{"id":93,"date":"2012-05-12T02:19:19","date_gmt":"2012-05-12T02:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/onfire\/?p=93"},"modified":"2012-05-12T02:19:19","modified_gmt":"2012-05-12T02:19:19","slug":"5-steps-for-writing-a-life-purpose-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/onfire\/2012\/05\/12\/5-steps-for-writing-a-life-purpose-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps for writing a life purpose statement"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In my previous post, Your purpose\u2013write it down, see it happen<\/em><\/a>, I described a life purpose statement this way:<\/p>\n

\u2026 a purpose statement simply captures an overriding theme already present in your life. It puts down in words the true work you are here to do: the cause you will pursue, the wound in individuals or society you will seek to heal, the problem you will devote your life to fixing. It states the highest, purest, most others-oriented aim of your life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Additionally, I stated that writing it down can be a powerful first step toward seeing your purpose fulfilled. Now I give you five (5) steps for uncovering your purpose and writing a statement of it.<\/p>\n

First, however, some do\u2019s and don\u2019ts:<\/p>\n

1. A nurse may be able to prick a vein and draw your blood, but writing your purpose statement doesn\u2019t work the same way. You can\u2019t schedule it, force it or hurry it to come forth. Instead, set aside time to quiet your mind and soul and wait (while doing the steps below). Imagine sitting quietly with your camera at the edge of a wilderness to take a snapshot of a deer. You may visit that same spot several times before you are rewarded.<\/p>\n

2. Writing a life purpose statement is the polar opposite of writing a term paper in high school or college. No hard work or strain. Instead, put yourself in a mode to recognize a gift that has been given you and fully receive it. It\u2019s easy. Wonderful.<\/p>\n

3. Completely set judgment aside. There\u2019s no good, bad, first-class or bottom of the barrel. Rating systems don\u2019t apply here. Your purpose is you. Decide right now to accept and delight in what you see.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Five (5) Steps to uncovering your purpose and writing it down:<\/p>\n

1) See 9 Questions for uncovering your Gift<\/em><\/a>, then take a sheet of paper and write \u201cSummary\u201d at the top. Draw a line down the middle, dividing it up into two sections. Title one section \u201cWhat I care about\u201d and the other \u201cWhat I\u2019m good at.\u201d\u00a0 Then, take your answers to the 9 questions and write them on one side or the other\u2014or both sides, if appropriate. Your purpose statement will come out of the left side, \u201cWhat I care about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expand the \u201cWhat I care about\u201d list by writing down everything you can think of to answer 1) \u201cI love ______\u201d and 2) \u201cI hate _______.\u201d Examples: \u201cI love enthusiastic and well-informed teachers, large family dinners with all the relatives, riding my horse out on the trail, when a politician tells the truth, to read a good mystery\u2026I hate bullying, polluted air and water, when long-term employees get laid off,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n

2) Beside every item on your \u201cCare About\u201d list put \u201cA\u201d or \u201cB.\u201d A means this is a \u201chot\u201d item for me and B means this is important but slightly less than the A\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Now make a clean list of just your A\u2019s. (Hopefully you have 20+) Edit the A list by reducing the entries to one or two words. Convert the negatives to positives. Thus, using the love\/hate example above, your list might end up looking like this:<\/p>\n

What I care about: (My core values)<\/p>\n

Great teaching<\/p>\n

Preserving family<\/p>\n

Adventure<\/p>\n

Truthful leadership<\/p>\n

Mystery<\/p>\n

Respect for individuals<\/p>\n

A clean environment<\/p>\n

Company loyalty<\/p>\n

Let this list \u201cset\u201d overnight. Then,<\/p>\n

3) From your A list, choose your top ten. These are the things you care about the most. They can also be called your core values or passions. Make a new list: \u201cMy top 10 Values.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tuck this exercise away and come back to it in a few days. Pull it out and look at your top 10 list of Values: Is there something to be added, deleted or reworded?<\/p>\n

4) From your top ten, choose your top three. Take your time. When you are clear that you\u2019ve chosen your top three values, make your final list: \u201cMy top three 3 values\u201d<\/p>\n

Look at the three values. Which value or combination of values points to what you can do for others? This is your purpose.<\/p>\n

(When I went through this exercise and reached this point, my top three values were:<\/p>\n

1. Live loved\/by God<\/p>\n

2. Respect individuality \/ uncover uniqueness<\/p>\n

3. Learn\/continually grow<\/p>\n

My purpose statement came out of #2: Respect individuality \/ uncover uniqueness because that was the value that pointed to the work I am to do for others.)<\/p>\n

5) The last step is to write your statement in one of two formats. Using the value(s) that express what you most want to give\/do for others, fill in your purpose statement.<\/p>\n

2 Formats:<\/p>\n

1. In the first format you use a symbol:<\/p>\n

I am the\/a___________________(symbol) so that people _________________________________________(action phrase).<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/p>\n

I am a lens who helps people see what\u2019s most important.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0I am a microphone so that other people (especially the poor and elderly) can be heard.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0I am a lighthouse who guides people to greater financial security and freedom. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>My purpose statement in this format is: I am a link between people and what they need to find and fulfill the unique purpose for their lives.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>2. In the second format, you simply state your purpose:<\/p>\n

My purpose is to _____________________________________.<\/p>\n

My purpose statement in this format is: My purpose is to help people find and fulfill their unique life purpose.<\/em><\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n

Did the 5 steps work for you?\u00a0 If not, be patient. Remember this isn\u2019t a blood draw\u2014it\u2019s taking a snapshot of a very wild, shy doe in the forest.<\/p>\n

When you have a draft of your purpose statement, I\u2019d love to see it: Gloria@gloriarose.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

photo credit: darkmatter<\/a> (creative commons)<\/p>\n

– – – – –<\/p>\n

Dear Reader: this is a new Beliefnet blog. I need your help to make it a success! Would you consider subscribing (see bar above on the right) plus forward this post to a friend who may enjoy it? Also, I appreciate your comments.\u00a0 Thank you, Gloria<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my previous post, Your purpose\u2013write it down, see it happen, I described a life purpose statement this way: \u2026 a purpose statement simply captures an overriding theme already present in your life. 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