2. WINDS OF FATE
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
One ship drives east and another drives west.
With the selfsame winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of the sails and not the gales
Which tells us the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life.
“Tis the set of the soul that decides a goal
And not the cold or the strife.
ACTIVITY: Show video clip of “Jerry McGuire”
3. BENEFITS OF A MISSION
STATEMENT
1. Gives meaning and significance to
our actions and our life
• At the end of our lives we will be
able to say, “I did what I was created
to do. I contributed to this world in a
significant manner.”
4. 2. Clarity for Your Role in Life
Circumstances
• Provides a singular focus to all of our
different roles (parent, employee,
friend, spouse, etc.)
• Eliminates confusion and emotional
conflicts
5. 3. A Measuring Stick for Life
Decisions
• The best tool to
measure any large life
choices
• Ask “Does it support
your mission?”
6. 4. A Magnet for Staying on Track
in Life
• Keeps our mission in
the front of our minds
• Helps to eliminate
unproductive activities
• Puts first things first.
7. 5. Ability To Communicate
Clearly What You Bring To
Personal and Professional
Opportunities
• Have a single sentence that states what
you are here to do (taken from your mission
statement)
• Have it memorized
• This allows you clearly tell others what you
can do for them
8. 6. Motivation to Do Your Best
• Keeps one centered on their purpose
• Keeps circumstances from distracting
us
9. 7. Maximize your talents
• Calls us to use all of our skills and talents
• Requires that we use them for the benefit
of others
• Talents grow with us
10. 8. Strength to Stand Tall in the
Fluctuating Winds of Change
• It provides a rock of stability
• Provides a forward direction that brings
peace and integrity to changing times
11. 9. Creates Action Rather than
Reaction
• Keeps us from letting others take the
steering wheel of our lives
• Helps us respond with intention
• Helps us choose the best course of action
12. 10. Attracts People and
Opportunities That Support Your
Life
• The more you live your mission, the more
those around you will respect and support
your actions
13. Personal Mission Statement
• Reflects your Key:
– Values
– Principles
– Sense of purpose and meaning for your life.
Your Personal Mission Statement in a sense
becomes your “personal constitution” that
gives you meaning and direction to life.
Activity: Read Terry Fox story
14. Steps for Writing Personal
Mission Statement
1. Reflect on the key values
and principles you want to
use as a guide for your life.
Values may vary among us,
but correct principles are
shared by all people of good
will.
15. Steps for Writing Personal Mission
Statement
2. Ponder questions like: What
do you want your life to be
about in order to give it
purpose and meaning?
Think about how much
better this world would be if
each person were dedicated
to lifting the lives of
everyone we touch.
16. Steps for Writing Personal Mission
Statement
3. “Brainstorm” with yourself,
parents, relatives, teachers,
religious leaders, counselors and
friends about your strengths, talents,
deep-felt values and principles
which are most important to you.
Read biographies of people you
admire.
Take personality/aptitude/vocational
tests.
17. Steps for Writing Personal Mission
Statement
4. View your personal Mission Statement
as your “Personal Constitution” Like
the Constitution of a country, your
Personal Mission Statement can be
amended over time if so inspired. It will
always reflect your fundamental values,
purposes and principles which will
guide you through the thousands of
decisions you will make in your lifetime.
18. Steps for Writing Personal Mission
Statement
• 5. Find a quiet place, inside
or outside where you can
spend some quality
uninterrupted time pondering
and reflecting in order to
write your Personal Mission
Statement. It need not be
too long - no more than a
page or a few paragraphs. It
should inspire you and cause
you to stretch but not break.
19. Steps for Writing Personal Mission
Statement
• 6. Ask, “Does this statement inspire
me?” While it does not totally reflect
where you are today, it helps you to
stretch to become better and is a
guide as you make it difficult decision.
Write in the “present tense” as if you
are doing it. You will enjoy the “power
of purpose” as a result of getting a
vision of what you want your life to be.
20. An Example of a Mission
Statement
• The purpose of my life is bringing
happiness and growth to our family and all
within my influence, while living a rich and
abundant life of integrity, which is my
definition of success. Living correct
principles is the center of my life, from
which I seek solutions to life’s many
demands.
21. An Example of a Mission
Statement … continued
• I value a career in higher education, being
a good father and husband, raising a
strong family, and seeking the truth. I will
serve diligently in my church-keeping
focused on the needs of people.
Community service when appropriate is
also valued. Earning sufficient income to
provide a healthy lifestyle for my family
and a secure retirement are important as I
strive to be wise in managing my money.
22. An Example of a Mission
Statement … continued
• With love of others and self as my core
motivating principle, I want to balance my life
consistently with the following 30 human needs:
Physical, intellectual, emotional, sexual/intimacy,
social, spiritual/philosophical, achievemental,
cultural/aesthetic, leisure, creative,
understanding/communication, agency/self
determination, private space, time management,
humor, perspective, perseverance,
enthusiasm/motivation
23. VICTOR FRANKL said
• Everyone has his own specific
vocation or mission in life
• He/she cannot be replaced
• Nor can his/her life be repeated
• Thus, everyone’s task is as unique
as is his specific opportunity to
implement it.
24. FRANKL cont’d
• We detect rather than invent
our missions in life
–Each of us has an internal
monitor that gives us an
awareness of our own
uniqueness and
contributions that we can
make.
