Your Personal Mission Statement

All, Navigating Life

by Tori Roalef
January 9, 2024

If you explore any business’s website, you’ll likely encounter their “mission statement”—a concise summary encapsulating their values, purpose, and overall goal. Mission statements serve as a compass for organizations to navigate decisions and implement their plans for achieving their goals.

But, mission statements aren't exclusive to businesses. This week, we will craft own personal mission statement that articulates our values, defines our purpose, and sets the course for our personal goals.

The Idea of the Week

Just as an organization’s mission statement describes what the organization aims to achieve and what they value, a personal mission statement describes what you want to achieve in life and reflects your values. So first, let’s clarify our values with Rowena Tsai’s 15-minute video: how to get your life together: discover your values, live your purpose, and set goals for a full life.

Rowena highlights an important distinction that helps align your goals and actions with your values and purpose. The key question to ask is: “Is this what I truly want, or is this something I think I want?” The video also includes a free worksheet to identify, prioritize, and reflect on your values.

The Practice of the Week

Having a personal mission statement can bring focus to your goals that creates a meaningful life for you. Some ways to bring clarity to your mission statement are to ask questions, reflect on your values, and create a vision of what you want in your life. In this 5-minute article, Psychology Today outlines How to Write a Personal Mission Statement.

A benefit to writing a personal statement is that it is holistic. So, as in this 10-minute article, when a professor had to write a mission statement to apply for a teaching position, they could tweak their personal mission statement to be more career-focused. Below are a few examples from the article to inspire you in your mission statement:

Live a life that aligns with my core values: “I will strive to live a life that is consistent with my own values and ethics. To achieve this, I will ensure I reflect every day on how my daily actions and interactions with others will reflect upon me, and whether they’re consistent with who I strive to be.”
Always have a growth mindset: “My core mission is to always maintain a growth mindset each and every day. For me, this means embracing challenges rather than shying away from them, having persistence and resilience when I face setbacks, and viewing effort as a pathway to mastery.”
To be generous with my time: “I will be generous with my time because I believe my time is the greatest gift I can give to others. This means I will commit to quality time with my friends and family and make sure I maintain a work-life balance so I can commit my time to the people who deserve it.”
Change what’s in my control: “I pledge to focus my energies on what I can control in my life. I will strive to change my circumstances when possible, and adapt my attitude when it isn’t. By understanding and accepting this distinction, I will bring about the most positive outcomes for myself and those around me.”

Remember, your personal mission statement can change over time. Revisit your personal statement and revise it when it is no longer working for you and your life evolves.

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News of the Week

Creative Tarot Workshop

Embark on a journey of connection and discovery in this 2-hour workshop! Immerse yourself in a sense of community, delve into the rich history of tarot, and craft a personalized tarot power card to take home—your source of ongoing inspiration, guidance through a current issue, or to expand your life exploration!

February 11, 2024
12-2pm
Cost: $55
Located at Breathing Space Psychotherapy, 3455 Erieville Road
Erieville, NY

Reserve Your Spot!

Another Upcoming Retreat
Unlocking Your Mind:
A Journey to Self-Discovery
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Retreat

Two Ketamine Journeys—lots of deep dives into experiential therapy incorporating meditation, writing, art making, yoga, and other body-centered modalities. Step away from the stressors of daily life and fully immerse yourself in the therapeutic process. We will use Ketamine and experiential therapy to break through the stuck places to find more freedom, pace, and motivation!

Zoom Preparation Session: Thursday, January 25th from 6-8 pm.
In-person: Thursday, February 1st from 4-9 pm.
In-person: Friday, February 2nd from 8:30 am-8 pm.
In-person: Saturday, February 3rd from 9 am-5 pm.
In-person: Sunday, February 4th from 8am to 9am.
Zoom Integration Session: Thursday, February 8th from 6-8 pm.

Learn more

You may be able to finance the retreat. Use the QR Code below to see if you prequalify!

Understanding Ketamine Therapy in Light of Matthew Perry’s Passing: A Focus on Safe Practices at Breathing Space Psychotherapy

Ketamine, an anesthetic used in hospitals and in psychotherapy to treat serious depression, has been tied to the tragic death of the beloved actor, Matthew Perry. In light of the recent news, there may be confusion around the safety of ketamine in psychotherapy.

Head to our blog to learn more about Ketamine Therapy and our safety practices at Breathing Space Psychotherapy.