A 5-minute read.
In January – Part 1 – I shared the foundation of shifting our thoughts from merely setting isolated goals– to focusing on a more profound process of identifying our Purpose and Vision, first using universal laws of cause-and-effect to create our vision.
In February – Part 2 – I shared the importance of purpose and the filter from which we make life decisions. From our PURPOSE, you begin to create our VISION.
Once we have our vision, we then use our goals as a measurement and milestone to our growth along the way to becoming our ideal person. So, we move from task-focused to growth-focused life-changing goals that enable us to create the life we want.
I have found this to be the most powerful, productive activity in the creative process. To me, the time you spend writing your vision gives you the biggest bang for your time buck.
One of the focal points in my Coaching services is to help people discover clarity around their Purpose and Vision and then work through their goals. Your Vision statement is a detailed description of you living in the full achievement and presence of your purpose in the present tense.
Your vision will include those things you are aware of to fulfill your purpose – the essential action step and is supported with the future achievements you want to have: your Goals. Your Vision statement will be the connector between your purpose and your goals. Your vision statement is a living, breathing document.
Your vision will change as your awareness expands, as your understanding expands, your belief and self-image change, so will your Vision statement.
It is more important to spend time with your vision than your Goals or your Purpose. You will find that your vision will drive your goals and sharpen the clarity of your purpose.
The Vision statement is a perfect place to start if you lack clarity of your purpose. You may have a wandering idea of your purpose – so write that out to the best of your awareness. Authentic followers of Christ have a singular purpose: the preeminence of Jesus Christ on earth as it is in Heaven. Once your purpose is clear, go right to work on your vision: writing what you want your life to be, feel and look like, what type of friends do you want to have, what kind of relationships do you want, what type of home do you want, what type of clients do you want, what type of habits do you want, every aspect of your life.
Again, authentic disciples of Christ will do these exercises in companionship with the Holy Spirit guiding you. Our desires become one with Christ’s. If our idea of God’s specific will does not match up with Scripture, then it’s not God’s will. God wants to guide us. But how do we settle on a final choice?
Here’s where God makes it easy. If you are doing God’s universal will and seeking his specific will, here’s how you make your choice: Do what you want to do. When you put God first in your life, he promises to give you the desires of your heart (see Psalm 37:4). And guess what? If what you want does not align with God’s will, he makes it his job to let you know kindly.
So, get out a journal and start daydreaming, if you will, of what you want for your life, your family, your career, or your business. A vision statement is not a one-time write. Instead, you will write it, edit it for better clarity, and update future tense and past tense to present tense.
As you read your Vision statement every morning and night before bed, you want to feel like you’re in that moment: this is very important. Your Imagination is the faculty that you need to use. Your Imagination triggers your subconscious to work for you in the auto-pilot process and tap into Heaven’s universal and abundant resources to bring forth the resources and connections you need to make your vision your reality. Your vision should be so big that we cannot accomplish it without the help of God! If He gives you the Vision, He will provide you with the resources to complete it. Use your God-given power of creation to walk in faith, leaving the results to God.
The writing of your vision should be fun, exciting; a feeling of hopeful expectation should fill your soul. The vision statement will ultimately be the highest expression of your awareness at that time for your life’s highest good and purpose.
From your Vision statement, you will begin to identify your short-term goals and long-term goals.
The biggest challenge in creating the VISION and GOALS is your own inner voice’s need to know how you will fulfill them. A genuine part of a reasoning mind needs know-how; and gets stuck in thinking beyond this question. This lack of understanding hinders most people when setting their goals – and why they have a challenge walking in faith. They do not know how to achieve their goals.
If this part of your reasoning mind is not satisfied with an answer, it begins to reject the idea process and begins to reason why you cannot. It accesses all your past results and old files and begins to run those programs through your awareness to discourage you and shut down that achievement process. Discouragement creates FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. Since faith and fear cannot coexist simultaneously, you must choose one. It takes the same amount of energy to focus on faith as it does fear. Fear shuts down creation. Faith speaks life and creates.
To prevent this fear from overriding your thoughts, stay in the land of possibility, stay plugged into your vision, and hold that image. Accept the image of your vision as the answer to how.
So, with a Purpose and a Vision in hand, you begin to focus on Goals.
Your Goals will come from your vision, sometimes directly from your vision, and sometimes as a way for you to live your dream.
The Purpose of the Goal is to benchmark your progress and cause you to grow into the person living your Purpose and Vision! Some of your goals will be concise and short-term, perhaps only a day. Some will be longer, maybe a week, a month, or longer.
If you have struggled to achieve goals in the past, start by setting very short-term goals, daily goals that will allow you to gain confidence in your ability to keep your word and commitment to yourself. Each small win will build on the last, and your mind will begin to create the winning learning model it needs to keep focused and succeed.
James Allen, author of the classic work, As A Man Thinketh says,
“The Vision you glorify in your mind,
The ideal you enthrone in your heart,
this you will build your life by, and
this you will become.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
If you want help working through your Purpose, Vision, and goals and experiencing the process of self-exploration, I’m here to help. Connect with me on a free, 15-minute, exploratory strategy session at: https://candacemae.com/schedule-an-appointment/
Candace Mae Gruber is the Founder and CEO of Candace Mae Training and Services – a Leadership & Strategic Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Best Selling Author, International Speaker, and Trainer. Candace Mae is the mother of three grown children and lives in Valley Center, CA, near her oldest daughter and three beautiful grandchildren.