Think carefully about different facets of your life to write a personal philosophy.
Writing a personal philosophy statement is a way of asking yourself to strive to meet your own thoughtful standard of conduct. This standard is not imposed upon you externally, by others, but reflects an internal standard, which is the home of conviction. Over time, as you learn and your attitudes change, you may decide that your personal philosophy has also changed. That's okay. Periodically, rewrite your philosophy to reflect your growth. As the poet Maya Angelou said, "Now that I know better, do better."
Instructions
1. Make notes as you consider your personal thinking and practices in the light of a list of criteria that are important to you, as recommended by Ethicalwill.com. For example, you may want to think about how you relate to others, to work, to spirituality, to the planet, to material goods and money, and to conflict. Another approach would be to look at yourself with regards to big philosophical concepts, such as charity, respect, reason and autonomy.
2. Narrow down your criteria to three to five choices that best embody your core feelings about what is most important in life.
3. Write out answers as you ask yourself specific questions about your choices, and use your notes to help you think clearly. For example, you may ask yourself, "What do I believe about my role as a worker?" Or, "What do I believe charity is and how must I conduct myself to reflect my belief?"
4. Write a first draft of your essay, assembling the answers to the questions you asked yourself. Write an introductory paragraph that is brief and simple. The body of the essay will contain all the important information.
5. Use your most important thoughts as they stem from the last criteria you list as a way to summarize the essay. So, rather than writing a paragraph that says "in conclusion" and then summarizes, let the essay build up to and embody its own conclusion, which will have a more dramatic, sophisticated effect.
