You have unique passions, values, gifts, and skills. Do you want to make the most of them and fulfill all God has created you to be? If your answer is yes, I highly recommend creating a purpose statement. This powerful tool can help you keep your priorities straight, gain a clearer sense of identity, and make the difference in the world that only you can make.

This week, I’m sharing three questions that will help you create a core purpose statement.

Before you continue, if you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to read last week's post: 5 Reasons Why You Need a Purpose Statement, No Matter Who You are or What You Do.

Your Core Purpose Statement

There are different types of purpose statements. The kind I’m introducing today is what I call a core purpose statement. Your core purpose statement summarizes your reason for being. It’s a distillation of your core values and a synopsis of who you are and what you believe God has created you to do. Because it reflects who you are on a deep level, it’s something you can express in a variety of contexts and with a variety of people.

A core purpose statement is more general than a project-specific or position-specific purpose statement, which focuses on your goals for a particular role or task, such your purpose as a teacher, parent, engineer, etc.

If you're ready to create your own core purpose statement, grab a notebook and a cup of coffee and settle in to a quiet place for a bit of self-reflection.

3 Questions to Help You Craft Your Core Purpose Statement

What are my top values and passions?
(These are the principles that you think matter most in life. Values and passions can include things such as faith, healthy living, courage, perseverance, self-care, education, etc.)
What are my top gifts and skills?
(These are abilities that come naturally to you are you have honed through study or practice, such as playing an instrument.)
How do I feel called to express my values/passion and gifts/skills? Or, simply, How am I called to make a difference?

For example, if one of your skills is playing the guitar, how will you use that skill to benefit the world around you? By teaching music lessons? Playing on your church worship team? As a wedding music performer? Singing lullabies to your children? Our values/passions are useful clues for guiding how we might best utilize our skills/gifts, and vice versa.

Now, combine your answers to the above questions into a short statement summarizing the top values you feel called to express and the main ways you feel called to express them. Here’s an example:

My purpose is to spread Jesus’ beauty, truth, wisdom, hope, and love. My top values/passions are purpose, rest, excellence, enjoying life, and spiritual growth. I engage, encourage, and equip others in these areas, particularly through mentoring and writing.

Here's a little template you can use:

My purpose is to...

I x,y, and z, particularly through...

Final Thoughts

Here are a few things to keep in mind while working on your purpose statement.

Crafting a purpose statement can take time. It’s not something you’re likely to be able to jot off in just a few minutes. It requires some contemplation and soul searching, really getting down to the core of who you are.

Your purpose statement is best viewed as a work in progress. You will want to revisit it and revise it as you grow, have new experiences, and learn more about how God created you.

Want to dive even deeper into discovering your purpose, or know someone who would benefit from doing so? I have an entire coaching pathway dedicated to helping you explore you passions and values, your gifts and skills, you personality, and your life experiences, all building up to crafting both a core purpose statement as well as position/project specific purpose statements. Find out more here!

With love,

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Meditate

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

I want to hear from you!

What are some ways you can apply your core purpose to making a difference in every day situations? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

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P.S.

I wrote this post because I’m on a mission to encourage and equip women to live the life of faith, passion, and purpose that we were made for. You can help make a difference by sharing this post with a friend (or friends!) who you think would be encouraged or inspired by it (use the buttons on the left!). Thanks!

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