#31DayReset Day 6: Write a Personal Mission Statement

This post is Day 6 of the 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge. Learn more and sign up for the program here.

Over the past few days, you’ve taken two important steps toward developing a personal mission statement: identifying your values and envisioning your values in action. For most people, it is truly an eye-opening process to write out your values for your life and then compare them to how you actually balance your priorities. Today, you will put the exercises from Day 4 and Day 5 together to complete your personal mission statement. But what, exactly, is a personal mission statement, anyway?

Personal development website Dumb Little Man offers this great definition:

Your personal mission statement should be a concise representation of what’s most important to you, what you desire to focus on, what you want to achieve, and, ultimately, who you want to become. In its purest form, it’s an approach to your life, one that allows you to identify a focus of energy, creativity, and vision in living a life in support of your inner-most beliefs and values. Also remember that your mission will change over time as you and your life change.

I developed a personal mission statement a few years ago and it literally changed my life. Since then, I have trained over 200 people in my personal development workshops to develop their own personal mission statements and it is often a life-changing process for them. There’s something really powerful and empowering about being able to say YES or NO to opportunities that come into your life based on whether it fits within your personal mission and how you want to live out your values.

Estimated Time to Complete: 30-60 minutes

There are many ways to go about creating your own personal mission statement, but I will highlight my three-step formula that I use in my workshops here.

Values + Values in Action = Personal Mission Statement

Now that you’ve identified your values and what your values look like in action, you should now take at least 30 minutes to begin drafting your personal mission statement. You should take as much time as you need to reflect and write out your mission statement. It can be short-term or long-term, and should encompass your values and how you’d like to express them in your life. You don’t have to use ALL the values in your Reset 10 if you don’t want to. It may serve you best to only include your top three or you could include all 20 of the ones you came up with during your brainstorm. It’s up to you to decide what would be most useful.

The statement itself can be as short or as long as you think it needs to be, but the process and the final statement should serve to help you make different kinds of decisions about how you will live your life from now on. And remember, it will continue to change as YOU change over time, so don’t worry about it being perfect and final. This should be a work in progress, just like you!

As an example (please don’t feel like you have to do yours this way), here is what my updated personal mission statement looks like:

I value learning, independence, travel, creativity, achievement, and social change. I deeply appreciate laughter, good food, music and poetry in my life. I especially value authenticity and love in myself and others. Before I die, I want to have made a positive impact on the world for young people, women, and people of color. As a writer, speaker and coach, I will use my one life to affect many lives by helping people realize their goals and dreams. In my work and life, I will always tell my truth and make space for others to tell theirs. In my journey to empower others, I will not neglect my own family, friends, finances, health, or spirituality. I will remember that love is the only religion and that forgiveness is the highest form of love. And that fear means GO. I will remember that failure is only failure if you don’t learn anything and that nothing is ever so bad that you can’t get up and dance when the music comes on. And I will always, always choose love over fear.

Take Action and Reflect: When you’re done, please share your personal mission statement with us in the comments! How did you feel as you were writing it? If you blogged about today’s assignment, please post the link in the comments so we can read it
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50 comments

  1. Pingback: #31DayReset Day 31: Create a Vision Board | Happy Black Woman | Helping Women Design Their Ideal Lives

  2. I created a mission statement a few years ago, but this exercise helped me retool it –

    My Mission Statement: To be my best self. To be authentic, live a BALANCED life and walk in purpose. My ultimate goal is to achieve success in this life and the hereafter. I will do the things I love to do in a way that positively contributes to the betterment of my community. I will strive to be the change I want to see in the world; and use my blessings to serve God and help others. Whenever I set out to do something I will seek to perfect it. I will surround myself with beauty and positivity. I WILL BE BOLD, BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL. I will cherish all the GOd has blessed me with, live in truth and shine with character. I will speak the truth, command respect, and treat others as though they are creations of God Almighty. I will fear no man nor shall I fear failure. And if I feel fear, I will work through it in order to do my part in creating the life I envision for myself. I will seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. And most importantly, I will be grateful.

