Writing Your Vision
What is it?
A vision is a clear and precise depiction of what life will look like at a certain point in the future. You might consider it a snapshot of what is to come. A written vision captures our desires and goals and brings forth those aspects of life that are most important to us today. It also guides us in our actions in the future. Rather than a 'soft dream' we may have thought about from time to time, a vision is a referencable document with measurable results.
Why write my vision?
A written vision inspires an inner source of motivation that can carry you towards achieving your goals. Reading your vision regularly will keep you keep your mind conscious of those apsects of life that you hold in the highest regard. This will support you in crafting day to day actions that are aligned with your innermost desires.
Can a vision change?
Absolutely. We are evolving entities, constantly reacting and adjusting to our ever changing environment. My vision today may be completely different from my vision one year from today - however this does not stop me from building a vision that fuels my soul and provides direction. If I won the super lotto tomorrow, my financial vision will be drastically changed, however my vision of family life may be undainted. The vision is organic, flowing with our changing lives. Like a business plan, updating the vision is a byproduct of having a vision.
How do I write a vision?
The vision starts deep inside with your dreams and greatest desires. The vision does not need to be limited by the constraints of time and money. Where are your passions, how will they be incorporated in your life in the future?
The vision is a picture painted with words, written so clearly that you can taste, see, hear and feel it. The vision is written from the heart and represents how you see yourself and your life in the future.
If it helps, consider the following questions in starting to craft your vision (not all must be part of your vision):
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What is important to me in life?
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Who is important to me in life?
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What are the places I think of when I consider the happiest times of my life?
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What are my true passions?
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When my time has passed, what would I like to be remembered for?
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What kind of physical condition will I be in?
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What physical activities will I be involved with?
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Will I be working? If so what am I doing?
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How much money will I be making?
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What will a typical week look like for me?
Pick a time in the future (ie: 1, 3, 5, 10 years), and write your vision today as if that day has already come. Your vision is written in the present tense.
For example:
Today is January 15, 2010 and I am sitting in my log cabin in Minnessota. At the moment I am resting by the fire and my wife and two children are fast asleep. We love the woods and are so happy that we were able to purchase this vacation home last year. We have a 2200 square foot house near my family in Tampa Bay where I work as an senior engineer with a large manufacturing firm. I work a forty hour week overseeing and supervising an engineer team of 10 individuals....
The vision is meant to be fun and inspirational. It is not your 'action plan' to get there, but it is the result of the path you have chosen to get you to this point. Enjoy the process, dream big, and be conscious of those things that you hold of true value in your life. The vision is for you and you only, it is not something to brag about or to show off to friends. It is your dream, your life and your happiness - so don't cheat yourself by creating your friends vision.
Your vision can be as long as you would like with as much detail as you would care to add. As a guideline, at a minimum, the vision should be one page. For a maximum, consider you will want to read the vision fairly regularly, so a short novel may be too much. Have fun and enjoy this process!