What is a Personal Vision
We describe a personal vision as a description of success at a particular point in time in the future, described with enough richness and detail it becomes emotionally engaging and meaningful.
Some might think “visioning” is only for corporate boardrooms, but a vision is something anyone can create to help guide their choices and actions.
Why is a Good Vision so Critical?
A vision is helpful for a variety of reasons, and a few of them are here below.
Statement of Optimism
A vision is a statement of optimism about the future. Rather than fearing what is to come, a vision can help you stay positive as you face uncertainties and unknowns. Gaining a clear sense of what is important to you and where you are headed helps you maintain a sense of purpose as you face setbacks and challenges.
Allows us to Create Rather Than React
When you create a vision, it helps you refine your core values and helps you make choices in alignment with what matters most to you. So when situations arise that are difficult or confusing, you have a clear idea of what kind of life you want and the person you want to be. This makes it easier to be proactive in creating this life, rather than simply reacting based on how you feel in the moment.
Accesses What’s Deep Inside
There are a lot of reasons why people choose the paths they do. It is far too easy to make decisions based on others’ or society’s expectations, rather than on what you know to be true about what you value. A vision helps you better understand what motivates you, what you care about, and what you want to invest your time and energy into. A vision can help you understand what you are and also what you are not. This clear understanding of your values and limits can help you build upon your strengths and access your greatest potential.
Helps Us Make Better Decisions
When faced with a decision, it can be tempting to choose whatever is most convenient, most comfortable, or the least risky. The issue is that sometimes these choices do not lead you closer to the kind of life you want, but can rather keep you stuck where you’d rather not be. Creating a personal vision becomes a filter for your choices. If a job opportunity comes your way, and it pays very well, for example, but it is not in a field you want to be in. Your vision can help serve as a filter for you. Perhaps you could decide to work this job for a couple of years to save up for school which would put you closer to your vision. Or perhaps you might decide to choose a different opportunity that would allow you to practice skills needed for that future job instead. Creating a vision articulates your hoped-for future in a way that makes it actionable today.
Forces Us to Be Accountable
There might be some internal resistance to actually putting your vision onto paper at the beginning. For some, it can be scary to see what you truly want written down in black and white. Once your vision is on paper, it becomes more real and concrete. It becomes a measure by which you can determine the effectiveness of your own choices. It keeps you accountable to both yourself and others if you choose to share it. As you make choices, your vision serves as a waypoint for you to decide whether or not you are on course with what you said you wanted to do. And this can help you stick with it, even when you face challenges along the way.
WARM-UP Exercise
Creating a vision is critical, but how do you do it? The first step is to get your brain warmed up and the ideas flowing. In order to do this, take about five to seven minutes to make a list of your “prouds,” or your proudest moments. It can be anything from school, work, family, friendships, your own personal memories, anything. Don’t think too hard about it—just write everything that comes to mind.
Create Your First Draft
Once you’re warmed up, it’s time to write your first draft. In this draft, the goal is not to edit—just write! Write from the heart and shoot for something amazing. Try not to focus on the limits, focus on possibilities. Make it personal and make it great. Don’t get stuck on how you’ll accomplish it because that can be determined later. You’ll always have an opportunity to edit it later. The goal for now is to assume that anything could happen.
Hot Pen Technique
One way to help accomplish this is the “hot pen technique.” When you write your first draft, don’t stop writing for twenty minutes. Write anything and everything that comes to mind. Don’t stop to edit at all, but instead, engage every sense as you describe your future. What would you see? What would you hear? What would you taste, smell, or touch? Make it fabulous and vivid to help engage not only your mind but also your emotions. And the most important thing? Don’t stop.
Questions
Here is a way to start your vision:
“It’s April 22, 2028 and I’m ___ years old. I am happy and proud of what I’ve achieved in the past five years. These are the things I see going on that give evidence I have been successful in my vision: ”
Now answer the following questions using the Hot Pen Technique. Remember, don’t stop, just write.
WORK & EDUCATION
Where is your school, career, or business?
What direction are you heading?
PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL
How physically healthy are you?
Are you enjoying your life and making it fun?
Where do you find peace and happiness?
FRIENDS & FAMILY
How do your friends view you?
How does your family view you?
You can find more questions for each of these topics to answer in the free How to Create a Vision Presentation Download. Whether you’re presenting for a class or just creating your own vision, it provides everything you need to get started!
Re-Read & Edit Your Vision
A vision is not a one-draft kind of thing! Once you create your first draft, set it aside for about a week and then revisit it. Read through and see what kinds of changes you’d like to make. You can add in new ideas or take away ideas that don’t seem as motivating. As you progress through each year, you’ll have new experiences (both positive and negative) that will help to shape this vision. As you learn and grow, your vision can change with you!
Share Your Vision with Others
The best way to stay accountable to what you’ve made clear in your vision is to share it with someone you trust. You might even share it with a few people! You’ll want to choose people who you know will support you in your journey and help keep you accountable to what you’ve decided to do. Sharing it not only helps it feel more real, but it also can inspire others to consider their own vision for life!
Download the Spirit Box Presentation on Creating a Vision to share this process with others! It contains every step, even more questions to consider, and funny memes along the way. Take the next step and download it now.
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