Guidelines for Writing a Personal Philosophy
Writers are free to present their philosophy in any manner they choose. As Jay Allison in This I Believe states, “We have found that some writers do best to tell a story, perhaps of a moment a belief was forged, or tested, or confirmed. Others peel the onion of what they were taught to believe, what they think they should believe even what they always believed they would believe.
- -Frame
your beliefs in positive terms. Avoid preaching or
editorializing. Tell us what you believe, not what you don’t believe.
- -Avoid
restating your beliefs.
- -Focus
on the personal, the “I” of the title (This I Believe), not the sermonizing “We.”
- -While
you might have many beliefs, focus on one.
- -Aim
for truth without accusation, patriotism without political
cant, and faith beyond religious dogma. In other words,
focus
on yourself, not on others.
- -Be
personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. Read your essay aloud to
yourself several times, and each time edit and simplify it until you find the words, tone
several times, and each time edit and simplify it until you find the
words, tone and story that truly echoes your belief.
- -Frame
your beliefs in positive terms. Avoid preaching or
editorializing. Tell us what you believe, not what you don’t believe. - -Avoid restating your beliefs.
- -Focus on the personal, the “I” of the title (This I Believe), not the sermonizing “We.”
- -While
you might have many beliefs, focus on one.
- -Aim
for truth without accusation, patriotism without political
cant, and faith beyond religious dogma. In other words, focus
on yourself, not on others. - -Be
personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. Read your essay aloud to
yourself several times, and each time edit and simplify it until you find the words, tone
several times, and each time edit and simplify it until you find the words, tone and story that truly echoes your belief.