Your vision is your plan for your future. It is the picture of your future that begins in your imagination. Your vision allows you to focus on capturing, communicating, and reconciling your goals and your methods to achieve those goals. Ultimately, your life vision serves as reinforcement, as it increases your clarity, enthusiasm, and commitment. Knowing where you're going and how you intend to get there will contribute to the self-direction and drive that are necessary for your success.
The following are the steps for self-assessment:
Your willingness and ability to envision are the keys to your creating a life vision. Envisioning is about dreaming. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and give yourself permission to relax. Gently, without judgments, fast forward your life one year into the future. Good news! You are living your perfect life! Let your mind run free—there are no restrictions in your perfect life. Focus on where you are, on what is happening, who you are with, and how you are feeling. Allow yourself to see as much detail as possible. When you are clear about your vision, begin to write using the following questions as a guide:
List
Where am I?
What am I doing?
What is my work?
What is my play?
What is different about me, my situation, and/or my environment?
What is the same?
What have I accomplished?
Who is with me?
Who is no longer in my life?
Is there anything else worth noting?
Step into your vision and stay there. Act "as if." Observe how this feels. As you step into your vision, you align yourself with the life that is waiting for you.
Make a note
Often, conflict at work is ignited when someone believes that their vision cannot coexist with the vision of a coworker or supervisor. When you are faced with a workplace conflict, think about how your vision and the vision of the other person can be in alignment.
You will see how values and vision can help you get to the root of a conflict in Chapter 6, Conflict Conversations.