    - TSA (Twitter: @respectmyname)

    Super long I know…

  3. I value love, compassion and balance. My career is not my life but when I am at work I find it fulfilling. I will have a career that is in line with my beliefs regarding nature and sustainability. I will be a part of leaving this Earth in better shape before I leave it. I will value my family, friends and partner. I will remember how special they are and the importance they have in my life. I will ALWAYS make time for the activities that make my heart sing. I will remember I am enough. I will let go of negativity and let the happiness flow in!

  4. I value all of the relationships that are dear to my heart, knowledge, experiencing out of my comfort zone, having boundless creativity, and the true value of self-worth and love. I enjoy the simple things in life that takes more time than money and is truly from the heart. I enjoy the arts, musable environments, enjoying family and friends, and the joys life can bring. I am a believer of God, embracing true self, and loving everyone! The creativity I have will be shared to show that its okay to be different despite what the world wants you to believe what is norm. I will not neglect my top priorities on my journey of enhanced self-love, knowledge, and discovery. I will make no excuses for actions I do not decide to take because the choices of action are mine to take. I will live, gain, and lose, but in the end I will continue to love and always conquer.

  6. This literally took me 2 hours. I guess it was intimidating to make these promises to myself, but it’s also incredibly motivating (after all, if I can’t keep my own word to myself, how can I expect anyone else to keep theirs?). Anywho, here’s my mission statement:

    I value creation and creativity, and I will create a life that is both a work of art and an inspiration–not a tragedy–to myself and to others. I value art for its own sake and for its ability to inspire and effect change, so I will unabashedly write, dance, teach, and share my talents with the world, knowing my efforts shine a light on others for them to do the same. I believe that life is an adventure and will lead mine as such, trusting my Creator to lead me right and believing that every twist and turn simply leads to an even better opportunity just around the riverbend.* I will work to create warmth and love in the world and in myself by speaking my truth without hesitation, forgiving fully and without reservation, and listening with compassion, not motivation. I will nurture myself and my healthy relationships with good food, good fun, clean air, and good decisions. I will decide and no one will choose for me, because I am the co-captain of my life, following God.

    *Yes, I did just quote a song from a Disney movie in my mission statement. #freedomshrug =)

  7. My personal mission statement is: that I will live my life to the fullest and continue to put God first and foremost in everything I do. I will cherish my family and my true friends. I will be financially stable and live the life that God has written for me. I will be the best mother my boys will ever know and they will know that I love them with everything in me and all that I have. I will be more focused on my family and handling business and allow GOD to order my steps in the way that HE will have for me to go and with that I know and trust that I will be successful in all the things I do and I will travel and rest accordingly. I will love myself and take care of me and be more involved in the life around me while helping others.

  8. This exercise was difficult! Read my blog post about it: http://wp.me/p1rrQZ-2F

    My personal mission statement is:

    I always live with my values in balance, making sure everything that’s important to me gets the attention it deserves (and nothing gets too much). It’s important to me to always be a role model to others by acting with integrity, being compassionate and generous, and showing quiet conviction. I incorporate leadership into my life by showing initiative, going for opportunities at full force, and always acting with respect for others. I make a difference and will leave a legacy by paying it forward at every opportunity, creating big lasting change, and impacting others through my actions and attitude. It’s important to me to always be generous, always contributing to the nonprofit sector (with time and money) and being available to my friends and family. I make it a priority to spend time with those I love and who love me, deeply connecting with them and encouraging them to challenge me. I value learning from others and make it a priority to expose myself to new people and perspectives and put myself in new situations so I can form new connections.
    Read my latest blog post…31 Day Reset: Day 6 – A Balancing Act of Values

  9. I am one of God’s work in progress… A child of in the pursuit of HappYness. I shall find that HappYness by always seeking God first in everything I do. I shall find HappYness by loving and being loved because Love is such a powerful tool. As a professional, I shall pursue what motivates me to get up every morning, what gives me the sense of fulfilling my life’s purpose. I shall always seek these two aspects no matter what professional activities I undertake or career path I finally choose. In all things and all relationships, I should value trustworthiness, respect and sincerity while always remembering to surround myself only with the people who lift me higher and higher.

