Starting With the End in Mind

Let's say you’re going for a road trip. You've packed up your bags, loaded up the family and you pull out of the driveway. If you don't know where you're going, will you ever get there? How will you know when to make a left or a right turn, or know how long to keep going straight for? No wonder most people get pulled in all directions, endlessly distracted with all of the detours, and generally being confused about which routes to take or which decisions to make.

You wouldn’t set off on a road trip without knowing where you’re going, so why do that with life itself? Oddly enough, most people do just that; they go through the motions of life, going day by day without any particular sense of direction. In the large scope of things, that's like being a sponge brushing against the shore going with the rhythm of the tides - reacting to the flow of life as opposed to being the flow. The problem with this less than ideal situation is that it's easy to fall into the routine of things, and to lose sight of what is truly important in the short- and long-term.

So what does it mean to start with the end in mind? Very simply, it's all about knowing and defining what is truly important to you in all aspects of life so that you may use that as a blueprint for how you would like to create and build the rest of your life. A fun question that I like to ask to get to the core of what a person is all about is this: If you had all the time and money in the world, what would your life look like? Where do you live? Who do you spend your time with? What kind of activities comprises your life? What are you working or building towards? Who do you help? The more specific, the better, as this is what it means to get laser focused on what you desire to be, and to have in life. Forget about what is ‘realistic’ and ‘unrealistic’ and just play in this world of possibility! Think real deep about these questions, as they are the seeds of who you truly are.

The benefits of defining your vision are innumerable. For starters, your vision represents who you are, who you’re meant to become and what your life is all about. There is beauty in it as it is entirely unique to you. Sure there may be some overlap with other people’s wants and desires, but the underlying premise is that because there is so much abundance to go around, everyone is going about it in an entirely different way. (More on the Law of Abundance later…) Communities of like-minded people then spring up, and if you so wish, you may become a part of them as they can add tremendously to your life.

Next, you’re bound to find fulfillment and deep meaning, as you’re pursuing and becoming who you're truly meant to be at heart – and that’s huge. You’re more than capable of making your own decisions, as now when something comes up, 99% of the time one decision will get you closer to your goals, while the other will take you further from them. Another great thing is that your vision has within it all of the inspiration you could possibly ever need, and it entices and compels you through all of the hardships of life.

Now that you've defined your vision, surround yourself in it! Create a vision board, a journal, or whatever else you can musker up to keep you inspired and on track to what is truly important to you. Have fun with it and let those who are close to you know what it is that you are striding towards! If you wish to go a step further, feel free to share with me your vision in the comments below. I'd love to hear about it!