the world, your community, or your family need?
You may not be called to change the world as a whole, but you may be needed to change the corner of it that you live in. I believe that God blessed our family with five children because my purpose includes shepherding those children to adulthood to accomplish their own amazing goals.
I also believe that God nudged me to write, not just this blog but books as well, because somehow it is a part of His plan for me. So, I also included this in my own mission statement.
What are you called to do? Spend some time praying and meditating on this before you give a quick answer. Sometimes we rush off before we really know where we’re going, and that’s the fastest way to get lost.
How will you reach the goals you have set? We are all blessed with special talents, things that are easier for us than others, things that makes us unique. Maybe you are a gifted speaker, an organizer, a teacher, a sympathetic ear, a wise advisor, an artist, or a builder.
Your strengths were given to help you on the journey of your life, to accomplish your goals and live out your purpose. Maximize them, lean on them. They are there for a reason. Include them in your statement and how you will utilize them in your mission.
What is your Why? If you identified the “what” of your purpose or goal, then you have probably figured out the “why.” It might be that a need exists that you can fill, such as building houses with Habitat for Humanity or volunteering medical services in storm-ravaged regions.
Maybe your why is less dramatic, but still valuable. My work as a mother, leading and teaching and cultivating these little humans I’ve borne, will have an impact on hundreds of thousands of other people. Because one day, they will all leave our humble abode and go out into the world, meeting and touching the lives of so many others.
If you think that you are setting the bar too low, that your purpose or reason is not big enough, stop. You may not be able to see how one “small” goal can change your life, or someone else’s, but believe that it has been the case many times in history.
Small steps lead to larger ones. Habits lead to routines that lead to true change. Small encounters can turn the tide of another person’s life.
Your mission statement can be as large and grand or as focused and detailed as you want.
The important thing to remember is to make your mission statement your own. Your beliefs, your skills, your purpose. Don’t get caught up in flowery language, in sounding like someone you admire, or making goals that are more impressive than realistic.
I’m going to share my personal mission statement with you below. It’s nothing fancy and you’ll notice that I start each sentence with “I want to…” I do that because I know that there will be days when I don’t move in the right direction, so I wanted to be honest with myself.
I also wanted this statement to be a reminder for when I inevitably veer off-course. I even created a lock screen on Canva so that I can see it multiple times a day. Sometimes, motivation needs refreshing.
Here is my mission statement:
There are so many amazing books, blog posts, and courses available that will help you get a better idea of what goals to set and what direction to go in. I highly recommend Tsh Oxenreider’s course, called Like Your Life. It really walks you through this process.
I hope this has helped you to get a better idea of your purpose in life and how to craft your own mission statement. Don’t rush the process and think about these questions before answering.
Remember that a mission statement should be a guide. Creating one will keep you from losing your way, missing the important sights, and wasting valuable time. Good luck!
What do you consider the most important parts of a mission statement? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how and why to craft one!
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