Do You Have A Compelling Vision?

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.” ~Oprah Winfrey

The moment we commit to a worthy goal like losing 10 lbs., writing a book, switching careers, finding a partner, we may become anxious and overwhelmed at the thought of what it takes to achieve this goal. We may think we have no time, are not talented or smart enough, or simply can’t succeed. These mental blocks can stop us from taking a single step. But to achieve anything big, we must be driven by something greater than our own personal concerns.  We call this greater thing a “compelling vision”.

So what exactly is a compelling vision? It’s a clear and specific mental picture of a desired outcome that energizes and inspires us enough to go after our dreams no matter what. In other words, our vision connects us to the passion we feel for what we want and when we face fear, discouragement and even failure, this vision renews our excitement to help us persevere.

Sculptor Michelangelo had a compelling vision. He saw an angel in the marble he was about to carve and wanted to set him free.  A vivid picture in his mind’s eye of the Statue of David propelled him to create a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. Over two years Michelangelo took the chisel to the stone and whatever obstacles came up during that time, surely he overcame them with the sheer power of his compelling vision.

Creating a Compelling Vision

To create your compelling vision – a vision that compels you to action – consider what you love to do, what inspires you and matters most in your life. You’ll know when you found it when you feel like it’s your deepest truth. You feel a fire in your heart, hopeful and with purpose.

Your vision also describes the best possible outcome, as if it has already happened. So the idea is to focus on the result of what you want to achieve. Dr. Wayne Dyer, internationally renowned self-development author and speaker, in his book, The Power of Intention, says that to manifest what we desire, “…continuously contemplate yourself as being surrounded by the conditions you wish to produce.” Imagine for a moment that you are in the situation you want to produce right now. For example, if you want to pursue a college degree, imagine yourself with the degree in your hands. Or, if you were an Olympic athlete, you would be holding a gold medal. In this moment, ask yourself, “How do you feel?”; “What do you deeply care about and value?”; “Who are you surrounded by?”; “What are you most proud of?”

Now with what you desire already here, write your vision down in the present tense. Try not to censor yourself. Make it bigger than you think you can even achieve. Once you have written your vision, refer to it frequently and over time, you start to “become what you believe”, as Oprah Winfrey says in the quote above.

Here are some examples of compelling visions to help you get started:

• I am a bestselling author sharing information on (your subject matter) to inspire and educate people in a topic they enjoy reading and learning about. (Vision of a person writing a book.)
• A world where everyone is committed to living by the principle of compassion. (Vision of the nonprofit, Charter of Compassion, founded by Karen Armstrong)
• I feel and look great and am in the best shape that I have ever been in my life having lost 10 lbs. (Vision of someone wanting to lose weight and become healthier.)
• To encourage, inspire and inform people about the benefits of a simpler, less material lifestyle, and the importance of protecting our natural environment as the source of our well-being. (Vision of Greg Seaman, founder of the Eartheasy website.)
• To create a global consciousness in the difference the practice of virtues can make in everyday life. (Vision of Stacey Thompson, founder of the Virtues for Life website.)

Your compelling vision will help you shift your attention from defeat to empowerment when difficulties come up. You can also use it as a compass to guide and direct the choices you make in life, driving you to achieve the “highest, grandest vision possible for your life”. Remember, if you do get side railed, don’t be hard on yourself, rather be kind to yourself and revisit your compelling vision to help you achieve the life of your dreams.

What is your compelling vision? Share it with us below. We would love to hear from you!