  10. I will live my life with no restrictions. I will challenge myself in the areas of education and personal development continually because I love learning and I always have room for growth. Becoming my best self is my goal. I will not allow outside influences to poison my life. Instead I will be more in control of what enters into my life and deal with all negative through practicing good health and remaining focused on my spiritual life. I will seek opportunities to become my better self by doing what comes naturally to me- counseling, mentoring, and educating. I will reach out to others by sharing my knowledge and wisdom based on my life experiences. I will teach in areas of giving and receiving respect, raising self-esteem, building confidence, being positive, and embracing education. I will go after my goal with all my might and no longer wait around for the right time. The time is now.

  11. I wrote this out many different ways! For now, here is my mission statement:

    I am 100% on my side and allow myself to be fully who I am, no matter what anyone else thinks. I am willing to learn. I am here for myself and am willing to feel my feelings and notice my thoughts- light, dark, enjoyable and painful. I do my very best to take good care of myself and water all the good seeds that are in me, and use any darkness as fertilizer for growth. I give myself all the support I need in my environment and my relationships. I live vibrantly by fully engaging with life with curiosity, increasing my skills, and making healthy choices for my body.

    I PLAY in my everyday life by being present and engaging with myself, others, and reality. I CHOOSE to live a life of integrity and purpose. I live in a way that is harmonious with nature and other people, considering the well being of others in my lifestyle choices. I know that EVERY good thing I do and every bit of my own well being adds to the well being of others. I live fully who I am giving all my gifts I can to others. And I am enjoying all the gifts from this life and from others, feeling full of gratitude for all good things.
    Read my latest blog post…There’s hope.

    • I liked this activity… I’m happy with my mission statement but I’m sure it will evolve

      I am a woman who is passionate about self development, love, social change and justice. I am deeply committed to ensuring that these passions are manifested in my daily work, whether it is though my paid work or community volunteerism. I will work with individuals and communities that have been socially, economically and politically oppressed or marginalized. I will develop strategies to challenge these issues. I will challenge myself daily to live life as authentically as possible. I will open my heart, mind and spirit to the possibilities that are available to me in this life. I will make love, optimism, positivity and faith the foundation of all my actions, pursuits, words, thoughts and interactions. I will remember that my time on this earth is limited and to live each day with purpose and the intent to be happy. I will value, cherish and reciprocate the love and support I receive from family and friends. I will find love with a man who was made perfect for me and together we will build a beautiful family. Each day I will reflect and give thanks for all that I have been blessed with and make plans for all that I hope to achieve in the future.

  12. Pingback: What Are You Selling? (Hint: It’s Not Your Blog) | Happy Black Woman | Personal Development for Success in Life + Business

  13. My highest calling is to serve others in a way that supports their goals and nurtures their character, spirit, and personal growth. I am mindful to remain committed to my own personal growth, self care, self respect and, lifelong learning. It is important that I maintain my integrity in all of my interactions.

  14. I am a child of God and I want everything I do and choose to come through him, everything must start with him. As a person, I want to touch the lives of the youth because they need someone to look to here on Earth when they are going through hard times. I value love, peace and my family. I must begin to give more freely to others and doing things for me because happiness is important. I will work on learning and enjoying new things (art, music, theatre, cuisine). I’m on a journey to empower and help others. I will continue to strive for excellence in my education, spirituality, mentally, physically. I will let go of the fears that creeps upon me and go for what I want. I know the Lord will lead me down the best path for my life, FAITH is the keep. NO MORE FEAR!

  15. Personal Mission Statement:

    I value love, family and friendship. I appreciate culture and adventure. i desire to be wealthy, healthy and beautiful. I yearn to travel and truly enjoy life. As an individual, I plan to make positive changes in my life as well as the lives of others. I want to be empowering through truth, honesty and support. I will keep in mind that I need to be both selfish and selfless. Since I enjoy hhelping others and making other people happy, I need to elarn how to do that while keeping myself happy. I will refrain from neglecting myself, my God, my family, my friends, my health, my wealth and my happiness for things that possibly are not important to me. I will continue to try new things, travel to new places and do things I enjoy. I promise myself to be a happy black woman.

