Discover Your Personal Mission Statement
Can Just Seven Words Change Your Life?
Hi, I’m Lucas, and I’ve been leading teams here at 16Personalities in one form or another for nearly 10 years. In that time, I have grown – a lot. But not only as a professional and leader. I’ve faced challenges in my personal life as well, and today, I’m here to share part of my story so that you can learn and grow with me.
There was a time in my life when I was afraid to drive to the grocery store.
As an INTP personality type, I consider myself at least partly a rationalist. But this anxiety about going to the grocery store wasn’t because of any particular incident or rational fear. It was because cynicism – the assumption of the worst – had gradually poisoned my worldview until even the simplest tasks felt overwhelming.
Every potential interaction loomed as a threat, every decision carried the weight of imagined catastrophe. I’d sit in my car, keys in hand, conjuring scenarios of hostile drivers and judgmental shoppers – all while my kitchen cupboards grew steadily emptier.
This wasn’t just about grocery shopping. My reflexive cynicism had replaced curiosity with suspicion, kindness with withdrawal, action with stagnation. I found myself expecting the worst from every situation and person, yet never giving myself the chance to test these dark assumptions. The irony was painful: in trying to protect myself from hypothetical disappointments, I’d become my own jailer, trapped behind bars of negative expectations.
The cost of this mindset became impossible to ignore.
One can’t make good, consistent, forward-looking decisions while cowering from shadows of their own making. I craved meaningful progress in my life – in my career, my relationships, my personal growth – but my outlook had become a roadblock to even the most basic functions of daily living.
Something had to change, and that something was my worldview.
My journey toward change started when I realized I needed direction. I needed to understand who I was and what made me powerful – what I now know as a personal mission statement. Creating this statement required more than reading self-help books or repeating positive affirmations. It demanded honest self-reflection, the willingness to question my assumptions, and most importantly, the courage to believe things could be different.
Today, I’m going to walk you through my process for formulating my mission statement so you can do the same for yourself.
First, we’ll go inward to discover your core values. Then we’ll look at how those values fit into the broader context of your life. Finally, we’ll form those values into a mission statement for yourself. We’ll also check that mission statement against reality – we’ll refine it so it makes you feel powerful, not obligated or drained.
Step 1: Explore Your Values
When I first sat down to identify my core values, I chose curiosity, generosity, and ambition.
These words looked impressive on paper, resonating with the kind of person I thought I should be. But as I lived with these values over time, something felt off. They were admirable traits, certainly, but they didn’t quite capture the energy I felt when I was at my best. They felt more like obligations than celebrations of who I am.
I began to notice the moments when I felt most alive, most myself:
It wasn’t when I was forcing myself to be generous out of duty, but when I was naturally expressing kindness because it brought me joy.
It wasn’t raw ambition that drove my best work, but thoughtful, intentional effort that made me feel capable and focused.
And while curiosity remained true, I realized it wasn’t just about gathering knowledge – it was about staying open to possibilities, about maintaining a sense of wonder that made each day feel full of potential.
The process of discovering these authentic values took months of reflection, and continues to evolve as I grow. I learned that true values aren’t aspirational goals we set for ourselves – they’re already part of who we are, waiting to be recognized and embraced.
When I finally found the right combination, I didn’t have to convince myself to embody these traits. Instead, I felt a surge of energy just thinking about them, a smile spreading across my face as I recognized myself in these words.
This all culminated in my now-current personal mission statement: I share curiosity, kindness, and thoughtful effort. These 7 words changed my life.
Step 2: Give Your Values Context
Each component of my mission statement captures a different facet of authentic engagement with life:
Curiosity shows up as a sense of wonder that transforms routine moments into opportunities for discovery.
Kindness reveals itself in ways big and small with a surge of emotion that sometimes moves me to tears – no small feat for this INTP rationalist.
Thoughtful effort brings mindful presence to everything I do, whether I’m writing an important email or solving a complex problem, making each task feel purposeful and engaging.
The decision to make “sharing” central to my mission statement wasn’t accidental. When I share these values, I create connections that amplify their impact.
Sharing curiosity invites others to explore alongside me.
Sharing kindness builds trust, goodwill, and psychological safety.
Sharing thoughtful effort demonstrates that excellence doesn’t require perfection – it requires presence and intention.
These shared experiences form the foundation of authentic leadership both in the workplace and when facing one’s own demons – I do indeed share these attitudes with myself.
A personal mission statement transforms leadership from a role in the workplace into a way of being. Instead of leading by title or authority, we lead by embodying values that resonate deeply with who we are when we’re at our best. This approach to leadership starts with self-awareness and extends naturally to others, creating ripple effects we might never fully see.
When we understand and live our values, we don’t just become better leaders – we become better versions of ourselves, inspiring others to do the same.
Step 3: Craft Your Personal Mission Statement
Creating your own personal mission statement starts with honest self-reflection.
Begin by identifying moments when you feel most alive, most yourself. These aren’t necessarily your proudest achievements or biggest successes – they’re the times when your actions feel natural and energizing.
Write down words that capture the essence of these moments. Don’t worry about crafting the perfect statement yet. Instead, focus on gathering raw material from your lived experience.
Test your emerging mission statement against real situations from your past, present, and potential future scenarios. When faced with a difficult decision, would your statement guide you toward an answer that feels right? Does it capture both who you are and who you naturally become when you’re at your best?
Watch out for the temptation to choose values that sound impressive but don’t quite fit. I initially selected “ambition” because it seemed like something a leader should value, not because it genuinely resonated with me.
Your true values will make you smile when you think about them.
They’ll give you chills when you imagine embracing them.
They’ll energize you when you embody them.
If a value feels like an obligation rather than a celebration of who you are, keep exploring. Remember that this is a discovery process, not a self-improvement exercise – you’re uncovering what’s already there, not trying to become someone else.
A strong personal mission statement should feel like coming home to yourself, not like putting on a costume. Take time with this process. Your mission statement might evolve as you grow, and that’s not just okay – it’s exactly as it should be.
Live Your Values
Looking back at that person afraid to drive to the grocery store, I can see how embracing my personal mission statement – I share curiosity, kindness, and thoughtful effort – filled the void where anxiety once lived. These 7 words weren’t just nice on paper; they were genuine sources of personal power that transformed my approach to life.
When I stopped fighting against what I feared and started leaning into what made me feel strong, everything began to shift.
The impact has rippled through every aspect of my life. We’ve all faced fears, both justified and irrational, and as leaders we care for people who experience such fears, too. I carry this experience and understanding into my leadership, both formal and informal.
At work, I’ve grown into a more compassionate and attentive leader, one who has earned the trust and respect of my team through genuine connection rather than authority.
I’m a more present partner, listening deeply rather than just waiting for my turn to speak.
I’m a more engaged friend, bringing genuine curiosity to our conversations.
Even my hobbies have deepened as I approach them with intentional focus rather than anxious distraction.
Your personal mission statement will be different from mine – it should be, because you’re different from me. But the process of discovering it, of identifying what truly energizes and empowers you, can be equally transformative.
Take time with this journey. Pay attention to what makes you feel strong, capable, and authentic. When you find those elements and craft them into a mission statement that resonates with your truest self, you won’t just be writing words – you’ll be opening a door to profound personal and professional growth.