What is your mission statement?

Why have a mission statement? I believe we all have a purpose or mission in life. You know in your heart what is most important to you. Most of the time your values and mission are reflected by how you live your life. You may not even realize how you are broadcasting your values. Sometimes, life gets in the way. Making someone else happy or satisfying their needs takes precedence. That is when you get weary. When you lose your spark. When you feel “out of synch.” When you feel out of balance. That is when you are out of balance with your personal mission statement. Knowing when to make someone else happy or yourself happy gives you a guide or map to living consciously and deliberately. If you take the time to think about what your priorities are, you will know what to do next. When the day-to-day clutter of living gets in your way, everything can seem like a priority. The old saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” is true. What is competing most for your attention can throw you off your course of what is important to you. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? Today, we're going to help you find the right words to put that mission down on paper. I’m going to pose a series of statements that only you can answer or finish. There are no “right or wrong” answers. Only what is right for you. When you think about a personal mission statement, you need to think about your whole life. For your life to be “in balance,” you have to consider all the elements in your life. Here is a list for you to consider as elements that make up a whole life:

1) Work / Career 2) Family / Friends 3) Spiritual / Religion 4) Health & Wellbeing 5) Fun / Recreation 6) Money / Finances 7) Physical Environment 8) Personal Growth 9) Significant other / Partner / Spouse THE STATEMENTS Complete the following statements as they are true for you today. Not as you think you “should” be. And, not for as you were last year or want to be next year. Truth, for you today.

• Five positive characteristics that define me are …
• For each of the five characteristics, write down an action you take to express those traits.
• My best talents and skills are …
• I use money to …
• My natural talents and gifts are …

These are the elements of your mission statement! Good job! You now have the beginning of a mission statement built on a foundation of your values. You have more clarity into you want to be and to do in your life. You can also start to detect the values and principles upon which your life is based. I encourage you to write and revise your mission statement until you feel it reflects your mission and values. Distill it down to a paragraph or even a sentence, that is meaningful to you. With permission, here are some for you to read. Some will appeal to you. Others won't. You'll see that mission statements come in all shapes and sizes, just like people. They were created for a unique purpose and person. “I want to experience life’s passions with the newness of a child’s love, the sweetness and joy of young love, and the respect and reverence of mature love.”

“My mission is to give, for giving is what I do best and I can learn to do better.”

Mahatma Gandhi captured his mission statement in a short list of active statements. You can create your mission in this style, starting each sentence with "I shall" or "I will." “Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day: * “I shall not fear anyone on Earth. * “I shall fear only God. * “I shall not bear ill will toward anyone. * “I shall not submit to injustice from anyone. * “I shall conquer untruth by truth. * “And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.”

“My journey is about helping people. I see people the way they ‘really are’ and help them manifest that life.”

“I want to be the kind of person my dog already thinks I am.”

“I am joy, love and laughter. My mission is spread joy, love and laughter every where I go.” LIFE IS AN ONGOING PROCESS So is your mission statement. Life is a journey. Your mission statement is your map. "Organizing your life around the many roles you play will help you maintain balance and focus on your key relationships rather than focusing on tasks and things." Stephen R Covey

Over the years, your circumstances will change. Your priorities will change. Your goals and dreams will change. That's okay - because change means growth. As you grow, transform, and broaden your horizons, allow yourself the freedom to expand and refine your mission statement. For now, congratulate yourself on a job well done. Tell your friends about your newly stated purpose in life. The next step is learning how to live your mission. Maybe it's easy, but maybe it takes some guidance. I’m here to help. Call me and let's find the path to fulfill your mission.

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com