Now that you know the biggest mistake in goal setting is jumping directly to goal setting without first having a vision, let’s get to work on finding the answer to this question: Who is it that you want to be?
Who do you want to be as a friend, colleague, spouse, parent, daughter, sibling, professional, etc.? The answer to this question is the foundation of your vision. Also consider: Who are you striving to become? What is it that you want people to remember about you? What vision do you hold for yourself? To further flush out your vision, also ask: What would it look like if I were my best self in each of the roles that I play?
A vision includes general statements that address the longer term so you can think 6 months, 1 year, 2 years out, etc. You may have a different vision statement for each of the roles you play; meaning a vision for yourself as a mother, another vision for yourself as a professional, etc. If you go this route, you may notice common themes and tendencies across your separate visions statements and it is important to note that the visions should not combat each other, but be supportive.
To help you with these thought provoking questions, try this unique approach. This approach does not involve making a list of things that you should accomplish and it also does not include mapping out the things that you need to start or stop doing. Forget about what you need or should do as often times those things are offered up to you by your gremlin, otherwise known as your personal inner critic.
Step 1:
Get in touch with all of the special miracles that you want to create in your life in the coming year. The starting point of this exercise is to design your vision from your values, hopes, and dreams rather than from your problems and woes. To do this, gather a poster board and a stack of your favorite magazines. You can also hop on the net to begin searching for pictures, photos, and graphics that represent your answers to the questions above. Cut out and print these visual representations of your vision. As you’re doing so, check in with yourself to be sure these visuals are not on your “have to do” list, but rather, are part of “here’s my dream for me.”
Step 2:
At the top of your poster write one of the following questions that resonates most with you: In what ways do I create more of this in my life? What is compelling me to move closer to this today? What is meaningful about this vision?
Step 3:
Glue these pictures on a poster board and then put the poster in a place where you will see it often each day. By seeing your poster each day, you’ll naturally begin to put energy and effort toward your goals.
What is the miracle you want to create for yourself? More to come soon… Christina Lombardo Ray, PCC
October 27, 2009 at 12:20 pm
This is very timely for me. Thank you.