Proclaiming your Dream: Developing 20/20 Vision
Do you recall the first time someone asked you “What do you want to be when you grow up? Take a few moments to think back. For me, the question was asked by my 3rd grade elementary school teacher. My response was probably typical of a little girl in love with reading and school. My 8 year old self envisioned a life traveling the world and teaching. While this vision for my life is presently shaped a bit differently than initially envisioned, my desire to teach and travel has remained consistent. The little girl inspired to dream has always set life goals for herself and has managed to stay the course through many of life’s transitional seasons.
According to the dictionary, vision is defined “as the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be”. Throughout history, there have been visionary leaders whose vision has changed the world. Most notably is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King’s vision of a world in which race was not a contributing factor in how people were treated. His inspirational “I Have a Dream Speech”, ignited a generation to envision their own dreams of a world of racial equality, non-violence and freedom for all Americans.
In Habbakuk 2:2-3 God instructs us to do four things to be successful in life: write our vision, read our vision, recite our vision and run with our vision.
It wasn’t until I entered the corporate world that I became familiar with the positive impact of Vision and Mission statements. Vision statements are short phrases or sentences that convey your hopes for the future. Your vision is your dream. Whatever your dream is, it may be articulated in a vision statement. Now that the 2016 New Year’s resolutions hype is over. It’s time to get busy writing your personal vision statement. A vision statement clearly expresses what you want to achieve in the future. This simple statement reflects your values, goals and purpose. During the many transitional periods of my life, the personal vision statement has served as a compass to redirect me when off course. It was during a transition period that I was introduced to the idea of creating a vision board.
A vision board is a collage of images, pictures and affirmations of your dreams, goals and things that make you happy. It is a power visual tool to empower you to move from day dreaming to living your dreams. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Pictures along with your life intentions are powerful motivators toward achieving the vision for your life. Each vision board will be as unique as the individual. Your vision board can be arranged by particular themes:
- Fitness Goals
- Relationships
- Career/Work
- Health/Wellness
- Spirituality
- Family
- Travel/Adventure
Once your board is complete, post it in a highly visible place to keep your attention focused on your dreams. Remember, a vision without a plan is just a dream! Have you lost sight of your life vision? In this New Year, what are you dreaming for? Instead of creating New Year resolutions, I encourage you to try a different approach. Try writing down the vision for your life. On a daily basis, recite your vision and boldly run with your vision by taking decisive steps toward your goals.
Together…let’s rediscover, re-imagine and reignite our dreams!