You Compass in Words

Your Compass in Words: Creating a Personal Mission Statement and Ethos

Most of us do have a mission—whether we’ve written it down or not. It’s in how we show up when we’re tired. What we protect. What we tolerate. What we keep doing when nobody’s watching.

But when life gets loud—stress, conflict, opportunity, fear—our “default settings” can hijack us. That’s where a personal mission statement and ethos earns its keep. It’s not a motivational poster. It’s a compass: a short set of words that tells you who you are, what you stand for, and how you move through the world.

Mission vs Ethos (and why you want both)

Think of it like navigation:

• Mission statement = your destination and purpose

  Why am I here? What am I trying to do with my time and energy?

• Ethos = your code of conduct

  How do I behave, especially under pressure? What values are non-negotiable?

Your mission gives direction. Your ethos keeps you honest on the track.

Why it matters: decisions, distractions, and drift

Life doesn’t usually derail us with one big dramatic mistake. It’s more often drift:

• a compromise here,

• a distraction there,

• a “just this once” choice that becomes a pattern.

A personal mission statement helps you filter decisions:

• Does this align with who I’m trying to become?

• Does this serve the people and community I’m responsible for?

• Will I respect myself after I choose this?

When you’re tempted to react, your mission helps you respond.

The three circles: Self, People, Community

A strong personal mission statement doesn’t just talk about personal success. It speaks to relationship and responsibility.

Use these three circles as a simple structure:

1. Self – Who am I becoming? What must I practise?

2. People – Who do I serve and protect? What do they need from me?

3. Community – What am I contributing beyond my own world?

If your mission statement touches all three, it becomes bigger than mood and motivation.

How to write your personal mission statement (without overthinking it)

Step 1: Name what matters most

Pick 3–5 core values. Not the “nice” ones—the real ones.

Examples:

• integrity, courage, kindness, curiosity, service, resilience, humility, accountability, faith, excellence, family, creativity, fairness.

Step 2: Identify your “non-negotiables”

These are the lines you don’t cross, even when it costs you.

Examples:

• “I tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

• “I don’t leave people behind.”

• “I don’t trade my family for my ego.”

• “I own my mistakes and repair the harm.”

Step 3: Define your role(s)

We all have roles that shape our mission:

• partner, parent, leader, mentor, friend, teacher, community member, creator, learner.

Write the top 2–3 roles you want to be known for.

Step 4: Put it into one paragraph, then cut it down

Start long and honest. Then compress it into something you can remember.

A mission statement should be:

• clear

• actionable

• true

• short enough to recall under pressure

A simple template you can steal

Mission statement template:

I exist to ___ (purpose) by ___ (how) so that ___ (impact) for ___ (people/community).

Ethos template:

I will live by these principles: ___, ___, ___.

Under pressure, I choose: ___.

Examples of personal mission statements and ethos

1) The family-first builder

Mission:

I build a stable, loving home by showing up with patience, consistency, and honesty, so my family feels safe, supported, and proud of who we are.

Ethos:

• Calm over chaos

• Truth over comfort

• Repair after mistakes

• Time with family is sacred

2) The quiet community leader

Mission:

I strengthen my community through service, mentoring, and reliable leadership, leaving things better than I found them.

Ethos:

• Do the work, don’t chase credit

• Protect the vulnerable

• Be consistent, not impressive

3) The growth-focused professional

Mission:

I create meaningful results with integrity and empathy, helping teams and clients thrive while staying grounded in what matters.

Ethos:

• Clarity over ego

• Coach before criticise

• Own outcomes, share wins

An example for you: Everyday Bushcraft, resilience, and personal development

Here are a few options in your voice and aligned to what you’re building. Pick one, or blend them.

Option A: Clear and mission-driven

Mission:

I teach everyday bushcraft to build resilient, capable people—especially families and young people—by turning practical outdoor skills into confidence, calm decision-making, and character.

Ethos:

• Safety first, always

• Teach what works, not what looks good

• Encourage effort, reward responsibility

• Lead by example, stay humble

• Leave people and places better than we found them

Option B: More “compass and legacy”

Mission:

I help people find their way—through bushcraft skills and life lessons—so they can face hardship with courage, support others, and live with purpose.

Ethos:

• Be steady in the storm

• Serve before self

• Train for real life

• Build others up

• Keep learning, keep passing it on

Option C: Short, memorable, punchy

Mission:

Build resilience. Grow good humans. Strengthen community—through everyday bushcraft.

Ethos:

• Calm, capable, kind

• Prepared, not paranoid

• Discipline, not bravado

• Responsibility over excuses

How to use it day-to-day (so it’s not just words)

A mission statement matters when it’s used. Try these three habits:

1. The “compass check” before big decisions

   Ask: Does this choice match my mission and ethos?

2. A weekly “course correction”

   What did I do this week that aligned?

3. Where did I drift? What’s the next small correction?

4. Teach it and share it

   When the people around you know your ethos, it creates accountability—and trust.

Closing: your ethos is what you do when it’s hard

A personal mission statement isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being directed.

When you write your mission and ethos, you’re doing something powerful: you’re deciding ahead of time who you will be—so that when the moment comes, you don’t have to guess.