How to discover ‘why you are here’ and how to create your personal mission statement in 4 steps

Step 1

Discover the authentic you.

Who are you? What is typical you and what are you fundamental needs that are part of your personality? How do you play out your character traits? Are they helping your happiness and well-being? Or are they helping other people’s happiness and well-being at the cost of your situation?

Very often we carry a lot of unauthentic material in us: ideas from parents or authority people, beliefs we have taken on board without questioning them, feelings of guilt and anxiety, dislike and non-acceptance…….

This material is blocking your ability to see yourself for who you really are.

Step 2

Understand how to nourish yourself.

Once you know who you are, you are able to establish your needs. How do you nourish the authentic you? Is it through intellectuality, creativity, communication, physicality, spirituality, sexuality, caring, sharing, solitude, social interactions, travelling, adventures, relationships with animals, pushing your body?

Nourishing your soul is essential for your fulfilment and happiness and you are the only one to decide what you need and to ensure that your needs are met. You are responsible and have to take that responsibility.

Your nourishment is an essential part of your mission statement.

Step 3

How does the unique authentic you translates into a purpose with meaning?

Authentic self – the unique personality you are

Purpose – the actions you are taking, which are a nourishing expression of your authentic self

Meaning – how your purpose supports other people’s well-being and happiness

This is where you discover your role within the community. The community can be your family unit, your extended family, friends, your village or town or a good cause that involves thousands of people. It doesn’t need to be big, it needs to be clear and it needs to come from you.

Step 4

Bringing together all components in a coherent, clear and workable statement

This is where the knowledge about you and your purposeful meaning are coming together in a personal mission statement, to apply in all areas of your life.

Examples

I aim to learn, grow and develop myself each day and become wiser, more authentic, independent and more true to myself in order to empower others to get to know themselves, become emotionally independent and live more true to themselves – Mariette, life coach, meditation teacher, blogger

I am here to learn to grow and become kinder to myself, feel safe and accept life as it is in order to be able to connect people, be a mirror to them and promote tolerance through my presence and my art – Annabel, artist

I am here to express my unique skills through taking up challenges that are out of my comfort zone aiming to inspire and motivate others to get out of their comfort zone – Albert, extreme sportsman

Feedback from Jill Bennett, who went through this process and discovered her mission:

I had a bit of a crisis last year as I doubted what I was doing in life.  I heard about Mariette’s program that helps you uncover your life’s mission, the outcome of which is a mission statement that can help you decide whether or not to accept invitations or take on tasks. The program generally runs for about 6 weeks but in my case a lot of things came up and it took longer. Mariette was so patient and never gave up on me. The outcome is I now have more direction in my life and my own mission statement and I’m delighted. If you know anyone at a crossroads in their life I highly recommend they take a look at what Mariette does.