Creating a Vision for your Life
Developing a vision for your life holds significant value as it provides clarity, direction, and motivation. A clear vision helps you understand what you truly want in life, making it easier to set goals and prioritize your actions. It acts as a roadmap, guiding you towards your desired future.
Having a vision can inspire and motivate you to take action, especially during challenging times. It serves as a reminder of your long-term aspirations and keeps you moving forward.
With a vision in mind, making decisions becomes easier. You can evaluate choices based on whether they align with your vision, helping you stay on the right path.
A vision gives you a sense of purpose and meaning. It helps you understand why you are doing what you are doing, which can lead to greater satisfaction and fulfillment.
When you have a clear vision, you are more likely to persevere through obstacles and setbacks. Your vision acts as a source of strength and resilience, helping you stay committed to your goals.
The following is an outline to assist you in developing a vision for your life. Write out the answers to each question in the form of an essay, adding a paragraph or 2 for each question, until you have a complete vision for your life.
Read it every morning before you start your day!
Core Values and Beliefs
What are my core values?
Core values are the fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape an individual’s or organization’s behavior and decision-making. They act as an internal compass, helping to determine what is important and how to act in various situations
Examples: compassion, respect, integrity
What principles do I want to live by?
Principles are fundamental beliefs or values that guide your actions, decisions, and behavior in life. These are personal rules or standards that helps you navigate various situations and make choices that align with your core values.
For example, a principle to live by could be “treat others with kindness and respect.”
Passions and Talents
What activities make me lose track of time?
What are my natural talents and skills?
What do I enjoy doing, even if I don’t get paid for it?
Goals and Aspirations
What are my short-term goals (3 to 6 months)?
What do I want to achieve in the next 5, 10, 20 years?
What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind?
Personal Values and Beliefs
What core values do I want to be remembered for?
How do my beliefs shape the way I live and interact with others?
Ethical and Moral Considerations
What ethical standards do I want to uphold and pass on?
How can I ensure that my actions align with my moral compass?
Relationships and Environment
Who are the people I want to surround myself with?
What kind of work environment do I thrive in?
Personal Fulfillment and Happiness
What does a fulfilling life look like to me?
What experiences do I want to have?
What activities and pursuits bring me the most joy and fulfillment?
Daily Life and Habits
What daily habits can help me move closer to my vision?
How do I want to spend my free time?
Impact on Others
How do I want to positively influence my family, friends, and community?
What kind of role model do I want to be for future generations?
Contributions and Achievements
What significant contributions do I want to make in my field or community?
How do I want to contribute to my community or the world?
What problems do I feel passionate about solving?
What achievements do I want to be known for?
Financial and Material Legacy
How do I want to distribute my assets and wealth? (e.g., through a will, trusts, charitable donations etc)
How can I ensure that my legacy reflects my passions and interests?
Long-term Vision
What long-term impact do I want to have on the world?
How can I create a lasting positive change?
Reflection and Growth
What have been my biggest successes and failures? What did I learn from them?
How do I handle challenges and setbacks? Is there room for improvement and if so what do I want to change?
Summary
How would you summarize this vision for your life?
Is there any important information from this process that you want to highlight here?
How do you see yourself moving forward with this vision for your life?
What changes do you want to make right away to start the ball rolling?
What did you learn about yourself from this process?
Is there an affirmation you can create that would help you anchor this vision?
Read this to yourself or even aloud when you wake up the morning and use it to set the tone for your day.