Why you need a Personal Mission Statement

It all started a couple of years ago when I was browsing in Waterstones and glanced at a copy of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. By total chance, I came across a book which would profoundly alter my life - since then I've devoured the book meticulously, making a very long list of notes and trying to live my life according to its principles.

Over the last couple of years, I've been trying to optimise my life - to manage my time more efficiently, but also to live a life which is more meaningful and interesting to me. The book has made me realise how time is the most important currency there is - not money. We all have only a limited amount of time alive, so I've made it my mission to use that time in the most effective and meaningful way possible.

What is meaningful to me might be very different to the next person - however, I've spent time to identify what these meaningful 'personal missions' in my life should be. And now I have a very clear picture of how I wish to intentionally live my life.

In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, a key concept which is discussed is to Begin with the End in Mind (Habit #2). This involves defining your long-term goals and values, and visualising what you want to achieve in various areas of your life, such as personal, professional and family.

The book goes on to suggest that the most effective way to Begin with the End in Mind is to make a Personal Mission Statement - a kind of personal Constitution that one lives by. It is changeless. Once you've written these personal missions down and stuck them on your wall (so you can see them every day - a very important part of the process), you can then begin each day with your most fundamental life values firmly in mind.

The Personal Mission Statement gives you decision-making clarity, by helping you prioritise what truly matters to you. It gives you personal itentity and foundation, very important in today's noisy and fast-moving world. And it keeps you steady when the waters become rough and life becomes uncertain. These principles do not have to be long or complex - rather they should be the most pure, refined version of the goals you want to live your life by. This could be summarised by a single sentence, a few paragraphs, or a list of bullet points.

The book itself suggests to "Begin each day with the blueprint of your deeply held values firmly in mind." and that "A personal mission statement becomes the DNA for every other decision we make."

Writing the Personal Mission Statement makes you think profoundly about what really matters most to you, and no matter how your life or the rest of the world changes, these principles remain firmly locked in place. While the Personal Mission Statement gives you a solid foundation on how to live your life, you can also consider writing a Mission Statement together as a couple or a family. Just make sure everyone gets involved as the thinking needed for its creation is just as important as the Mission Statement itself!

Rather than wandering through life reacting to the news and the events of other people's lives, a Personal Mission Statement gives you an arrow-straight path, through a core set of unchanging principles, upon how to build your life. Just make sure it's written down and in a clearly visible place in your house (even framed) - so you are reminded of these principles daily.

Imagine you're 90 years old, looking back on your life. What would you want to say you stood for? Write your personal mission statement today - make it your North Star and let it guide you to a more intentional, fulfilling life.