How to Develop a Personal Vision
Author: Brian Ward

Brian has over 25 years of experience consulting to all levels of management and staff. His most recent work has included strategy building sessions and processes. He brings to all his assignments a solid background in project management and group facilitation, gained through experience in banking, manufacturing, health care, education and insurance sectors. A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), with experience gained in this field in both Europe and Canada, he helps organizations align strategy & people.

Brian is a board member of Habitat for Humanity, Edmonton and a member of their Human Resources Committee. Habitat for Humanity, working in conjunction with sponsors, donors, volunteers and partner families, opens the door to home ownership for low income families.

 He can be contacted at brianward@affinitymc.com

Are you a visionary? Or do you prefer to spend your time in the here and now, solving problems and getting on with things? Achieving a balance between 'dreaming' about a desired future state and living in the current state is difficult. Many of us have a strong inclination towards one or the other...very few of us are able to achieve and sustain a balance between the two.

A Tug-of-War

There is a constant tug-of-war going on between dealing with 'current reality' and developing a lofty vision of who we want to be, what we want to do and what we want to have.

This short exercise affords you the opportunity to achieve such a balance. We sincerely hope that you find it of lasting value.

1. Get relaxed
   

   Find a quiet spot where you will not be interrupted. Gather a pad of paper and a pencil. Get seated comfortably. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and let go of all your tensions.

2. Choose a starting point
   

   If you are the type that likes to live in current reality then start there. Ask yourself the question: What about my current reality do I have control over and would like to change? Keep asking this question about all aspects of your life:

   a. Family
   b. Career/Job
   c. Health and Fitness
   d. Home/Location
   e. Financial
   f.  Possessions
   g. Hobbies and Interests
   h. Spiritual
   i.  Relationships
   j.  Life Purpose

To better understand yourself, try using a validated instrument or tool, such as the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) or True Colors

If you prefer to take the visionary approach, project yourself forward five years from the current date, and picture a perfect day in your life where all of the above aspects are working in harmony. Picture as you arise in the morning, how all of these aspects come together gradually throughout the day, and as you retire for the night how grateful and at peace you feel for having all of these aspects work for you. Picture it as though you were living it right now, and use words in the present tense to describe it.

Now, without further ado start writing! If you prefer to draw, then do that as well, but try to capture your vision or current reality in words.

3. Prioritize

   Whether you are dealing with current reality and trying to change it, or visioning a brand new future, you need to set priorities. For each aspect, compare it in turn with each of the other aspects and make a choice. Is A more important than B? C? D? etc. Go through all of these and come up with a list of prioritized areas. If an area is low on the priority list it does not mean that it gets tossed out. Instead it receives attention later rather than sooner.

4. Plan and Take Action
   

   Take the first item on your list and develop a plan around it. If it is Financial, talk with a financial advisor. If it is a Career issue, talk with a trusted friend or someone who understands your career goals. In any case, talk it through with a coach, mentor or expert in the area. Search out books, educational programs etc and study them. Whatever you do, get started. As you develop and implement your plan, you will notice that the other aspects of your life will become involved. Don't worry about this. As you draw in these other aspects, you will continue to maintain a focus on your prioritized areas. This is as it should be.

5. Review and Revise
   

   Review your plan regularly, gradually weaving in to it all of the other aspects of your life. Your plan and the actions taken as a result will become interwoven over time, reflecting the many faceted aspects of your life. At least once yearly, review your plan in its entirety and adjust your priorities. As you do this you will achieve a greater focus in your life, while at the same time acknowledging the complexities of this world.