An Encouraging Anchor for Your Week

Intentional Planning Starts with Your Mission

Before the planning, the routines, and the goals… there’s a deeper question we often avoid

I’m an advocate of intentional planning. And when I say intentional, I don’t just mean my color-coding obsession 😅.

I mean focusing on the things that actually move the needle—the “big rocks” and scheduling those first.

I first learned about this concept when I read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People… and listen, I was FIRED UP and immediately thought, “Yes! I’m about to become the most intentional, purpose-driven woman walking this earth.”

So naturally… I sat down to write my personal mission statement, and let me tell you, friend… the WORK. 😩

Why is it that the moment you try to think deeply about your purpose, your brain suddenly goes blank? Like… all creativity just packs up and leaves?? Because yeah, that happened.

What was supposed to be a “concise mission statement” turned into a full-blown two-page dissertation of everything I felt I needed to be, fix, and improve. It felt productive… but also a little like I was trying to become 10 different versions of myself at once.

Over time, life shifted, as it does, and I knew I needed to revisit it, refine it, and align it with what God is actually calling me to in this season.

But if I’m being real? I kept putting it off. Because that kind of soul-searching? It’s not light work. It's actually painful work.

And somewhere along the way, my “intentional planning” stopped feeling… intentional.

Until today-years-old, y’all, when I stumbled on the mission statement builder tool by Franklin Covey and thought, “Okay Lord, let’s try this again.”

And this time? It was different!

Here’s the thing: without a clear, God-aligned mission… we don’t actually prioritize our lives, our schedules do it for us. And that’s how we end up busy, overwhelmed, and wondering why nothing feels aligned.

But when you know what God has called you to in this season? You start moving differently. You say no without overexplaining. You say yes with confidence. You stop trying to be everything, and start focusing on what actually matters.

Planning is great, but planning with your mission at the center, the one God placed in your heart? That’s where things start to shift for real.

And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Okay… this sounds great, but where do I even start?” Friend, I’ve got you.

This is the exact Mission Statement Builder I used from Franklin Covey:
👉[Franklin Covey Mission Statement Builder]

No, I’m not getting a commission (you know I’ll tell you if I am 😅). I just genuinely found it helpful in getting my thoughts out of my head and onto paper in a way that actually made sense.

💛 This Week’s Challenge

I’m not going to ask you to finish your entire mission statement this week… because let’s be honest, we’ve already established the work 😩

But I am going to challenge you to START.

That’s it. Just start.

Open the tool. Write a few thoughts. Reflect on what God has placed on your heart in this season.

No pressure to get it perfect. No pressure to have all the answers.

Just take the first step.

Because clarity doesn’t come from overthinking… it comes from obedience in starting.

🙏 Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I come to You seeking clarity, direction, and alignment with Your will for my life. Help me to quiet the noise and lean into Your voice as I reflect on the purpose You’ve placed inside of me. Give me the courage to start, even when I don’t feel ready, and the wisdom to prioritize what truly matters. Shape my desires to reflect Your heart, and guide my steps as I seek to live with intention and purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ To Be Continued Close

Alright friend… we’re not done here.

Next week, we’re going to build on this and start talking about how to actually use your mission statement in your day-to-day life (because what’s the point of writing it if it just sits in a notebook somewhere, right? 👀).

So consider this your loving nudge and your accountability check…

Go ahead and START this week.

I’ll meet you right back here next week—same time, same heart, just a little more clarity 💛

In Love and Christ,

Dorene Elizabeth