Shannon Fung, GMHC Wellness & Nutrition Intern, 2015 LIVING ON PURPOSE

 On Purpose was crafted by Dr. Victor Strecher, a Public Health professional. It is used as a tool for crafting “a powerful and personally meaningful purpose statement.” After one creates this statement, On Purpose helps you keep track of how aligned your daily life is in relation to that purpose.  To help create this purposeful statement, you will choose a set of values. Defining your personal values will help you develop a clearer sense of what’s most important to you in life.  This is a tough and time consuming process! Take your time and give yourself time to really think about this process. “ON PURPOSE” ACTIVITY

 “Values put us back on the right course every single day so that day after day, we’re moving in the direction that takes us closer to our definition of the ‘best’ life we could possibly live.”  Knowing your values will help you:  Gain clarity and focus  Make consistent decisions  Take committed action  Prioritize your time WHY ARE VALUES IMPORTANT?

 First, ask yourself this question, “What is truly important to me in life?”  Brainstorm a list of responses and write them down. Do not worry about the order right now but leave a few spaces in between each value so that you have room to personalize them later.  There is no limit to the amount of values you have, but it will be easier and more effective to work with a list of about 5-7 values.  The following slide gives a few examples of values to choose from/ work off of. YOUR VALUES

 Achievement  Enjoyment  Kindness  Responsibility  Spirituality  Community  Expertise  Relationships  Security  Tradition  Creativity  Independence  Reputation  Self-control  Vitality  Love  Adventure  Knowledge  Fun  Peace  Bravery  Sincerity  Open mindedness  Sharing  Self-respect  Pride  Relaxation  Professionalism  Persistence  Optimism  Mindfulness  Individuality  Honor  Fitness  Empathy  Artistry  Ambition YOUR VALUES

 Write a few sentences about what this value means to you. Ask yourself why these specific values made it onto your list. The more personal these values are, the more important they will feel!  Here’s an example from my own list:  Achievement: I want to go above and beyond what others expect of me. I want to prove to others and myself that I am strong and intelligent and can achieve anything I put my mind to. I want to make a significant mark on this world by working hard and being persistent in the face of conflict. PERSONALIZE YOUR VALUES

 After reading through your list of personalized values, number them from most important (#1) to least important (#5, #6, etc.).  This can be tough because you already had to select so few values from such a vast list. Just ask yourself, at this moment, which value am I most excited to work on? Which of these values is truly the most important to me in life? If I could only satisfy one of these values, which one would it be? The answer to this question is your number one value. PRIORITIZE YOUR VALUES

 If you get stuck while prioritizing your list, try to create a scenario. For example, I am having trouble deciding whether creativity or relationships are more important to me. So, I ask myself a question like this, “Which would I rather do- paint or meet someone new?” PRIORITIZE YOUR VALUES

 With your personalized values in mind, write your purpose statement.  This may take you a long time and your first answer more than likely won’t be your best or most accurate one, so try to write ideas for your life’s purpose until you find one that fills you with emotion. The final words on your paper should give you energy. CREATING YOUR PURPOSE STATEMENT

 “To great everyone I encounter with a smile and an open mind. To treat everyone with respect and kindness.”  “To study and understand the environment, then give this knowledge to others. To be more engaged with my partner.” PURPOSE STATEMENT EXAMPLE

 The cool thing about values is that you can choose to change them up and live by a different set whenever you want to.  Your values are just a compass! They are just a measure of the direction that you are headed in right now, but you can change directions whenever you feel it necessary. REEXAMINING YOUR VALUES