Your Vision, Your Life

Dear Reader,

Last week, I wrote a post focusing on the context behind why, at this time on our planet, having a personal vision – as well as a bigger vision for humanity – is so crucial. If you haven’t read that post yet, please do. This week, I want to follow up and take a closer look at the power of having a vision.

What do I mean by vision?

I am talking about what you imagine, or the picture you hold in your mind, for your life in the future. You might also hold a vision for your business, if you have one. You might even hold a vision for humanity, or for some smaller group.

Do you have a vision for your life? For your business? For something else?

If you do, great! Keep reading.

If you don’t have a personal vision, you might want to check in and see why not, (maybe you never considered the idea, or maybe you think having a vision is a waste of time) and whether you would like to have one. You keep reading too!

Next question: do you think having a vision is important? A lot of people seem to think so (think personal development books, business education, visionary leadership programs).

In my own work, I do believe that having a vision is important, but why? You can answer that question for yourself, but here’s my answer:

• A vision provides motivation to keep going when things get tough.
• A vision acts as a compass, to keep you moving forward in the right direction when you get distracted or lose focus.
• A vision can help you stay grounded in who you really are.
• A vision can help you create a plan, whether by working forward or working by reverse design from your vision backward to now, in order to achieve something specific.
• Even if the details of your vision are not fully specific, the feeling of your vision is perhaps more important. In fact, even if you don’t have a picture in your mind of a destination, maybe you at least have a feeling that you are on the right track. And maybe, for now, that’s enough.

I could go on.

But here’s another question, that comes up often: “How specific does my vision need to be?!”

It depends. A vision is very personal. It is partly based on your true nature, and how you learn. Some of you may be visual learners, so your visions may be filled with specific images. Others of you may be more kinesthetic learners, so you may have fewer visual images, but strong “feelings” – either bodily or in your heart or mind – of where you are headed.

A vision is also partly dependent on context. If you are searching for a vision about a specific project you are working on, in which case your vision may also be very specific. On the other hand, if you are looking for a broad vision for your life, you may have some specifics, mixed with feelings and a sense of direction, or rightness.

Sometimes we can’t see where we’re headed, and we don’t even know what we’re doing, or why!

What then?!

No worries. A little faith is called for, and also a sense of whether you like what you are doing right now. That’s a great start! Then a few questions are in order:

Why do I like what I’m doing? (Does it address an insecurity, or make you feel needed, or does it just delight you or feel right?) If it delights you, you may be on the right track. If it addresses an insecurity, you might want to take a closer look.

Does what I’m doing feel purposeful? (related to feeling right, as mentioned above.)

Do I have a desire to keep doing what I’m doing? If yes, you may well be on the right track, and it is a good time to sit down and focus on a clear vision for the future. If your answer is no – it may be time to start doing something different.

Ultimately, a vision is a smooth blend of desire, curiosity, faith, purpose, imagination, skill (something you do well) and action. A vision is not set in stone; it can change.  A vision keeps you moving forward – except when it commands you to be still.

And remember, it’s ok if you don’t have one right now, so no need to stress. Pushing for a vision can lead you to do things you feel you should do, rather than doing things you truly want to do.

Vision away, dear reader, and remember – the best vision for the future comes from being fully in the present!

I honor your loving heart,

John