    • Being both selfish and selfless a tighrope walk I have been on. It is so easy to do so much for others that you leave nothing for yourself.

  17. My personal mission statement: I owe it to myself to claim the title of “artist.” I owe it to myself to treat myself with the same kindness, understanding and respect that I give to others so freely. I owe it to myself to be committed to spiritual, physical and mental health. I owe it to myself to improve my financial well-being as well.
    I owe it to myself and others to stay politically informed and active. I owe it to myself and others to stay committed to effecting positive change that lead to freedom and equity for all people, regardless of skin color, hair type, sexuality, gender, age, or political affiliation. I owe it to myself to do the work and stay on the path that will lead to everything stated above.
    —
    This was an interesting exercise. At first I thought it would be hard to create a personal mission statement. It seemed so lofty, so out of my reach. But once I reviewed the values I listed earlier, it actually became quite easy to write this out. Now it’s a matter of living it out.

  18. I have complete faith in God that His purpose for my life will not only become truly revealed, but completely realized. I hold my marriage sacred and it’s success comes only second to my relationship with God and my calling. I am a leader, nurturer, and teacher of my children. I supply them with love, and also stern disciple when needed. I want to be an attentive and thoughtful daughter who honors her parents as God commanded.
    I want to become an avid reader and rediscover my imagination and hopefully that will spark me to become my most creative self to date. I want to always be honest and have integrity and through my ministry, I want to help as many people as I can not only gain everlasting life through Christ Jesus, but live the best possible life here on Earth as well. I want to be a student and really value education. I want to learn as much as I can. I also want to open my mind to new thoughts and ideas and become a well-rounded person. I want to have financial freedom. I do not want to worry about how bills are going to get paid and I want to be able to buy whatever I need and most of what I want. I want to have something concrete to leave my children so that their struggles won’t be as hard as mine. I want to leave a mark on this world and do exactly what I was born to do: be GREAT!

  19. I choose to put my trust and faith in God that He will lead me on the journey to fulfill my purpose. I will always stand up for what I believe but not at the expense of my health or close relationships. My life is a testimony that others will be able to look at and know obstacles will not hold me back from greatness.

  20. Putting CHRIST above everything else, I will always live a PASSIONATE and PURPOSE filled life. I am a conscience being fully aware of my actions because I want to always be a source of LIGHT, LIFE, and LOVE to myself and others. I will never forget the need for FAMILY and cherish my FRIENDSHIPS because they are both essential to my soul. I am open to receiving and giving love in every aspect of life. Love brings life and I want to give life to as many people as I can. I will never hide my light or shine less for the sake of a RELATIONSHIPS.Standards are meant to be raised, not lowered. I will continue to SERVE others, because that is where true happiness lies. I am an innate LEADER, so sharing this gift will bring fulfillment to my life both personally and professionally. I will not shy away from hard work, but rather run after it. EXCELLENCE is a frame of mind. No one is born with it. You obtain IT choosing each and every time that you decide it to be your only option. Excellence is my only option. I will never be complacent because that means I am no longer PROGRESSING. I will always pursue CONTEMPORARY excellence in every facet of my life. In fulfilling my purpose, I will also seek and receive PEACE. PEACE to accept what I can not change and PEACE to know that my GOD is still in control.

