There’s a lot of talk about Visioning at the moment, at least from me! Why is having a vision such a big deal and how do you go about creating one anyway?
Creating a vision is completely different to setting New Year’s resolutions. You’ll probably be reading this blog on 7 January or shortly thereafter – have you forgotten your NYRs already? Have you taken action on them? To what extent are they guiding your decisions or behaviour? For some of you, maybe you are full of enthusiasm at the moment and that’s great. Keep going. For some of you, perhaps you’ve given up or never even got going. Here’s why you should focus on your vision instead of NYRs.
Vision is so important because it provides you with focus and direction. It’s like having your own internal compass and a light for navigating your way. Including in darker times, your vision guides you. It helps you know what direction to take, what to say yes to and what to say no to. Wouldn’t you love that?
To be honest, at this stage in my life, I cannot imagine being without a vision. I’d feel completely lost and bereft without it guiding me and supporting me in all I do. That’s how much it means to me and I’d love that for you too.
So here’s a way of understanding what’s involved in creating and working with your vision in 2024 using the word as an acronym.
V = Visualize: What would I LOVE? Spend some time with this question and ask it in relation to the four main quadrants of your life: your health and wellbeing; your relationships; your vocation; your time & money freedom.
Tune into your current longings and discontents and allow them to inform your answers. Your vision will represent the dissolution of your discontents and answer your longings.
And remember – the question is what would I love, not ‘what can I afford?’ nor ‘what do I think is possible?’ Be brave and ask, ‘what you I love?’ knowing that as you gain clarity on that, the way to achieve it will be revealed to you.
I = Imagination: You are not defined by your life up until now and you are not bound by your past experiences nor your current circumstances when you create your vision.
Your job is to use your imagination to access what the dissolution of your discontents and the answers to your longings looks like for you.
Take time to explore and consider alternatives and then describe in specific detail the elements of your vision as you’d love to experience it.
S = Strong Desire: It does you no good to have a vision and not really expect to experience it! As Napoleon Hill said: “Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”
There are two main ways in which you can increase your desire for your vision. The first is to spend time with it frequently (i.e., several times per day. Yes, really!) – keep your focus on the end result in your vision more than on your current circumstances or problems.
The second is to know your why – who or what benefits as a result of you achieving your vision? For sure you will be a beneficiary yourself, and that’s totally ok. You also want to make your dream about something bigger than you. So who else benefits – the people you become a role model to, the people who will read your book or clients who use your service, your kids and grandkids and future generations?
I = Infinite Intelligence: Listen to your Inner Voice, this is the voice of your intuition and as Gandhi said, ‘it is as loud as your willingness to hear’.
The more focused you are on your vision, the more you will be receptive to the intuitive prompts, ideas, thoughts, dreams that will guide you towards manifesting it.
O = Open Hand: I teach all my clients to complete their written vision with the phrase ‘This or Something Even Greater Still’.
With this phrase, we are staying open to the infinite ways in which our vision can come into our lived experience, not requiring it to happen in any particular way or within a particular time frame.
Photo by Dustin Dagamac on Unsplash
N = No Stone Unturned: Wallace Wattles said, “By thought, the thing you want is brought to you, by action you receive it”.
Your vision cannot do all the work for you! You have to be in action, taking the steps you can take, acting quickly and calmly on the ideas that come to you. You are far more resourced than you typically give yourself credit for.
Simply ask yourself every day, what action step am I committed to taking today in service of my vision? And go do that.
Following these steps will support you in clarifying and manifesting your vision in 2024 and making it your best year yet.
If you would like some additional support with creating and clarifying your vision, please consider either or both of the following great options!
• The Vision Workshop Live is happening in Cork on 27 & 28 January 2024 in the Clayton Silver Springs Hotel. If you live nearby or are willing to travel to Cork, be sure and join us to create a crystal clear vision for your life and learn the fundamental tools of transformation to manage your mindset and identify the strategy to achieve it. Early bird tickets are available here.
• Transformational Visioning. I have long been a fan of Peter Harper’s work (aka The Drunken Monk) and am thrilled to share details of a recent collaboration:
A life coaching mini course with Maeve Lankford & Peter Harper with effective tools to build a life you love to live! This course provides effective coaching tools and strategies to master the art of crafting a compelling vision for your future, navigate decision-making with confidence, and implement actionable strategies that yield remarkable results. With each targeted 10-minute coaching session led by Maeve, complemented by an attunement guided meditation from Peter, immerse yourself in the fundamental principles of Visioning, Decision-making, and Action-taking, paving the way for unparalleled growth and fulfilment.
A SPECIAL TREAT: UNLOCKED VISIONING SESSION & MEDITATION AVAILABLE FREE FOR EVERYONE! Just download the app (free) and start now!