Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in a three-part series examining the importance of having a vision and how to create one for your life and career.
One of the most significant benefits of establishing a vision is it will beautifully align and structure your energy, focus, and time.
While spending time determining your vision is fulfilling in and of itself, lasting change manifests when you establish a vision practice, develop a plan, and take action. In the first article of this series, I spoke to taking a high-level view to define your vision. This approach encourages you to consider your core values and how they will be honored, the behaviors you wish to exhibit, and the impact you aim to impart.
ESTABLISH YOUR VISION PRACTICE
Some are able to integrate a vision easily into their work and life, while others need ideas and exercises to make the connection.
If you feel internally aligned with your vision but are unsure of what comes next, I invite you to try one or more of the following exercises.
Develop a Visualization Routine. One of my favorite exercises is visualization. I love it because it’s a state of highly focused attention. I’m a natural daydreamer, and I realized that daydreams shine a light on what I want in life and directly tie to my vision. From a neuroscience perspective, the brain cannot distinguish between visualization and reality. As a friend of mine so poignantly observed, “you are creating a future memory.” To start, find a quiet space and bring your attention inward. In this hyper-focused state, take a high-level view and visualize your ideal day or where your company is heading and the impact it will impart. You can frequently revisit this exercise and flesh out a fair amount of the details. Don’t get too detailed or you’ll miss out on space for serendipity. Each time you can go deeper and focus on some of the specific areas of life or areas in your business that need your attention.
Practice Focused Reflection. Many leaders spend their days being reactive and, as a result, miss an opportunity to see the bigger picture. Even if it’s as short as 10 minutes a day, spending time to reflect will help you calibrate to your vision. Ask yourself the following questions. What is serving me? What is no longer serving me that I need to let go of? How is the current use of my time or my team’s time helping to achieve the vision? As you answer these questions, sit with what matters most to you. If you need more reflection exercises, sign up for my complimentary email series of five prompts designed to increase clarity, fulfillment, and flow.
Go Back to Childhood. Our younger years and the activities we loved doing provide clues into what might serve us in adulthood. Since you were a kid and throughout your life, what do you love doing? Ask yourself: what are the themes and activities that keep repeating in my life? These repeating patterns provide the chance to tap into the wisdom we already have and find a path toward fulfillment. Choose one word or a short phrase to represent the themes you may uncover. For me, the common threads that continue from my childhood are that I love learning new things, love to explore and travel, and love being creative. From there, I assigned specific words that aligned with these activities, which are education, exploration, and creativity. Without these themes in my life and my practice, I feel misaligned and unfulfilled.
DEVELOP A PLAN TO TAKE ACTION
Once you have your overall vision identified and delved deep into the seven areas of life, it is time to actualize it. Consider what actions or elements from your vision you can implement in your life now and what steps you need to take today for the aspects of your vision that you will implement tomorrow. Both can and should happen at the same time to help gain fulfillment in more than one area.
It takes practice and a plan to feel comfortable and productive in this fresh space. Establish a plan of action to help you integrate your vision into your day-to-day life. With your vision as your north star, identify the gaps between where you are and where you are heading. The practice of creating and implementing your vision sometimes requires shedding old habits, mindsets, and patterns to pave the way for what’s to come. It requires learning new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone. During those moments where you may lack confidence, conviction, or the energy to continue, follow your plan; it’s there to help you reach your north star. And don’t forget to incorporate self-compassion and play to balance out the discomfort and hard work.
Take small steps to enact your plan. For example, if you see a lot of color and flowers in your vision, consider adding color and flowers to your home, office, or wardrobe. If you also see yourself at work in a collaborative environment, consider how you can structure your meetings to promote collaboration.
During this phase of building your plan and taking action, it’s important to remember that you are experimenting and collecting information that will help you better define your strategy and implement your vision. Also, consider adjusting your communication. As you begin implementing your vision, the change created may increase stress, fear, or worry amongst your team, family, and friends. Craft a message to share pertinent and appropriate information to inform, ease any potential negative perceptions, and manage expectations. Note, you may have to repeat this message frequently,
With gratitude.
Marsha