Building a Personal Mission
We've already discussed the LEVELL Framework. A personal mission is a component of the framework, and in this post I am going to walk you through how to build it.
Missions are often regarded as a thing that companies do. It’s usually what a large corporation does through an overpriced retreat at a Four Seasons resort. It ends up being printed on a poster, framed and hung up on the walls of some offices or locations. Some startups get it right, and it’s usually due to a small group of people's shared ambitions for what they want their company to become. If done right, missions have a great power to direct a company in the right direction.
But personal missions are just as important. Having a mission, even a simple one, helps us make sense of our decisions and the direction we want our lives to go. In this post, we'll explore how to build a personal mission.
1) Determine Core Values
The first step in building a personal mission is to determine what our core values are. There are several ways to do this, from looking at a list of values and choosing the ones we identify with the most to reflecting on moments of high stress and remembering what we held onto to get through them. Our core values could be honesty, resiliency, determination, fun, freedom, or service, among others. Think through and make a list of 3-5 values that are at the core of who you are.
2) Find Your Purpose
The second step is to determine your purpose in life. Finding your purpose can be a tricky task, but it's usually defined as our reason for existence or our contribution to society. The best way to find it is to have various personal and professional experiences. While it's easier to try different things when we're young, it's important never to feel like we've run out of possibilities. Our purpose can change throughout our lives and may come to us at any age.
3) Write a Personal Mission Draft
The third step is to write a draft of your personal mission. One way to do this is to articulate your purpose, as we discussed in step 2. Another method is the Future Past Eulogy method, which involves imagining yourself many years in the future at your funeral and thinking about what your grandchildren would say about you. What impact did you have on others' lives? What will you be remembered for? How do you want to feel at the end of your life? Satisfied, happy, content, humble, or something else?
A personal mission is a crucial component of the LEVELL framework and can help us make sense of our decisions and guide us in the direction we want our lives to go. It's important to articulate a personal mission, even if it stays on draft. In fact, it's best to have it as a draft and update it every once in a while. Don't overthink how it will read; just go through it and start with something that comes from your heart. This exercise is continuous, and a solid mission will evolve throughout the years.