You are a
one-of-a-kind person with extraordinary potential! If you are
like most of us, you have dreams for your life, for your family's
life, and for taking part in creating a more ideal society. All
this may seem daunting, but remember that you are not alone, and
others will support your noble dreams and visions. You don't have
to save the world, and you don't have to be a world leader or
public figure to make a difference.
Deep within,
we all have noble urges and dreams. Your vision map is a way of
tapping into an important longing and then creating a tangible
picture of what you want to accomplish, with key steps for getting
there.
Dare to explore
courageously the dreams dancing in your heart and soul and make
a commitment to the one that most clearly calls to you at this
point in your life.
Your vision
map is a way of seeing one of your cherished dreams on paper-seeing
its form, its outlines-seeing how to travel from where you are
now to where you would like to go. Your vision map may not be
as concrete as the roadmap in your glove compartment; it's a personal
map, a creation of your mind and soul, and not a map for anyone
else to follow.
In order to
create your vision map, ask yourself these questions: What would
you love to do? What brings you joy? In your heart of hearts,
what do you long for? At this time in your life, is there a special
gift that you would like to give to your loved ones or to the
world?
Remember that
there is no magic formula or one right way to identify a vision
and bring it to life. The idea is to craft and keep in front of
you a clear picture of your vision, so that you are inspired by
it and stay on course without being sidetracked needlessly.
Creating your
vision map is like giving birth. You play a critical role in identifying
and launching your vision, but your dream has a life of its own.
You must protect it at first, but as it develops, allow your dream
the freedom to grow in ways that you may not expect. Commit to
your dream, stay focused, and work diligently to attain your objectives,
but don't try to over-control the details.
Expect your
vision to be supported, but stay completely open about how this
might happen. Make friends with uncertainty and the array of possibilities
it brings. Then the journey toward achieving your dream becomes
an adventure filled with learning, opportunities, and delightful
surprises.
If you have
brought to mind a potential achievement but are not inspired by
it; if there is not an element of fun in it; if it only feels
like hard work, then you're probably not following a truly inspired
longing. When you have a deep desire to accomplish something positive
and you can say, "I would LOVE to do that," then you probably
are tapping into a true vision. Doing what you love is energizing!
It stimulates creativity and feelings of satisfaction. It's good
for your health and is one of the best motivators ever discovered.
Take the time
to be quiet, to slow down, to listen to your innermost thoughts.
Then ask yourself this question: What particular dream or vision
pulls you most right now-what is it that you would love to do?
Without censoring what comes out, jot down individual words or
phrases (and perhaps simple pictures or symbols) that pop into
your mind. Allow your heart to dream and be adventuresome. When
you're finished, look over what you've written and pick out a
focus-a word, phrase, picture, or symbol that summarizes your
heart's desire, pinpointing the vision that you want to bring
to life.
On a full-size,
blank sheet of paper, draw a circle about two inches in diameter
in the center of the page. Place your focus-be it a phrase or
symbol-inside the circle. Then, around this central focus, write
down words and perhaps images of what can help you to achieve
your vision. Do this spontaneously, without censoring. As appropriate,
draw lines and arrows connecting the various items. Make any creative
touches that you want. Very importantly, be sure to name your
vision and place that title prominently on your page.
This is the
first draft of your vision map-an integrated one-page picture
of your core vision and what is likely to help you reach it. At
some point, you probably will want to create a more polished and
refined version of your vision map. With time, as your vision
matures, you will most likely benefit by creating updated versions
of your roadmap to success.
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Prepared
by Sam Quick, Ph.D., Human Development and Family Relations Specialist,
and Alex Lesueur, Jr., M.S.L.S, Staff Support Associate.
