The Power of Visioning: Your Anchor in Tough Times
Let’s talk about vision, baby.
Specifically… mine.
In my 20s, my vision was sharp.
I drank in life, moved around, and had all the experiences. Exciting career, fulfilling marriage, dream home, and family planning. I wanted EVERYTHING and wasn’t shy about getting it. Even things out of my reach.
In my 30s, I was settling in.
Once kids came into the picture, the vision softened. I was paying a mortgage, saving for education, and wondering how anyone retires when they have these expenses. Oh well, I’ll think about that later.
In my 40s, I was doing all the things.
A baby arrived and life was going at WARP speed. I could only see what was in front of me. Parenting and career were demanding, so I let fate write the script.
At the start of my 50s, I lost inspiration.
I lost the vision I had before because I had checked off all the predetermined milestones life seems to have set for you. The decade came so fast that I didn’t have time to ask what the next 10 years would look like for me.
Without a clear vision I felt uninspired and anxious about whether I was living into my true potential.
So I did something dramatic…
I wrote my own eulogy.
And, boy, am I glad I did.
What Writing My Eulogy Did for My Vision:
- It reminded me that there was still time to dream and do.
- It forced me to check-in with my values and define what is important.
- It required big changes in my career to create the time freedom I needed in order to accomplish my new goals.
Shortly after penning my eulogy, we experienced a crisis that required me to set down business aspirations and ramp up caregiving for almost 2 years.
And because I had a vision that was inspiring, attainable, and meaningful, I clung to it.
Even when it became apparent that caregiving would continue for the foreseeable future, my vision never wavered, just evolved.
Because when we have an exciting, meaningful vision for our life’s work, we can remain steadfast on our positive journey no matter the obstacles life throws at us.
Throughout it all, my support team knew of my vision and purpose, allowing them to help me accomplish it.
That was the biggest reinforcer that my decisions were the right ones.
Which is why I remain committed to living into my vision and building a meaningful life – for this decade, and the many to come.
Takeaways:
- Read your vision everyday. Let it lead you, and those around you, to the future you envision.
Did my story resonate with you?
Let’s talk,
Laurie
