1. Create Your Vision
Get Clear about Your Vision, Values, Priorities, and Strengths
“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” ~ Carl Jung
Before setting yet another goal, or creating a lengthy to-do list, get clear about your vision! Build a very clear image in your mind of what it is you want. Then create and post your vision boards, plans, bullet points and reminders. Take time to look deep within to discover what excites you or leaves you feeling deeply satisfied. If, like most people, you're unclear about what you truly want, the exercises on this page will help you create your vision.
When you are clear about your values you will be drawn to what makes you happy and productive. When you are unclear about your personal values you will be pushed into directions that will leave you feeling frustrated, anxious and ineffective. A lack of direction causes confusion, inconsistency, and feelings of overwhelm and hopelessness. It's time to get off the hamster wheel and create your vision.
So let's get started.
The following exercises will reveal the interests that offer you the most satisfaction and creativity. They will assist you in getting clear about your vision, values, priorities and strengths. Without a clear vision goals become impossible to outline and achieve. Your vision of the desired end result does not have to perfect, but it must have as much detail as possible. So get clear about you values, priorities, strengths and then create your vision.
Exercise #1: Write, clip-out and gather photos, quotes and information that you find fun, interesting, intriguing, motivational and inspirational. Throw these clipping in a folder or shoe box for refinement and fine tuning. After you have collected as much information and photos as you feel inspired to, next remove all the contents and choose the top 10 items you find the most exciting. Then reduce those 10 to six, in any order. Post your final six on a vision board, or poster and hang it up where you can see it daily! If needed, keep revising your board with new photos until you can honestly say, "Yes! This is Me!"
Exercise #2: Write or voice record a story about yourself. Tell it quick without editing or analyzing and include as much detail as possible. Include something you do very well and explain what feels good about this skill. Detail what it is about yourself that makes you so good at this particular achievement. This can be something you accomplished yesterday, or a goal you achieved decades ago! They are all valid achievements. Recite specific details and include values you must honor otherwise a part of you dies. Then, to really get your creative juices flowing tell your story as if time or money were not a concern. Ease into the story if you feel the need, but then build momentum until you discover your highest excitement! Let the words flow without any self-judgement. End your story with the phrase, "This is my life, a life that excites me to the fullest." Take note on how you feel when you say those words. If you don't really feel excitement to the fullest, then your story needs work. Make your story bigger, brighter, bolder until you hit the jackpot! Just as with exercise #1, highlight or note the top 10 words, phrases or concepts in your story you find the most exciting. Then reduce those 10 to six, in any order. Write your final six on a sticky note or index card, and post it where you can read it daily! If needed, fine tune your list until you can honestly say "Yes! This is Me!"
We can have whatever it is that we choose. I don't care how big it is. ~ John Assaraf.
Exercise #3: Check as many values on the following list that you feel apply to you. Write-in your values not on the list, plus values from your story in exercise #2.
___ Acceptance ___ Excitement ___ Moderation
___ Accountability ___ Fairness ___ Money
___ Achievement ___ Faith ___Nature
___ Adventure ___ Family ___Openness
___ Affection ___ Flexibility ___ Order
___ Authenticity ___ Forgiveness ___ Partnership
___ Balance ___ Freedom ___ Passion
___ Beauty ___ Friendship ___ Patience
___ Belonging ___ Fun ___ Peace of Mind
___ Camaraderie ___ Generosity ___ Perseverance
___ Care ___ Genuiness ___ Play
___ Challenge ___ Gratitude ___ Pleasure
___ Collaboration ___ Growth ___ Prestige
___ Commitment ___ Happiness ___ Quality
___ Compassion ___ Harmony ___ Recognition
___ Competence ___ Health ___ Reflection
___ Confidence ___ Honor ___ Respect
___ Contribution ___ Humility ___Responsibility
___ Cooperation ___ Humor ___Serenity
___ Courage ___ Independence ___Service
___ Creativity ___ Influence ___Sincerity
___ Curiosity ___ Inspiration ___ Spirituality
___ Decisiveness ___ Integrity ___ Stability
___ Development ___ Intuition ___ Status
___ Devotion ___ Involvement ___ Success
___ Discipline ___ Joy ___ Teamwork
___ Effectiveness ___ Kindness ___Tolerance
___ Efficiency ___ Knowledge ___Tradition
___ Empathy ___ Leadership ___Trust
___ Empowerment ___ Learning ___Variety
___ Excellence ___ Love ___ Wealth
___ Enthusiasm ___ Loyalty ___ Wisdom
Now it's time for clarity. Next, narrow your list to your top 10 values. Then reduce those 10 to six, in any order. Write your final six on an index card, or sticky and post it where you can read it daily! Keep revising the list until you can honestly say "Yes! This is Me!"
In essence narrowing your choices to only those items that provide the highest excitement is similar to the Pareto Principal, or the 80/20 rule. Examples of the 80/20 principal include:
___________
Note: The exercises above will assist in bringing to light your values, priorities, and strengths so that you can purposefully and clearly create your vision and your vision statement. Your vision should now be so clear that it would be virtually impossible for anyone (including yourself) to talk you out of achieving it. When you have achieved that level of clarity and commitment, you will then be able to write your vision statement, which will assist you in constructing a well planned blueprint of actions necessary for the achievement of your vision.
Create Your Vision Statement: After discovering that which elicits your highest level of excitement writing a vision statement that is inspiring, motivating, interesting and intriguing should now be a snap for you. When you have finished writing your vision statement based on your findings from the exercises above, the next step will be constructing a well-panned blueprint, explained in the next section.
Step 2. Blueprint Your Vision.
