Meaningful goals and a personal mission statement

Purpose gives you direction; goals turn it into steps. This lesson shows how to set goals that matter to you, plan for obstacles, and write a short personal mission statement you can return to when life gets busy.

Start with why: values and purpose first

• Goals that connect to your values are easier to keep. Review your top values and the purpose exercises in the first lesson of this module.
• Greater Good notes that pursuing goals 'beyond the self' is linked with higher wellbeing: a 2019 Stanford study of nearly 1,200 midlife Americans found those with such goals reported higher wellbeing than those pursuing other goals.
• Balance goals across areas of life: learning, health, relationships, faith or values, service, and fun.
• Ask of every goal: 'Is this mine, or am I doing it only to impress someone?' Goals you own last longer.

Making goals SMART

• SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. MindTools credits George T. Doran with the first known use of the term, in 1981.
• Vague: 'Get better at maths.' SMART: 'Complete two past-paper questions on algebra every weekday for the next four weeks, and score at least 70 per cent on the mock on 30 November.'
• Vague: 'Help the community.' SMART: 'Volunteer for 3 hours a month with a registered organisation through volunteers.ae from January to June.'
• MindTools advises focusing on steps you control, such as practice and preparation, rather than outcomes you do not fully control, such as winning a prize.
• Break big goals into milestones with their own deadlines.

Plan for obstacles: WOOP and if-then plans

• WOOP, developed by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen, stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan.
• Wish: what you want. Outcome: the best result you can imagine. Obstacle: the inner barrier most likely to stop you, such as tiredness or your phone. Plan: what you will do when that obstacle appears.
• The WOOP website reports that children and teenagers using it improved school attendance, effort and achievement, though it gives few details of the studies.
• A helpful way to write your Plan is as an 'if-then' statement, known as an implementation intention: 'When situation X arises, I will do Y.'
• Example: 'If I sit down to revise and feel the urge to check my phone, then I will put it in another room for 25 minutes.'

Writing a personal mission statement

• A personal mission statement is two to four sentences describing who you want to be, what you value and how you want to contribute. It is a compass, not a contract.
• Step 1: write your top three values. Step 2: write two or three strengths others see in you. Step 3: name the people or causes you most want to serve.
• Step 4: combine them using a frame such as 'I want to use my [strengths] to [action] for [people or cause], guided by [values].'
• Worked example: 'I want to use my patience and love of science to help younger students feel confident in learning, guided by honesty, family and faith. I will keep learning, keep my promises and look after my health so I can keep giving.'
• Revisit it each new school year or at big milestones. It is normal for it to change as you grow.

Reviewing and adjusting

• Set a weekly 10-minute review: what did I do towards my goals, what got in the way, and what is my plan for next week?
• Celebrate progress, not just finished goals.
• If you keep missing a goal, check whether it is too big, poorly timed or no longer important to you. Adjusting a goal is a skill, not a failure.
• Share one goal with someone supportive. A mentor, teacher or relative can encourage you and notice your progress.