Why You Should Create a Personal Mission Statement

The month of September is here again! The weather is starting to change, kids are heading back to school, and it’s time to start hibernating for the winter. Wait, no it’s not! Instead of putting your diet and fitness routine on hold, use September (also known as National Self Improvement Month) to set good habits for the colder months. Each Wednesday this month, we’ll share a new tip with you to try that week.

Share your own tips with us using the #NationalSelfImprovementMonth and we might pick yours to feature on the Blog on the first Wednesday in October!

 

TIP #1: Create a personal mission statement
In Alice in Wonderland, the caterpillar pointedly asked Alice, “Who are you?” Her response? “I — I hardly know, sir, just at present — at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.”

Undoubtedly, like Alice, how you see yourself has changed numerous times over the years. Take a moment to think about this and think about how you define yourself so you can create your own personal mission statement. Personal mission statements were first popularized by Stephen R. Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. He defined them as “defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself.” By creating one — by having a why if you will — it can help guide you when you feel lost and help you make the right choices.

 

Here are some questions to consider when developing your mission statement:
• What am I passionate about?
• What gives me energy?
• How do I define success?
• How do I want to be remembered?
• What gives me the most happiness?

 

Here are some examples to get you started:
• “I aspire to be a healthy, physically active person so my increased energy levels can help me reach my goals.”
• “Help people achieve their goals and live a healthy, fulfilling life.” (Beachbody)
• “To live life with a compassionate, open heart and let love, not fear, dictate my actions.”
• “To be a teacher. And to be known for inspiring my students to be more than they thought they could be.” (Oprah Winfrey)
• “To have fun in (my) journey through life and learn from (my) mistakes.” (Richard Branson)
• “I will strive to live mindfully in all things I do.”

Your turn! Tell us in the comments or use the #NationalSelfImprovementMonth to share yours.