  21. Pingback: Day Nine: Create a Life Map | queen1978

  22. I believe that the purpose of life is to give and to receive love, joy, and happiness. This love, joy and happiness is not of the shallow and materialistic variety, but the deep and abiding kind that makes the special moments of life calm, quiet, peaceful and beautiful. I will live my life so as to maximize the love, happiness, and joy that I feel each and every day. How will I do this? Well, the pathways to this life are manifold. They include learning about and exploring the many worlds that surround me (the world of the intellect and learning, the physical world, the world of feeling and hurt that most people live in, etc.). It also entails sharing my joy and knowledge of these worlds with my son and with all those I chose to make my friends and family. It also includes meangiful work. This means that my work will not only provide financially for myself and my family, but that it will also have a positive impact on the lives of others. These paths, my path, includes giving and receiving understanding, pleasure, and support. It includes taking care of myself physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually and providing the same for my son, my mother and my grandfather. It entails “being there” with my family and friends and sharing the moments of the their now. I will share my joy and my love and my happiness with every human being that comes into my life. I will do my best to ensure that their lives are better for having met me. I will allow myself moments of joy, and love and happiness. I will allow my cup to overflow and run over. I will live.

    Thank you for this exercise. For several years I have struggled with what I am to do with my life. Since I can literally do anything, I have literally done nothing. This mission statement has given me a direction to “walk” in. Baby, it’s on now!

  24. By putting God at the forefront of my life and walking by faith and not by sight, my mission is to fulfill the purpose that He has set in place for my life. I will positively influence the lives of those who are directly and indirectly around me by being honest with myself and others and by expecting honesty, loyalty, and respect from those I encounter throughout my life.
    As a social worker, educator, coach, and mentor, I will be motivation and encouragement for all youth but especially young women of color. I will give lost girls new hope through empowerment, education, support, and guidance. I will give them the strength, courage, and wisdom to think for themselves; so that they can take charge of their lives, increase their education, become comfortable with their sexuality, and create positive change around them.
    Remembering who I am and where I came from, I will continue to live my life based on these values that have been instilled in me: Spirituality/God, Family/ The institution of marriage, Friends, Education, Success/Achievement, Financial security/freedom, Money, Entrepreneurship, Being a role model, Love, Health/Healthy living/Health education, Loyalty/Tradition/Commitment, Honesty, Freedom, Community service, Job security, Real estate/Property ownership, Technology, Nature/Natural beauty, Food, clothing, shelter (basic needs), Sexuality, Positivity, and Culture.
    In fulfilling my mission/purpose I will always take care of my mental, physical, and emotional health first, because without being at my best I can not give the best to others.

  26. I’m a bit late…I know

    I will live with the understanding that peace and joy come from truly loving myself and others.I vow to share my love, and live according to how I want to be loved. My mission is to have an impact on every person that I encounter, sharing the gifts and potential that has been blessed upon my life. I will value my friendships, service to my community, happiness, independence, and love. As a professional I will strive to increase my knowledge, embrace leadership, and bring passion into everything that I do. I will always make my family a priority. My spirituality and relationship with God will guide all of my actions and decisions. I will live knowing that anything that I want in life is attainable. I am the master of my destiny, and I will fulfill my divine purpose in life.
    Read my latest blog post…personal mission statement

  27. My mission in life is to live my best life while living a life of style. I want to encourage others to incorporate style into their lives as well. I truly believe the better you and your world looks the better you will feel. I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts. I know that I am at my best and happiest when I’m being creative whether it’s writing, putting an outfit together, planning something fun to do, shopping for the perfect gift for someone, or creating looks for someone else. I will strive to keep the following attributes a part of my daily life, patience, kindness, grace and poise. My mind will remain filled with positive thoughts and I will no longer give power to negative thoughts and fears. I will use negativity and fear as motivation to keep moving forward. God will guide my steps and bless me as long as I remain faithful in what he says I can do. The things I do and accomplish in my life will leave a rich legacy to encourage my family and friends.
    Read my latest blog post…The Dyson Technology Experience: Keep Cool In Style!

