Creating your life vision may seem like a waste of time, but it’s far from it. Creating a compelling vision for the life you want is actually one of the most effective strategies for achieving the life of your dreams. The best way to look at the concept of a life vision is to imagine a compass that will guide you to make the best decisions and choices that will help propel you towards your best life. Your vision of who you want to be is the greatest asset you have!
Summary
Why do you need a life vision?
Experts support the idea that with a vision in mind, you are more likely to achieve success far beyond what you might otherwise achieve without a clear vision. So consider shaping your life vision by charting a path towards your personal and professional dreams! Life satisfaction and personal happiness are within reach. The harsh reality is that if you don’t develop your own vision for life, you will allow other people and circumstances to direct the course of your life.
How do you create your life vision?
Don’t expect a clear, well-defined life vision overnight – imagining your life and determining the course you will follow takes time and thought. You must cultivate vision and perspective, and you must also apply logic and planning for the practical application of your vision. Your best vision for life blossoms from your dreams, hopes and aspirations. It will resonate with your values and ideals and generate energy and enthusiasm to help you strengthen your commitment to exploring the possibilities in your life.
What do you really want?
The question seems deceptively simple, but it is often difficult to answer. Allowing yourself to explore your deepest desires can be very scary. But it’s important to remember that a fulfilling life doesn’t usually happen by chance, but by design.
It helps to ask thought-provoking questions to help you discover the possibilities of what you want out of life. Consider all aspects of your life, personal and professional, tangible and intangible. Contemplate all the important areas, family and friends, career and success, health and quality of life, spiritual connection and personal growth, and don’t forget joy and fun!
A few tips to guide you:
- Don’t forget to ask why you want certain things
- Think about what you want, not what you don’t want.
- Give yourself permission to dream.
- Be creative. Brainstorm ideas you never thought possible.
- Focus on your wishes, not on what others expect of you.
A few questions to start your exploration:
- What really matters in life? Not what should matter, what matters.
- What more would you like to have in your life?
- What do you want in your career?
- What are your secret passions and dreams?
- What would bring more joy and happiness into your life?
- What do you want your relationships to look like?
- What qualities would you like to develop?
- What are your values? What issues are you interested in?
- What are your talents? What is your particularity?
- What would you most like to accomplish?
- What legacy would you like to leave behind?
Writing down your thoughts in a journal or vision board can be helpful if you’re the creative type. Add your own questions and ask others what they want out of life. Relax and make this exercise fun.
What would your ideal life look like?
Describe in detail your ideal life. Allow yourself to dream and imagine, and create a vivid image. If you can’t visualize an image, focus on how you would feel. If you find it difficult to envision your life 20 or 30 years from now, start with five years – even a few years in the future will give you a starting point. What you see may surprise you. Put aside preconceived notions. This is your chance to dream!
A few tips to get you started:
- What have you already accomplished?
- How will you feel?
- What kind of people do you have in your life? What do you think of them?
- What does your ideal day look like?
- Where are you? Where do you live? Think about the details, what city, state or country, type of community, house or apartment, style and atmosphere.
- What would you do?
- Are you with another person, a group of people, or are you alone?
- What is your state of mind? Happy or sad? Happy or frustrated?
- What does your physical body look like?
Does your ideal life make you smile? If not, dig deeper, dream bigger!
It is important to focus on the outcome, or at least on a waypoint in your life. Don’t think about the process yet, that’s the next step. Give yourself permission to revisit this life vision every day, if only for a few minutes. Keep your vision alive in your mind.
Plan backwards
It may seem counterintuitive to plan backwards rather than forwards, but when planning your life from the end result, it’s often more helpful to consider the last step and come back to the first. It’s actually a useful and practical strategy to make your vision a reality.
What’s the last thing that should have happened to achieve your ideal life?
What is the most important choice you should have made?
What did you need to learn along the way?
What important actions should you have taken?
What beliefs did you need to change?
What habits or behaviors should you have cultivated?
What kind of support should you have had?
How long will it take you to realize your ideal life?
Now is the time to think about your first step and the next step. Think about the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future. It may seem impossible, but it’s totally doable if you do it step by step.
It is important to review this vision from time to time. Don’t be surprised if your answers to the questions, your vision, and the resulting plans change. This can actually be a very good thing; when you change in unpredictable ways, the ideal life you envision will also change. For now, it’s important to use the process, create your vision, and take the first step towards realizing that vision.
8 tips for creating your life vision
1. Resolve old wounds
It’s hard to take on a new outlook on your life while being hampered by old wounds that haven’t been healed. Spend time in introspection. Do you have resentment? Do you need to forgive someone? Are you clinging to a wound that needs healing? Be honest about those feelings, seek sound advice, and start the restoration process so you can continue.
2. Realize that it’s beyond you
We are not the center of the universe. Seek a vision of life that makes the world a better place for others!
3. Explore your passion and talents
We all have talents and skills. What passions and talent do you have? Now is the time for you to give this gift to the world.
4. Spend time with people you admire
Look for people whose lives you admire. Ask them how they got there and why they do what they do.
5. Imagine what you want your life to look like
Think about your end goal. What do you want your life to look like? What type of person do you want to be? What do you want your family to look like? What would your career be? View everything in detail!
6. Don’t limit yourself
Dream big. Don’t let fear or lack of confidence cloud your vision. If your vision isn’t making you at least a little feverish, then you’re probably not dreaming big enough! It must be scary but also exciting.
7. Write out your mission and list action steps
Think of a sentence that sums up your vision. Write it down and put it somewhere you can see it. Next, write down three to five action steps that you will focus on over the next few months that will bring you closer to achieving your life vision. When you have completed these steps, invent new ones.
8. Be flexible
Be open to the fact that your outlook on life may need to change over time and circumstances.
