Six Reasons You Must Have A Personal Vision Statement

Why Your Life Feels Aimless

When I was a freshman in High School I was called into the school counselor's office because someone had expressed concern that I had allowed myself to get too spread thin and my grades and social life were suffering as a result. I had been elected Class President, participated in football, basketball, track, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, speech, theatre, and my church youth group. I had yet to learn the power and purpose of the word, "No!" My life was moving at such a rapid pace that I was stressed and felt unknown even though I was surrounded by many people. That school counselor helped me understand that my value, my worth, was not based on my performance. She helped me define what my personal vision was for myself.

One of Covey's Seven Habits is to "begin with the end in mind." When I paused and thought about what I wanted to be remembered for when I graduated high school it was not that I juggled every club and sport, it was that I was a fun and outgoing person who made the school a better place. Fast forward several decades, I'm in a much different environment, with much different people, but the personal vision I created for myself as a 14-year old boy remains largely unchanged. My current personal vision is to add value to every person, place, or thing I come in contact with. Developing and embracing your own personal vision statement will serve you well for several reasons, here are 6:

1. Helps me focus on where I'm going.

Most of us would never dream of getting in a car in an unfamiliar city simply drive around until we found a TexMex restaurant. Before we ever got behind the wheel we would have at least asked Siri to find "TexMex near me." In our lives we often just go without a vision, and we hope to land at the place we can find hope and peace. If it doesn't work for TexMex, it won't work in life.

2. Allows me to picture my ideal self/future.

Having a person vision allows me imagine what I want my future to look like. Do I want a large family? Do I want a thriving business? Do I want to own a Tesla? Whatever your ideal future looks like can be found within your personal vision statement.

3. Reveals what I need to say "no" to.

Opportunities come into our lives regularly. If we say yes to all of them we may miss the best things for us. If part of my personal vision is to live in the city, saying yes to a job offer in a rural area is probably something I should say no to. Personal visions help us remember what to say no to.

4. Shows the gap of who I am and who I want to be.

My personal vision is my ideal future self, so when I recognize that I am not in alignment with my personal vision I am able to make the necessary adjustments that help me become the person I desire to be.

5. Makes it easier to live with intention instead of reaction.

Life brings joy and pain, if I have a personal vision then I can respond in a healthy way to the struggles and live with intention. Without a personal vision I can be caught up in reactionary behaviors and turn to old habits and hangups.

6. Keeps me disciplined.

Having a personal vision allows me to remain disciplined. If my personal vision includes having financial wealth in the future then I can more easily stay disciplined and not make irresponsible purchases that are outside of my prescribed budget. Personal vision keeps me disciplined. Ultimately, if I don't have a vision for myself and my future I will always end up repeating the same cycles I always have done. One major catalyst for authentic change in life begins with a personal vision for the future. Create your personal vision statement, who do you want to be in the future? What do you want to leave behind? I would love to hear your personal vision statement. Feel free to share in the comments or with me directly via the free Securus App. Develop your vision and declare, "I Choose Hope!"

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