    • Amazing! – Among all the other values you covered, I truly believe that life should be lived with style! :)

  28. Here is my link to my blog where my personal mission statement is: http://www.kaceyvenning.com/2011/08/31-day-challenge-day-6-my-personal-mission-statement/

    To live my best life, my decisions are made consciously by the strength of my relationship with Christ. Through this decision, I make deliberate decisions to value family and close relationships where I can impact their lives through the decisions, care and love that I show them. I chose wisdom and not emotion only in my daily decisions and that will ultimately lead to being able to impact society and community around me by being financially secure and debt free, self-employed and providing opportunities to others. To ensure that I am able to contribute successfully to the lives of others and first to myself, I make a conscious decision to live healthily and as cleanly as I can as I continue live my best life in love, relationship and creativity.
    Read my latest blog post…31 day challenge: Day 6 – My Personal Mission Statement

  29. I want a simple yet interesting life. I want my family to always be close to me. I value leisure time and adore books. My health is very important to me and I never want to work in an occupation or live in area where it is at risk. Economic security is important to me and I would like to achieve it by owning a very successful business that I can pass on to my children. I will marry a loving, considerate, financially successful man and we will create a beautiful life together. Taking care of my mother will always be a top priority for me. More than anything, I just want to live a joyful and unstressed life surrounded by like-minded community.

  30. My purpose is to use my passion and creativity to mentor and inspire women and girls of color to create societal messages about themselves that are exactly as they desire their lives to be: positive, thought-provoking and empowering; to harness their unique culture and lives experiences to mobilize their communities and the next generation through activism, service, and sisterhood. I value integrity, knowledge, self care, love, beauty, leadership, service, spirituality, my loved ones, philanthropy, culture, freedom, personal growth, and balance. I expect authenticity from others as well as myself. In my work and personal life, I try to be as honest as possible and I honor others’ ability to tell their truth as well. While I love the work that I do, I do not neglect my health finances, loved ones, or my connection with God. I always remember that I should live in the moment, appreciate the past, embrace the future, and give thanks along the way. Love and peace come before everything also I continue to remind myself that life is filled with beauty, laughter, creativity, passion, and God. Always.

  31. Another wonderful assignment! Looking at my mission statement inspires me :-) I expect it will change as time goes on, but it’s comforting to have this starting point.

  32. when people criticize you remember its because ultimately they see something unique about you that they want for themselves. It comes from a deep place of inadequacy and self-directed anger, which has nothing to do with the person they are bullying. strive to be compassionate and forgiving. Thulani D

  33. I will live this part of my journey seeking peace and balance in every aspect of my life. Everyday I will take steps toward giving and recieving love and trust, to myself and those around me. I will start by opening myself up to the possibilities that lay ahead, and letting go of the events, thoughts and feelings that chain me to the past. I will seek out opportunities to connect with others and allow others to connect with me. I will learn all that I can about the things Im involved in and let this knowledge build confidence in my own skills and abilities. I will trust, I will trust, I will trust my own intuition. I am transforming

  34. Day 6 of the #31 Day Reset: Write a Personal Mission Statement

    Living only to please an audience of One, and that is the Most High. Continuing to Step away from who I thought I should be and stepping into the Plan and Purpose God has for me. I will live a life that Empowers, Inspires, and Motivates others to seek their purpose for which they created, and then L I V E it. In my journey to empower others, I will not neglect my own family, friends, finances, health, or spirituality. I will always choose FAITH over fear. LOVE above all. Love is my religion. I recognize the P O W E R, God has entrusted me with I will only use it for Good. Only using it to Inspire and Motivate. Only using it to speak life. Only using it to Build up, not tear down. And by doing that you Consistently make the Devil Mad- so Kudos to you for that. My Live is my message.
    Read my latest blog post…stfuandsmd:

    Erykah Badu – definition of a true artist.

  35. My body is a temple so I will treat it as such. To show my respect and love I have for God, I will consume food that are healthy and provide nutritional benefits. I will also show my honor to God by praying more often and attending chruch. By the blessings of God, I have a place to call a home, food to eat, and my health. I will make it my duty to give back by paying my tithes and offerings. I will also honor my mother and father. Thanks to my parents, I have caring silbilings who I will start to cherishing by calling and spending more time them. My family is apart of my backbone. I will be more of a friend to my friends and only allow positive people into my life. When hard times arise I will lean more on God, family, and friends. I will remain strong and not try to escape from my problems. I want the best for everyone so I will continue to spread kindess, help, and respect. Starting with school, I will choose a career path that is right for me. I will strive to be the compassionate and honest person I am.

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