Inquiry without vision is but incomplete.
Vision gives you the capacity to perceive what you really desire and what you believe you can accomplish.
Your life, as well as your business, is a direct reflection of your own unique perspective of the world. When you “envision,” you take your steps with a greater sense of knowing where you are heading and how you will get there.
And when you turn your vision into a Personal Vision Statement, you become better at inquiring, searching and discovering because your efforts are focused.
In other words, aiming for a target you can see is wiser than taking blind shots into a pitch-black terrain.
Hence, you can do it if you can see it!
What Is a Personal Vision Statement?
The dictionary defines “vision” as the ability to “think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.”
Your Personal Vision, on the other hand, is the expression of how you want to be and how you want your world to be at a future date in your life.
Your Personal Vision Statement is closely related to your dreams and aspirations, but it also encompasses your values and strengths. It is a bridge that leads you to your best self, best work and best legacy.
Creating a Personal Vision Statement is an awesome thing you can do for yourself because in the commotion of our fast-paced lives, we often lose sight of the transparent but empowering ligaments that bind our dreams, values and strengths together.
Your Personal Vision Statement reminds you the direction you have decided to follow and gives you the clarity and the confidence you need during the journey you’ll take toward that unique destination.
Creating Your Personal Vision Statement
Here is a three-step activity that will help you create your personal vision statement. Make sure you give yourself enough time and space to complete it. You can even see it like a fun game to enjoy! Here we go:
Step 1: Digging Deep
The aim of the first section is to have a feeling of where you are now and what matters to you the most.
Take a pen, a sheet of paper, and perhaps a warm cup of tea, and cuddle in your favorite corner away from distractions.
When you feel ready, start thinking about the following questions one by one and then jot down your answers.
Answer as many of the questions as possible. You can even discuss your responses with someone you trust.
What are your most important values?
1.
2.
3.
What are your biggest strengths?
1.
2.
3.
What causes do you consider important?
1.
2.
3.
What things do you incredibly enjoy doing?
1.
2.
3.
What would you like to exclude from your life?
1.
2.
3.
What would make your life more meaningful?
1.
2.
3.
What have you always yearned to make happen?
1.
2.
3.
Step 2: Envisioning Your Future
The aim of the second section is to work your creative muscle and imagine the future.
When you think of yourself 20 years from now, what do you see?
And what do you want to see?
Use the questions below to reflect on your future self 20 years from today.
Think about each question carefully and try to see a picture in your mind’s eye that is related to the answer of that question. Then write down your answers.
If you don’t want to write, that’s OK too. If so, just ponder upon your answers in detail. And observe how you feel when you answer a question. Ask yourself whether you’re comfortable with your answer.
- What is the dream you have already made happen?
- How is your typical day?
- How do you enjoy your life?
- How do you serve others and the world?
- What are you grateful for?
- How have you grown personally?
- How is your health?
- How do you take care of yourself?
- How do you honor your body and your soul?
- How do you feel in your body?
- What makes you happy?
- How does your family look like?
- How does your circle of friends look like?
- What type of people have a place in your inner circle?
- How do you feel about your relationships?
- How much time do you spend on your own?
- How do you spend your alone time?
- How much time do you spend with others and what do you do together?
- What habits, routines and personal traditions do you have?
- How does your dream home look like?
- How do you feel there?
- What nurtures you?
- What do you create?
- What kind of work do you do?
- With what kind of people do you work?
- Do you have an ideal job or an ideal business of your own?
- What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?
- On what are you considered an authority?
- What is your unique gift that has become a part of your personal brand?
- Which one of your talents are you using primarily?
- How are you making a difference in the world?
- What new skills have you acquired?
- What will be your legacy to your people?
- How much do you earn?
- How do you spend your income?
- Do you save, invest or collect?
- Do you supports causes that are important for you?
- What is your relationship with your spirituality?
- How would you describe your lifestyle?
- Are you traveling often?
- Where have you traveled so far?
- What are your favorite hobbies and leisure activities?
- What are your biggest accomplishments?
- What fears have you overcome?
- Have you changed any lives in a good way?
- Do you teach what you’ve learned?
- What dreams do you still have?
- Do you have inner peace?
- Can you describe yourself with three adjectives?
- How do you feel about your life?
Step 3: Writing Your Personal Vision Statement
Now that you’ve completed the first two sections, you’re ready to start creating your personal vision statement.
Your task now is to write your vision statement in one paragraph. 100 to 200 words will be just fine.
In this specific exercise, what you’ll write is based on how you imagine yourself twenty years from today in the light of the inner work you did in sections 1 and 2..
Make sure you write in 1st person and use the simple present tense when you’re putting your thoughts onto paper, and write as if it’s already 20 years from now.
“It is the year …. . I am ………………………. .”
Keep your Personal Vision Statement in a place where you can see it every day so that you constantly remind yourself of the possibilities you have embraced for your life.
Having a personal vision statement will not only inspire but also empower you because vision means intent. And intent is more powerful than you think in making your dreams come true.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Cigdem, This list of questions is so helpful! Until I read it, I thought I had a pretty solid sense of my vision for the future. But this will help me dig even deeper. And it gives me even more prompts for my writing, which always helps me get clarity. Thank you.
Thank you, Erica! This exercise really enables some deep, deep digging. I revisit it every few years and often observe how some some of my answers change
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