PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

• What is a personal mission statement?
  • a simple, written statement
  • it defines the kind of person you want to be
  • it defines how you want to live your life
  • it provides clarity and gives a sense of purpose to life
  Three sample mission statements:
  • Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948):
    Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
  • Ben Franklin (1706-1790):
    writer, inventor, scientist, one of the founding fathers who drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States
  • Carol Burns (show framed document)
    Choose a mat! I'll frame your mission statement for you!
• What good is a mission statement?
  • It can connect you with your own unique purpose, and the satisfaction that comes from fulfilling it.
  • It can form the basis for making major, life-directing decisions.
  • It can form the basis for making daily decisions in the midst of turmoil.
  • It can be your guiding light when things get dark.
• Why should you have one?
  Lewis Carroll wrote: ‘If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.’
  Activity: Give an image (say, from nature) of a life that does not have direction:
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  Activity: Give an image of a life that does have direction (as provided by a personal mission statement):
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• Watch Begin with the End in Mind (6:45, Stephen R. Covey)
  He has never revealed his three-word mission statement. Guess!
  
  • I will serve.
  • Show love unconditionally.
  • Trust in God.
• Watch How to Develop Your Personal Mission Statement (3:13, Stephen R. Covey)
• Start small!
  Write one or two statements for yourself.
  I'll frame them.
  You can add/edit over time!