Personal Mission Statement

Your personal mission statement proclaims your purpose in life. A statement of purpose and intention, it is a guide, inspiring you to constantly make decisions that support and enhance your goals.

Remember, goals are specific and time-bound. "I want to be healthy" is not a goal, and it's also not very inspiring! "I want to lower my cholesterol by 'X' points and lose 15 pounds of fat by September 22" IS a goal.

The reasons for lack of accomplishment are numerous and varied. If you let them, there are many situations, people, and events that can steal your inspiration. There are many "demotivators."

Even with clear and specific time-bound goals, you can still lose your motivation. Your personal mission statement can help you to align your goals with your values and beliefs as part of a congruent life plan. I'm not saying that your entire life has to be planned out, but your dreams, beliefs, values, goals, thoughts and actions are all much more powerful and have more meaning when they are aligned.

Long term success requires long term motivation. At the heart of motivation, is inspiration. If you allow these "demons" to steal your inspiration, and remove your resolve, you will never achieve what you set out to do.

A personal mission statement is your very own support system that keeps you constantly inspired. It "remotivates" you. It ensures that you focus on what is important to you during your "daily grind," and that long term, you end up meeting your goals.

All large entities, such as corporations and organizations, have a mission statement. You should too.

About your personal mission statement...

A mission statement is not something you write overnight. It takes deep introspection, careful analysis, thoughtful expression, and often many rewrites before you feel really comfortable with it, before you feel it is a complete and concise expression of your innermost values and directions. Even then, you will want to review it regularly and make minor changes as the years bring additional insights or changing circumstances."

-Stephen R. Covey From The 7 Habits fo Hightly Effective People

The greatest athletes in the world have coaches. Your mission statement should be one of your coaches. For an example of one, take a look at this sample mission statement.

Your personal mission statement will be based around several key concepts. Essentially, by aligning your goals and vision with your values, the roles that you take on, and what you want to contribute, you define and state your life's purpose. What could be more inspiring than that?!