What’s Your Vision for Your Life?
| Vision: |
Something seen in a dream; a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination; manifestation to the senses of something immaterial; the act or power of imagination; mode of seeing or conceiving; unusual discernment or foresight; the act or power of seeing |
- Does your life reflect what you really want?
- Do you know what you really want?
- What is your vision for your life?
Here’s the kicker: Our lives already reflect our vision for our life!
The sin of omission definitely applies here. Not having a vision means your vision for your life is not to have a vision.
We are each accountable for our current condition.
For a full year, I was focused on writing my new book. After the completion of the project, I had not taken the time to reset my vision and goals. That left me wandering and unfocused.
That condition is common in Olympic athletes who spend years focused on their primary goal of participating in the Olympics. When they finish their final competition and have not yet established their next steps, they may feel despondent and even sink into depression.
The challenge for many individuals is that they focus on their current condition, not on what they want.
If you are out of shape and all you can think about is how overweight you are, your vision for your future condition is that you are overweight.
To get back on track, I shifted my vision about myself from being overweight and out of shape to being healthy and slim. Today, I run about 36 miles a week and work out 6 days a week for 70 minutes. I shifted my focus from what I was, to what I wanted. In other words, I created a new vision of myself.
So what about you?
Do you have a clear vision of what you want?
Perhaps you are struggling in your relationship with your partner. You are thinking negative thoughts about the situation. Well, don’t be surprised when you experience more of the same. You must change your thoughts and vision to reflect what you want – not what you have.
Some of you might argue with me and say, “That’s the reality of what’ going on in our relationship. I just can’t envision a healthy and loving relationship.” Fine. Have your reality. But don’t blame anyone but yourself for it. That advice comes from someone who has a lot of experience in that particular area!
The purpose of having vision statements for all areas of your life is not just about getting what you want. It’s also about living a fully engaged and exciting life! Individuals with no vision have much less energy and passion for life. Why? As human beings, we need direction to feel fulfilled.
Proverbs29:18 states, Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Technically, visions are not goals. Goals are created from visions. A vision is an active and ongoing dream that you are striving to achieve.
- I can achieve a weight goal.
- My vision for my health and wellness never ends. It is ongoing . . . as long as I am alive.
I agree with Dr. Wayne Dyer in Excuses Be Gone that people don’t get what they want-they get what and who they are. That means if you want a loving relationship, you need to be loving. You can’t act mean-spirited and expect to realize your vision of a healthy relationship.
Your vision must be congruent with your heart and your actions.
Vision is important for more than personal fulfillment. Families, teams, and organizations need visions, too. In Jim Kouzes’ new book, The Truth About Leadership, 1 of the 10 nonnegotiable characteristics of successful leaders is that they provide a vision for their organization. If the organization does not know where it is going, any road will get it there.
Please ponder the Action Steps below, so you can start developing a vision statement in each main area of your life.
Action Steps
What’s Your Vision for Your Life?
- Does your life reflect what you really want . . . or something else?
- What is your vision in all areas of your life?
- Self
- Family
- Relatives
- Friends
- Learning
- Spirituality
- Public Policy
- Social Life
- Recreation
- Physical Health
- Community Service
- Financial
- Career/Calling
- If you are operating within a faith, use it to drive your vision statements.
- Your vision statements should stir your excitement, inspiration, and action. Pay attention to your emotional responses to your vision statements.
- “But Ken, I don’t know what I want.” What do you not want? Then think about the opposite.
- The research is clear. Those who have a vision, dreams, and goals will be far more successful than those who don’t.
- The research further reveals that those with WRITTEN vision statements and goals do much better than people who simply carry those ideas around in their heads.
- Those who review their written visions on a daily basis are significantly more successful still. One study documented that everyone who wrote out and then read their vision statements daily all became millionaires. Where we put our focus every day bears fruit in our lives. That is not to suggest money is everyone’s goal. The power of focusing on a vision will help you achieve the results you want.
- Take the time to write 2 to 4 sentences (vision statements) for each category noted in Step 2 above.
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- To clarify your values and style, complete the CRG’s Values Preference Indicator (VPI) and
- the Personal Style Indicator (PSI) to get to know yourself better so you are less influenced by others.
- To understand how your level of self-worth is affecting your success, complete theSelf-Worth Inventory.
- To help you understand your tendencies and what is important to you, read Why Aren’t You More Like Me?“!
- Make your vision statements accessible. Place a copy by your bedside, in your office, and in other convenient places for your review. Put them on your Smart phone so you can read your visions anywhere and anytime. Read them on a daily basis.
- It takes time to shift an image. As you reshape your thoughts and your focus, be patient. It is a redevelopment process. Some days, you will fall back into old thought patterns. Get over it and move on.
- Start now. Every day you delay is a day without the power of your new focus. The greatest gift you can give yourself is to be completely engaged in your life and inspiring others to do the same.
Your life or business is your own to live.
Until next time, keep Living On Purpose.
Ken Keis
For information on CRG Resources, please visit http://www.crgleader.com/home.
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