It hit me somewhere between my second cup of coffee and the 1,237th social media post telling me how I should be living my life: I needed a reset. Not the kind of reset where you Marie Kondo your closet or book a yoga retreat in Bali—though both are lovely ideas. No, this was deeper. I needed a compass, a way to navigate the wild twists and turns of life without constantly checking if I was doing it “right.” That’s when I discovered the magic of a personal manifesto.
Think of a personal manifesto as your own North Star, except it doesn’t require a telescope or a degree in astronomy to find it. It’s a declaration of who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to show up in this chaotic, beautiful world. The best part? It’s written by you, for you. No external validation required.
Why Write a Personal Manifesto?
In a world that’s quick to tell you how to live—wear this, say that, don’t be too much of anything—a personal manifesto is a bold declaration: “This is who I am, take it or leave it.” It’s your permission slip to live authentically and unapologetically. But more than that, it’s a tool that:
Clarifies Your Values: When you know what you stand for, decisions become easier, even the hard ones.
Builds Confidence: Living in alignment with your values feels good. Like, really good.
Keeps You Grounded: When life gets messy (and it will), your manifesto is there to remind you of what truly matters.
As a frame for your life.
As a compass, pointing you toward what you’ve decided is your true north.
As a mechanism for focusing your mind and reminding you of your priorities.
As inspiration to live your purpose more fully.
As a foundation upon which to build your life.
As a way to begin to bring a new life—or a new way of living—into existence.
How to Write Your Own Personal Manifesto
Creating a personal manifesto isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being honest. Here’s how to start:
Take a Good, Hard Look at Your Life: Grab a notebook, a glass of wine (or tea), and get cozy. Ask yourself: What do I value most? What kind of person do I want to be? What’s been holding me back from living my truth?
Get Specific: Don’t just say, “I want to be happy.” Happiness is great, but what does it look like for you? Maybe it’s mornings filled with quiet time or saying “no” to things that drain your energy.
Use Bold, Affirmative Language: Write as if you’re already living it. Instead of “I will try to be kinder,” say, “I lead with kindness in all I do.” See the difference?
Keep It Short and Sweet: This isn’t a novel; it’s a compass. Aim for brevity so you can revisit it often—like a quick pep talk from your future self.
Begin writing your manifesto by making a list of the areas that you want to address. For example, you could make a list of the most important people in your life and write down how you intend to behave when it comes to each of them. You can also decide to include areas such as the following:
- Dealing with disappointment and hardships.
- Dealing with failures and mistakes.
- Dealing with opportunities and risk taking.
- Daily interaction with others (waiters, cashiers, neighbors, and so on).
- Choosing your attitude.
- Your general approach toward life.
- How you’ll treat your body.
- How you’ll spend your money.
- How you’ll spend your time.
A Few Prompts to Get You Started
Not sure what to include? Here are some ideas:
How do I want to handle challenges?
What’s my approach to relationships?
How do I want to show up in the world, even on my bad days?
What do I stand for?
What am I willing to die for?
What are my strongest beliefs?
How do I want to live my life?
How do I choose to define myself?
What changes do I need to make so that I can live my best life?
What words do I want to live my life by?
Living Your Manifesto
Here’s the thing: writing your manifesto is just the first step. The magic happens when you start living it. Place it somewhere you’ll see it often—your fridge, your journal, or as the background on your phone. Let it become a daily reminder of the person you’re becoming.
And don’t worry if it feels imperfect. You’re a living, breathing human being, which means your manifesto can evolve as you do. Think of it as a work-in-progress masterpiece, just like you.
A Peek at My Manifesto
Because I’m all about sharing, here’s a glimpse into mine:
I greet each day with curiosity and gratitude.
I trust my intuition—it’s rarely wrong.
I honor my boundaries, even when it’s hard.
I choose love over fear, always.
I embrace my quirks because they’re what make me, well, me.
What will yours look like? Take the leap, grab a pen, and start writing your way back to yourself. Because if you don’t define your life, someone else will—and let’s face it, they’re not nearly as fabulous as you.
Post a Comment