Work-Life Imbalance? How a Gritty Personal Mission Statement Changed Everything

For most of my life, I would have told you that my values were clear. Faith first, then family, followed by a strong work ethic. I wore these values like a badge of honor. They were the compass I thought guided every decision I made. But over time, and especially after stepping into leadership roles, something shifted. Slowly, and almost without noticing, the first two, faith and family, started to take a back seat. Work became the focus. Success became the goal.

To be clear, I wasn’t lacking values at work. In fact, I was proud of my work values. I led with grit, grace, kindness, and gratitude. But those values didn’t always come home with me. After long, stressful days, I would find myself lacking patience with my family and not nearly as thankful for the life I had once considered miraculous. That contrast of being respected at work but disconnected at home, created an ache in my heart I couldn’t ignore.

It was a quiet internal conflict, but it grew louder each day. Deep down, I knew my life wasn’t aligned with the core of who I was.

Each morning, during my 10 minutes of gritty stillness, I began to think about what my values really were. Not just in theory, but in action.

It started with faith. After surviving a tragic car accident, I had once believed with all my heart that God had saved me for a reason. But somewhere along the way, I stopped living like that miracle mattered. I wasn’t thanking God for each breath the way I used to. I had taken life and all it’s beauty for granted.

Then came family. I have a husband who has stood by me through everything. When we got married, he said, “Wherever I go, you go,” and he meant it. Even though I can’t walk, he carries me. In many ways this is literally and figuratively. And yet lately, our conversations had grown shorter. My energy was spent elsewhere. Our time together didn’t feel sacred the way it once did.

So, I clung to my work ethic. I was a hard worker. A respected leader. That became my identity. And when I felt I was failing in faith and family, at least I still had my job. But that too led to burnout. And eventually, even work became a place of discontent.

Each morning, I would ask myself the same question: How do I find balance?

That’s when I wrote my personal “gritty mission statement.” A simple, honest reflection to help me realign my life with what mattered most. It reads:

I will move slowly enough to experience God’s goodness fully and will love people deeply. I will be present in each moment and will listen intentionally to all conversations. I will focus on what is important to me and let go of what is not. I will speak truth and give all glory to God.

At first, I had to read it from my journal. Over time, I memorized it. And every day, as I sat in my gritty stillness, different lines would stand out depending on what I needed most. But the overall impact never faded. It reminded me who I was, who I wanted to be, and what I was striving for in my personal and professional life.

A year later, I still say that gritty mission statement each morning. It still brings me clarity and joy. It was the beginning of a transformation. One rooted not in external success, but in internal alignment.

If you’re feeling the same tension I felt, I encourage you to try this practice. Start by writing down three or four values that matter most to you. Then, under each value, jot down a few descriptive words or short phrases that capture what that value means in your everyday life. For example, under “family,” I wrote the words “listen” and “present,” because I knew those were areas where I had drifted.

Then, take those words and begin to form your own gritty mission statement. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be honest. Sit with it during your moments of stillness. Speak it out loud. Let it guide you.

When your values are clear, your path becomes clearer too. And that clarity might just be the first step back to a balanced life.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” - 1 Corinthians 13:13 / NKJV

Want to Go Deeper?

If this message spoke to you, you will find value in my signature talk: God, Grit, and Leadership. 

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