Why does your personal vision matter? Because it is your compass, purpose, and why. It defines where you are going in life and why you are going there.
So, how do you develop your personal vision, keep it forefront of mind, and leverage it’s motivating power? Let’s dive into it.
Why Your Vision Matters
Your personal vision matters because it provides clarity in a chaotic world. It acts as a filter, helping you prioritize opportunities and say no to distractions. It fuels your resilience during setbacks, reminding you of the bigger picture. A clear vision cultivates confidence, enabling you to lead with purpose and authenticity. It inspires others, attracting like-minded individuals who share your passion. Ultimately, a personal vision transforms your life from a series of reactions to a deliberate, impactful journey.
How to Develop Your Vision
The art is in the start when it comes to developing your personal, written vision. Your vision doesn’t have to be perfect, and it will evolve over time. The most important part is to start, so that it can begin to take shape over time. So, here’s how to start:
- List your life roles (personal, significant other, family, profession, friend, volunteer, charity, athlete/coach, hobby (e.g., artist, musician), etc.
- For each life role, consider where you want to be in 5, 10, and 20 years. Consider how you’d like others to describe you in that role.
- Jot down a concise statement that resonates with who you want to be for each role.
That’s it. Once you have your life roles listed out, and you have a concise vision statement for each role, you’ve developed a personal, written vision. This is your compass, purpose, and why.
Making It Meaningful
A vision is only potent if it resonates. To make it meaningful, regularly review and refine it. Here are some tips:
- Update it periodically to align with your life; life changes, your vision can too
- Share it with trusted mentors or peers; their feedback can offer valuable insight
- Place it somewhere visible (like a mirror or planner); visualize it daily
- Create a vision board or write it on a card you carry with you
- Set “roles and goals” that align with your vision; these goals make your vision real
- Pre-week plan to bring your vision and goals into your daily tasks
- Celebrate small wins that align with your vision
So ....
Take time to develop your personal, written vision. List your life roles, consider your aspirations, and write down a concise vision statement for each role. Make this vision meaningful by keeping it current, sharing it with others, placing it somewhere highly visible, making it into a vision board, setting roles and goals, and pre-week planning. That’s becoming your best!
“One ship sails East, And another West, By the self-same winds that blow, ‘Tis the set of the sails, And not the gales, That tells the way we go.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Tis’ The Set of the Sail
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