How to Create an Inspiring Vision Statement
Sailors of past centuries used the North Star to navigate since it remained stationary. It is easy to be distracted by other things and stray away from our goals. Therefore, we need something to provide the direction necessary to achieve our goals, just like the old sailors used the star to find their way across the seas.
What is a Personal Vision Statement?
We are all familiar with company vision statements. A vision statement of any firm is the dream that it wants to achieve. By reading this statement, you’ll know the long-term goal of the business. For instance, Disney’s vision statement is, “To make people Happy.”
A personal vision statement can be defined in a similar way but at an individual level. Apart from telling the goals a person wants to achieve, a personal vision statement is also a reflection of the values held by that individual.
Why Do We Need Personal Vision Statement?
• In our daily lives, it’s easy to get distracted from our main goal. One of the biggest problems with distraction is that other people’s agenda comes before our own. Although a personal vision statement will not take away the distractions, it inspires us to focus on what is important to us. By providing clarity for the future, a vision places our attention in the present.
• A vision statement provides us with clear end goals in mind. Consequently, it makes us determined individuals, thereby inspiring us even in our darkest time. A vision enables us to shed off all the stuff that is important in our lives.
• A personal vision statement is one of the most powerful tools that can help us to push outside our comfort zone. A compelling statement makes us do things we would not have done. Accordingly, our lives become products of design and not chance.
Why We Struggle with Vision
Despite our knowledge of how an inspiring personal vision statement is important in shaping our lives, some people find it hard to write their vision down. Understanding these blocks could go a long way in overcoming the fear that stops us from crafting our inspiring vision statements.
We are victims of cultural conditioning. Our education system from early age conditions us to decide based on a limited range of options. Most of the time, our choices are based on what is available for us or what we believe is available. However, visualization requires us to make choices from an infinite range of options.
We fail to visualize. Visualization is a skill. Just like a muscle, if you fail to exercise it, it feels uncomfortable to use it. Given that many of us stopped visualizing at a young age, we feel that we are not doing it in the right way when requested to do it today. Some people believe that they cannot visualize, or that it doesn’t work for them. Contrary, the more we visualize, the better we become in creating from our imagination.
We have fear. It’s no secret that we fear failure — questioning our competence and ability to persevere and make it hard for us to create a personal vision statement. Fear makes us question our ability to dream big. When we allow fear to engulf us, safety becomes more important than growth. However, when we overcome fear, we become visionary and feel free to try new things.
A vision has to be perfect. We believe that we should have the “right” vision, the perfect vision. We want to craft a timeless vision. Nevertheless, what is perfect in reality? Are we perfect in everything that we do? If the answer is no, then why do we want a perfect vision? When we become aware of this false belief, perfection no longer limits us.
Before You Start Dreaming Up Your Vision
When creating an inspiring personal vision, it’s important to go through a discovery process to clarify what should be included. The mind must be open, alert, centered, and ready. The mind can achieve this status through two methods.
#1. Quiet Your Mind
When your mind is in the right frame, it is easy to find your center. At this state, the mind does not race to the future and is not ruminate in the past. To achieve this status, place your feet firmly on the ground. In the next 20 seconds, place your attention on the feet and notice any sensation. By focusing on your feet, all the energy is drawn from the head down.
#2. Connect to Your Heart
To create a connection with your heart, gently smile inwardly. Take three full breaths as you acknowledge your heart and say to it, “Thank You.”
8 Elements to Explore for Your Life Vision
Areas of Focus: Identify important categories of your life that always require your attention.
Core Values: Identify five to 10 things that you value the most.
Dreams: Identify what you would regret not doing, creating, or seeing if today was your last day on earth.
Interests: Identify five to 10 things you enjoy doing. Also, identify what you can’t live without.
Profession: Identify what you must do to feel satisfied with your work.
Skills: Identify three areas that you feel you need to work on to enrich your life experience.
Strengths: Identify what you are good at.
Want’s and Don’t Want: Identify what you have and want to keep, what you have and don’t want to keep, what you don’t have and want to get, and what you don’t have and don’t want to get.
Craft Your Vision Statement
You shouldn’t be concerned about having a perfect vision as any vision is better than none. Just create “working vision” and don’t mind much as it can evolve. However, you should make sure you have included everything important in your life.
When to Use Your Life Vision
• Revisit the vision statement at the beginning of the week
• To prepare for the following week, check the statement on Sunday evening
• When you have so many things happening around you
• When you’re doubtful about the purpose and meaning of your life
• Check it regularly until you internalize it.
How to Use Your Vision
Although writing and reading your vision statement down is crucial, it’s even more important to bring it to life. Visualize your vision in your mind and picture yourself with the vision actualized. The clearer the vision appears in your mind, the more you are likely to work towards actualizing it. You are also likely to get external help when living your vision.
TIP: When creating a vision statement take the 9 keys of your life and write a “mini” statement for them, and then combine them together. These 9 areas are:
- Career
- Money/finances
- Health/fitness
- Personal development/growth
- Spiritual
- Family
- Recreation/fun
- Romance
- Friends/social
