Motivation: The Power of Vision

id="body">A Family Vision
Here's an interesting story from the world of raceWe live in a society where the average family
car driving. One of the most important things thatspends only fourteen and a half minutes a day
beginning race car drivers learn is what to dowith each other all together. I don't believe that's
when they lose control of the car and go into awhat we really want.
spin. The natural reaction is to focus on the wallSo here are some key questions for creating a
or other object they want to avoid. Because theirfamily vision.
focus is on the wall, that's usually where they endWhat do we most value as a family?
up. Instead of focusing on the wall, the driversHow do we want to spend our time?
learn to focus on where they want to go. ThisWhat legacy do we want to leave for the
allows them to avoid the walls, stay on coursegenerations that will follow?
and go where they want to go.What impact would we like to have on our
What does this have to do with the power andcommunity?
strength of vision?A Career Vision
Just about everything.We spend most of our adult waking hours at
In my counseling experience, I have found thatwork. Yet it's one of the main areas in life where
the approach most of us take to life is to sort ofwe tend to just stumble in and make it up as we
"make it up as we go along." And then wego along. Here are a few key questions for
wonder why things end up such a mess. It's likecreating a vision for your career.
the old saying, "if you don't know where you areWhat are your dreams for your career?
going, any road will get you there."How would you like to spend your working hours?
Even when we do have a plan, it's only a partialWhat would make you get up each day excited
plan. Then when our plan doesn't work, or "hitsthat you get to go to work?
the wall", we don't know where to go from thereDo you want to make a living or make a life?
and give up.The answers to these questions can get you
In order to be successful in life, I believe we needstarted in creating a vision in each of these key
to have a clear vision for what we want, in allareas. You can add other areas and other
areas of our life. Even if we have alot of desire,questions as well. The next step is to begin, right
energy and motivation, without a clear directionaway, to take small daily actions toward each of
and vision, we can end up like a "dead atheist." Allthese goals.
dressed up and no where to go.I'll close with an example of the power of vision in
Why have vision?our lives. Picture yourself sitting at home at your
So let's look at how to create a vision in severalkitchen table, with a big juicy lemon on a plate in
key areas of our lives.front of you. Now take a knife and cut the lemon
There's a proverb that says "without a vision, thein half. Smell and feel the juice. Now cut a slice
people perish." I think we can extend that parablefrom one half. More juice, more smell. Cut that
and say without a vision -a marriage perishesaslice in half. More juice, more smell. Now take that
family perishesa career perisheshalf, bring it up to your face, take a whiff and
A Marriage Visionthen bite into it. If you're like most folks, and you
One of my favorite things to do is to help adid this exercise, right now there is a bit of
couple create a vision for their relationship. Mostmoisture in your mouth.
people spend more time planning a two weekHere's the really cool thing. There is no lemon. You
vacation than they do planning how they wantcreated a physiological response in your body
their relationship to be.Here's a key question -"Ifthrough the power of vision.
we could design this relationship any way weAnd so it can be as you get a clear vision for
wanted it, how would it be?" How would youwhat you want in life. The clearer your vision, the
-spend your time?relate to and communicate withquicker your brain will respond.
each other?plan for your future?spendSo get clear and get going.
money?help each other grow?