A Personal Vision - Why?

Stop, Think, Reflect…

Do you know your core values and beliefs? Are they written down? How often do you refer to them? Are you living your core values and beliefs?

Are you creative? Do you have imagination?

Do you know your purpose? Is it written down? How often do you refer to it?

Do you have a mission? Does it have a time table and deadline? Is it written down? How often do you refer to it?

Have you shared your core values/beliefs, purpose and mission with others? Why or why not?

Personal Vision – Why?

The unexamined life is not worth living. – Socrates

Many people define his/her life by personal problems, personal crisis, and unfortunate personal circumstances. There is a second way to define your life and that is by your personal vision of how you “see” your life unfolding.

Are you happy? Do you feel like you are making a difference? What would your obituary say about you if you were to die today? Do you leave people and places better than when you found them?

Creating a personal vision is really a form of prayer and meditation! A relationship with God, a daily life of prayer and meditation and a personal vision create a foundation for a great life. When crisis or problems come (and they will!) it is this foundation that will help you through. Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional. You would not start a 2000 mile drive across the country without a map so why not create a map for journey through life?

Benefits of a personal vision
- A personal vision is a contract with the future.
- A personal vision is a positive affirmation that causes one to collaborate in positive change the world needs.
- A personal vision is deeply spiritual. “People without a vision perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV).
- A personal vision causes one to get busy living versus keeping busy with dying.
- A personal vision is bedrock and foundation for creating and sustaining a better life.
- A personal vision connects the mind, body and soul. It guides your priorities.
- A personal vision creates new consciousness and challenges you on your choices.
- A personal vision simplifies one’s life and reduces stress.
- Creating a personal vision is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom helps us to “see” how our life will unfold.

Reasons cited for not creating a personal vision:
- I desire to be spontaneous. I want the freedom to live in the moment.
- I have failed in the past with resolutions, so I will probably do the same with creating and living my vision. Why waste time?
- I am not worthy of being better and creating a brighter future.
- I don’t believe it is possible to “see” the future by believing in one’s vision
- I don’t believe in my creativity. I am better at creating walls than bridges.
- I do not like change. I have to unlearn bad belief in my ability to create the future. That requires work. I am not up for that work.
- I am afraid of the future.

Personal vision is hard work!
A personal vision requires effort, tenacity and patience.
A personal vision requires self discipline
A personal vision requires focus and concentration.
A personal vision requires having an affair of with your heart and soul.

Everyone is born with the gift of imagination. Imagination is the core of creativity. Thus you can imagine your future and begin to create your future. The potential to visualize, to believe in your vision and to do is unlimited!

Experience Your Personal Vision

Make time to sit quietly with paper and pen. Ponder your life. Jot down key points. Write your obituary as if your life is ending at this moment. What is missing from your obituary? What would you like to add to your legacy? What is stopping you?

Suggested Reading

The Path – Creating Your Mission Statement by Laurie Beth Jones, 1996, ISBN 0-7868-6227-0
The On-Purpose Person – Making Your Life Make Sense by Kevin McCarthy 1992, ISBN 1-57683-309-7

Suggested Movie

Shawshank Redemption see http://www.shawshankredemption.net/ (1994) – “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”