Why write a purpose statement? It may sound a bit silly or tedious, but the benefits you gain will prove otherwise. It can be easy to just get through each day without thinking about what matters most to you, but your life is so full of meaning! A purpose statement points you to your goals, aspirations, and priorities. It becomes the anchor you can hold on to when anxiety and tasks pile up.
Simply put, a purpose statement helps you lead a purposeful life.
So then, how do you write one? The goal is to ultimately answer these two questions:
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
BIG questions, aren’t they? So big that they might take a few nights, weeks, or months to answer.
Thankfully, there are a few ways to break down this mountain of a question into smaller bunny hills. Take a moment to answer the following questions:
- What are three things I like most about myself?
- What are three things I like to teach or share with others?
- What are three reasons why I want to share these things with others?
If you are struggling to answer any of these questions, have no fear. Creating a purpose statement will require thought, and thought requires time. There is no pressure to get it figured out on the spot. If you’re struggling in your thought process, try to brainstorm about what you love to do and why you love doing it. Think about the goals you’d like to set. Another helpful question is: Where in life do you want to be 50 years from now? Not what you expect, but where you want to be. Imagining your goals playing out in old age can help you to shape them.
Once you answer these questions, it’s time to connect them together in a purpose statement! Using your answers, form your statement like this:
“My Life’s Purpose Statement is to use my… [Question 1’s answer]
… In order to… [Question 2’s answer]
… Because I want to… [Question 3’s answer].”
And there you go! You’ve written out your purpose statement! Difficult, introspective questions, but nothing too tough to break through. Now, remember that your statement is not permanent. Goals and plans can always change. Thus, think of it in a more fluid way, and feel free to give it an update when a new ambition changes the course of your life.
Living a purposeful life is always good, but it can be hard to stay motivated. Fortunately, prompts like these will help you remember why you do what you do. If you find no meaning attached to your actions, I recommend that you dedicate 15 minutes to answering these questions. You will find clarity taking shape in your life, and hopefully, it will remind you of your life’s meaning and purpose.