Some people seem to have a clear vision for their lives. They seem to move through their lives as if being pulled by something greater than what we may be able to see in our own experience. For those of us that haven't figured it out yet it can be frustrating and may trigger a feeling of what's the point? What even is a vision. Vision demands commitment and purpose.
Your vision for your life is like a north star-bright, obvious, awe-inspiring. Imagine setting sail without a destination—drifting aimlessly in an ocean of different possibilities, super easy to get lost. Now, consider having a guiding light, a North Star in the night sky of your life. A vision serves as a beacon, providing direction, clarity, and a sense of purpose. It's not about reaching a fixed point but having a constant reference point amid life's ever-changing seas.
Realistically, we live in a world inundated with choices and distractions, and many times when we set out to complete a task, no matter how big or small, we are not purposeful about it and get lost in the noise. Your personal vision can be your life's GPS. It helps you navigate through the winding roads of decisions, ensuring that each turn aligns with your core values and long-term aspirations.
You may be thinking but I don't know my vision! I have no GPS!-hang on, I'm getting there.
A vision is the gas that keeps you moving in a direction of growth and contribution to yourself, your loved ones and the world at large. It's this fuel that propels you forward when challenges arise and connects you with the perseverance needed to live a satisfying life. Purposeful living is the natural byproduct of aligning your daily endeavors with a larger, meaningful narrative.
Here is the secret that most won’t tell you: You can do all the vision quests, ayahuasca ceremonies, past life regressions, and psychic readings and may still come up blank, or worse, disillusioned. The only solution is to create a vision for yourself. Start with something small if you find it difficult and change it as you progress. You are made for progress.
Your brain, your neural command center, plays a pivotal role in moving you towards your vision. When you set a goal aligned with your vision, the brain releases dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with motivation and reward. This surge of dopamine not only fuels your drive to pursue your vision but also creates a positive feedback loop, reinforcing the neurological pathways associated with your goals. As you consistently focus on your goals, neural pathways associated with perseverance and resilience strengthen. This rewiring enhances your capacity to overcome obstacles and navigate the inevitable challenges on the path to a purposeful life.
OK, so here are some practical ways to cultivate your vision that don’t require that you get dropped off in the middle of the desert alone for a week, unless that’s your thing, in which case, dale.
1. Reflect on Your Values: Crafting a vision begins with introspection. Identify your core values, those fundamental principles that define who you are and what matters most to you. Your vision should align seamlessly with these values, ensuring an authentic and fulfilling journey.
2. Visualize Your Ideal Future: Take the time to vividly picture your ideal future. What does it look like? What are you doing? How do you feel? Visualization serves as a powerful tool, imprinting your aspirations onto your subconscious mind and influencing your daily actions. The more you can connect with your senses-sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch- when you visualize, the more real it is for your brain.
3. Set SMART Goals: I know I talk about smart goals a lot but they work, so do it. Break down your vision into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals. These are the stepping stones that transform your grand vision into manageable and actionable tasks, making the path to purpose less daunting.
4. Create a Vision Board: As corny as it may seem, vision boards work. Compile images, quotes, and symbols that represent your vision on a physical or digital vision board. This visual representation serves as a daily reminder of your aspirations, reinforcing your commitment and keeping the flame of motivation alive.
5. Regularly Revisit and Revise: You change over time and your vision will change, too. As you grow and evolve, so too should your vision. Set aside time regularly to revisit and, if necessary, revise your vision. Life is dynamic, and your vision should adapt to reflect your changing priorities and aspirations.
6. Keep It Simple: You do not need to overcomplicate it. When you are crafting a vision statement, if this is something you want to do, make it sound like you. You will want to recognize yourself in it. Whether you sound like Terence McKenna, Marcus Aurelius, or a cheesy motivational poster in your head, go with it. You will be more likely to believe it.
7. Start Somewhere: Perhaps it is difficult for you to connect with a large vision of your life. Sometimes focusing on one specific area is helpful. We wear different hats and have different goals around our love life, our finances, our career, our contribution to others. Create a vision for one area of your life and allow that to be the starting point to something else later on.
For most of us, as we move towards a vision we set for ourselves, we end up a little off course. Keep the vision in mind and embrace the setbacks and distractions as side-quests that may be showing you different aspects of who you are and who you are capable of being.
Let your vision lead you back and let it grow and adapt to the different versions of yourself that you will uncover along the way.
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