When it comes to creating a vision, many stop at setting goals.
Vision is about more than having goals. Goals are single accomplishments that you collect like tokens as you go through life, however, vision addresses your identity and desired outcomes surrounding how you live your life.
Your vision includes your aspirations, hopes, dreams and who you desire to be.
Establishing a clear and well-thought-out vision statement for your life is one of the most important and impactful things you can do for yourself. With a clear vision statement established, the meaning and purpose of your life increases tenfold and you are equipped with a beacon that guides you towards the experiences and version of yourself you desire.
“Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.” – Bill Hybels
Think about the people in your life who you see as most successful and more importantly, fulfilled and happy. It’s very likely that all these people have one thing in common: vision.
Those with vision have an unwavering purpose, a strong sense of direction, and a feeling of fulfillment. When you live your life pursuing your vision, you will experience the greatest of satisfaction.
We are all creative beings and are blessed with the gift of imagination; which I believe is one of the greatest weapons in the arsenal of our mind. When it comes to creating the life you want, it’s kind of like you are an artist, and life is your canvas. You have the freedom to paint whatever picture you wish.
“Create the highest grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.” – Oprah Winfrey
So, how do you go about creating a game-changing vision for your life?
While there are many approaches to establishing your personal vision statement, I find the following process useful.
First, start dreaming and using that amazing imagination of yours. Begin with your identity and ask yourself questions like:
Who do I want to be in 5 years? 10? 20? What type of people do I want to be surrounded by? How do I want to feel? What about myself do I want to improve? What contributions to life do I want to make? What talents do I have and what new things do I want to learn? What example do I want to set? What legacy do I want to leave behind?
Taking time to sit and think about the answers to questions like these is a big step towards creating your vision statement. Doing this will cause you to look inward and help you develop a sense of purpose. Take note of the images that come up for you and the feelings you experience as you go about answering these questions.
Revisit the responses that resonate most with you. If they continue to excite and inspire you and your desire for the future, continue to analyze them and clarify specifically what those dreams, hopes, and wishes look like for you. Continue this process until you have a clear and vivid picture of your future.
Then, take that vision and turn it into a statement; a statement that encompasses everything you hope for concerning both who you want to be and what you want your life to look like.
An important thing to remember is that your personal vision statement doesn’t have to be one sentence or focusing on a single thing, dream, or goal. It can be whatever you want it to be. Your vision should be a picture of your ideal life; a culmination of everything that matters to you. You are the artist, remember? So go imagine and create your game-changing vision; you have everything you need.
Rodney