--------------------
Before setting yet another goal, or creating a lengthy to-do list, get clear about your vision! Build a very clear image in your mind of what it is you want. Then create and post your vision boards, plans, bullet points and reminders. Take time to look deep within to discover what excites you or leaves you feeling deeply satisfied. If, like most people, you're unclear about what you truly want, the exercises on this page will help you create your vision.
When you are clear about your values you will be drawn to what makes you happy and productive. When you are unclear about your personal values you will be pushed into directions that will leave you feeling frustrated, anxious and ineffective. A lack of direction causes confusion, inconsistency, and feelings of overwhelm and hopelessness. It's time to get off the hamster wheel and create your vision.
So let's get started.
The following exercises will reveal the interests that offer you the most satisfaction and creativity. They will assist you in getting clear about your vision, values, priorities and strengths. Without a clear vision goals become impossible to outline and achieve. Your vision of the desired end result does not have to perfect, but it must have as much detail as possible. So get clear about you values, priorities, strengths and then create your vision.
Exercise #1: Write, clip-out and gather photos, quotes and information that you find fun, interesting, intriguing, motivational and inspirational. Throw these clipping in a folder or shoe box for refinement and fine tuning. After you have collected as much information and photos as you feel inspired to, next remove all the contents and choose the top 10 items you find the most exciting. Then reduce those 10 to six, in any order. Post your final six on a vision board, or poster and hang it up where you can see it daily! If needed, keep revising your board with new photos until you can honestly say, "Yes! This is Me!"
Exercise #2: Write or voice record a story about yourself. Tell it quick without editing or analyzing and include as much detail as possible. Include something you do very well and explain what feels good about this skill. Detail what it is about yourself that makes you so good at this particular achievement. This can be something you accomplished yesterday, or a goal you achieved decades ago! They are all valid achievements. Recite specific details and include values you must honor otherwise a part of you dies. Then, to really get your creative juices flowing tell your story as if time or money were not a concern. Ease into the story if you feel the need, but then build momentum until you discover your highest excitement! Let the words flow without any self-judgement. End your story with the phrase, "This is my life, a life that excites me to the fullest." Take note on how you feel when you say those words. If you don't really feel excitement to the fullest, then your story needs work. Make your story bigger, brighter, bolder until you hit the jackpot! Just as with exercise #1, highlight or note the top 10 words, phrases or concepts in your story you find the most exciting. Then reduce those 10 to six, in any order. Write your final six on a sticky note or index card, and post it where you can read it daily! If needed, fine tune your list until you can honestly say "Yes! This is Me!"
We can have whatever it is that we choose. I don't care how big it is. ~ John Assaraf.
Exercise #3: Check as many values on the following list that you feel apply to you. Write-in your values not on the list, plus values from your story in exercise #2.
___ Acceptance ___ Excitement ___ Moderation
___ Accountability ___ Fairness ___ Money
___ Achievement ___ Faith ___Nature
___ Adventure ___ Family ___Openness
___ Affection ___ Flexibility ___ Order
___ Authenticity ___ Forgiveness ___ Partnership
___ Balance ___ Freedom ___ Passion
___ Beauty ___ Friendship ___ Patience
___ Belonging ___ Fun ___ Peace of Mind
___ Camaraderie ___ Generosity ___ Perseverance
___ Care ___ Genuiness ___ Play
___ Challenge ___ Gratitude ___ Pleasure
___ Collaboration ___ Growth ___ Prestige
___ Commitment ___ Happiness ___ Quality
___ Compassion ___ Harmony ___ Recognition
___ Competence ___ Health ___ Reflection
___ Confidence ___ Honor ___ Respect
___ Contribution ___ Humility ___Responsibility
___ Cooperation ___ Humor ___Serenity
___ Courage ___ Independence ___Service
___ Creativity ___ Influence ___Sincerity
___ Curiosity ___ Inspiration ___ Spirituality
___ Decisiveness ___ Integrity ___ Stability
___ Development ___ Intuition ___ Status
___ Devotion ___ Involvement ___ Success
___ Discipline ___ Joy ___ Teamwork
___ Effectiveness ___ Kindness ___Tolerance
___ Efficiency ___ Knowledge ___Tradition
___ Empathy ___ Leadership ___Trust
___ Empowerment ___ Learning ___Variety
___ Excellence ___ Love ___ Wealth
___ Enthusiasm ___ Loyalty ___ Wisdom
Now it's time for clarity. Next, narrow your list to your top 10 values. Then reduce those 10 to six, in any order. Write your final six on an index card, or sticky and post it where you can read it daily! Keep revising the list until you can honestly say "Yes! This is Me!"
In essence narrowing your choices to only those items that provide the highest excitement is similar to the Pareto Principal, or the 80/20 rule. Examples of the 80/20 principal include:
- People will wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time.
- 20% of customers provide 80% of the revenue.
- 20% of efforts produce 80% of the results.
___________
Note: The exercises above will assist in bringing to light your values, priorities, and strengths so that you can purposefully and clearly create your vision and your vision statement. Your vision should now be so clear that it would be virtually impossible for anyone (including yourself) to talk you out of achieving it. When you have achieved that level of clarity and commitment, you will then be able to write your vision statement, which will assist you in constructing a well planned blueprint of actions necessary for the achievement of your vision.
Create Your Vision Statement: After discovering that which elicits your highest level of excitement writing a vision statement that is inspiring, motivating, interesting and intriguing should now be a snap for you. When you have finished writing your vision statement based on your findings from the exercises above, the next step will be constructing a well-panned blueprint, explained in the next section.
Step 2. Blueprint Your Vision.
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