Creating a Personal Manifesto

January 14, 2013November 4, 2013
by Smart Fit Womxn

So, I am usually very big on New Year’s Resolutions. I love taking the time to envision what I want to accomplish in the year to come. What I have come to realize, though, is that every year my resolutions revolve around the same things- stick with a budget, spend more time with family, get in shape, eat better, and the list goes on. What this made me realize is that perhaps I need to have a more concrete idea of who I am, what I stand for, and where I am going in life. Then I saw an awesome personal manifesto, and decided I ought to do the same thing. So what exactly is a manifesto, and what is the purpose of writing one? According to Merriam-Webster, a manifesto is

“a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.”

So what is the point of a manifesto? As you live your life, it is important to know who you are, what you value, and what you stand for. Without knowing these things, your life could easily sail off track, down a path you never intended to travel. However, if you have a written document declaring what you stand for, it becomes very simple to make decisions in your life. I’m not claiming that decisions become easy, rather, I said it becomes SIMPLE.

So, this year, rather than setting specific goals, I’ve decided to live everyday by my Personal Manifesto. Now, if you want to write one for yourself, how might you begin this process? Well, I’d suggest you start by writing down a list of the things you value, how you deal with difficulties, what you strongly believe in, and how you choose to live your life. Then, start to create statements about these very things. The best part about this process is that it’s yours, and yours alone, so you can change it, add to it, and include whatever you want.

After I wrote mine, I realized that a big part of a manifesto is that it is a PUBLIC declaration. So, I suppose I ought to do that… And I’d encourage you all to create one for yourself, and to share it when you feel comfortable. So, here’s mine-