A mission statement for life sets the direction for our lives. It determines our destination. So we can work towards reaching our chosen destination despite obstructions posed by constant changes in personal life, family life and professional life.
Why do we need a Mission statement for life?
As we live our life we encounter so many obstructions, barriers and we go through so many hardships. These act as distractions and may prevent us from achieving our objectives. So if we have a mission statement we know where we should go. Our life is a journey. It’s just like an aircraft travelling to a specific destination. The pilot has a flight plan which helps him reach his destination. Changes in weather in terms of wind and rain and human error slightly alter the flight path. But the pilot knows very well what his destination is and he has a definite flight plan. So he is able to reach his destination by correcting the deviations. The hardships and problems we face in life are equal to the weather changes and human error that changed the prescribed flight path of the aeroplane. So if we have a mission statement for our life we have an idea about the destination and we can somehow steer our life to it.
Writing the mission statement….
Each of us has various roles to play in life. An individual may have several roles to play in life. They may be as a professional, as a spouse, as a parent, as a neighbour and as a social worker etc. A mission statement can be written in terms of the important roles in our lives. So, initially, we should identify various roles in our lives. Then we should determine the long term goals for each important role that we play.
An example of a personal mission statement….
I will live my life with integrity, justice and loving kindness. I will be an effective individual in the various roles I play.
Husband– My partner is the best friend in my life. I will offer unconditional love to my spouse.
Father– I will shower my children with love and kindness. I will guide them through their life and teach my children to love, to learn and to laugh and develop their unique talents.
Son/Brother– I will be a loving son to my parents and a loving brother to my sister.
Spiritual life– I will live according to my values and principles. I will strive to live in accordance of five precepts of Buddhism.
Health– I will maintain proper health by exercising regularly, eating right foods in right quantities and minimising the stress I undergo by being proactive and prioritizing my work.
Professional– I will contribute effectively to achieve the goals of the organization I work for.
Financial Independence– I will improve my business and strive to achieve financial independence.
The above mentioned example will help you to form an idea about writing a mission statement. So go ahead and write your own mission statement.
