But as you settle into your new role and new routines, acknowledging the big transition in your life is important and it also can be FUN.
Becoming a mom changes our life, changes us. Taking time to think about who we are and what we believe helps us live with integrity. And it helps simplify things when we are faced with a myriad of new decisions.
What foods will you let your child eat? How much will you work and do you want to travel? Where will you send your kids to school? What will you do for yourself?
Lots of moms grapple with these questions and many others. That last one is especially important. What will you do for yourself? With schedules crunched or childcare needed for many activities, it’s easy to let things you love fall to the side. And although you may need to let some things go, not all of them need to be set aside.
Start thinking about what is important to you, what you value, what you want from this life. That may look very different from what your neighbor or a women you met at the mom’s group wants from her life.
It’s easy to get caught up in somebody else’s vision if you don’t create your own. Your personal mission statement helps you can make choices based on your values. Think of it as your personal compass.
How to Create Your Personal Mission Statement
If you have created a personal mission statement before you became a mom, now is a good time to revisit it and perhaps update it. If you’ve never created one, this stage of change is a great time to examine your values and write one.
Start by answering these questions:
- How do I want to show up for my child, family, friends, community, work and the world?
- How do I want to be remembered by the people who are important to me?
- What are my core values? My goals? My priorities?
- What is important to me in each of these parts of my life: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual?
- How do I envision leading a life based on the answers to these questions?
Does this feel daunting? Take it one step at a time, there are no wrong answers. Here are two fun exercises to get you started:
Try freewriting (writing without editing or evaluating your ideas—just keep your pen moving across the page) on one of these ideas: I believe or I want. Freewrite about your ideal life, let yourself dream about the life you want without getting into the practicalities or I can’t do that because . . .
Create a vision board. You can even work with your partner to create a family motto and explore the values that come up in that process.
The most important thing is to be true to yourself and not worry about what anyone else thinks. Your personal mission statement will be unique to you.
The process of creating and writing down your personal mission statement brings clarity to what is meaningful to you. Once created, your personal mission statement provides a guide to support you through life’s challenges and times of growth. Your personal mission statement keeps you on track with the life you want to lead.
I know you are busy. When exactly are you going to do this?
Having an hour or an afternoon to dive into these questions is wonderful, but you can tap into these ideas 5–15 minutes at a time. Try:
- Journaling on one of the questions before bed or while your baby naps.
- Ask your partner to take the baby for a while so you can get a break. Then take a walk in nature and let your mind wander on the questions.
- Use your phone to record your thoughts as you rock or walk with your child.
The process helps you clarify places where you are fuzzy on what your goals and priorities are now. Crafting a personal mission statement helps crystallize ideas that may be in the periphery of you mind. Once you have this statement you can move forward with more confidence and conviction.
You are spending so much time caring for others, you deserve a little time to care for yourself, to remember who you are and how you want to live.
Excited about the idea of creating a more meaningful life through designing a personal mission statement? You’ll also love my free guide, 3 Steps to Having a Meaningful Life You Love to start designing your best life—a life with more energy, engagement, and clarity.