Ahhh—We are coming to the home stretch of this interesting (cough cough—strange) year. I know that most of us, if not all, have been a little off. It’s as if our compass has been off for months. The course veered off and we as a world, nation and community found ourselves lost. But there is hope and we can find a way to regain our course to feel like we are entering into 2021 with a clear vision of what we hope to have.
Here is a number of helpful ways to create a clear vision:
1. Calm your mind. How to get there? The easiest way is to perform some meditative practice or at least some breath work like box breathing. To perform box breathing, you inhale while you slowly count to 4, hold your breath for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and then wait another 4 seconds until you repeat. You can always progress for longer intervals if you feel like 4 seconds are too fast for you. Once you feel relaxed, try to stay in this state by breathing in a slow and controlled rhythm.
2. Think your best life. Visualize your best life. What do you see that would cause you to feel more content and satisfied in your life? Imagine how you feel about yourself while going through your typical day. What are your daily mindset and beliefs? Who are the people you want to have in your life? How do you treat the people around you? What kind of experiences do you want to have? What would you like to have more or less of in your life? How do you feel about yourself?
3. Feel your best. Now that you have stirred some type of feelings surrounding your best life, here are some things you can do to help you take care of those feelings. First, identify what those feelings are. What can you do to create more of the feelings you want in your ideal life? The truth to having our best lives is not the “things”, it’s the feeling we have when we have those “things”.
4. Recalibrate. To get back on course, we sometimes have to recalibrate our compass and take care of what we want or need. It’s your journey, not society’s and you are entitled to set your own course that will create your own best life. An example of that is deciding to learn how to do more cooking at home to feed yourself and also to feel like you can take care of yourself and be healthy.
5. Write it down. Now try to write down your vision. Write in first-person and write the statements as if they were already a reality. Write in as much detail as you like. Here’s a quick example: “I am waking up early every morning in order to do 20 minutes of yoga and then drink my smoothie.”
6. Set your compass. You finally have your vision; you are set and ready to start. But where do you start? Ask yourself these questions: What skills do you need to learn along the way? Which important choices and actions do you have to take? What type of mindset do you need to develop? With this understanding you will have a clearer sense of where you are going and how you will reach it.
7. Set goals. Set yourself achievable and challenging goals. You can do yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily goals. Try to get in as many small wins as possible so that you start to believe in your vision even more strongly. All your goals must drive you closer to achieving your vision.
8. Use your vision. If you go through steps 1 to 7, you will have your vision and you will have set your compass to the place you seek to go. Use your vision to guide your efforts. In the morning, meditate and visualize your day ahead. Review your vision regularly, and don’t be afraid to adjust it if you change as a person. Let your vision grow alongside you.
9. Who do you have to be today? To me, one of the most potent applications of my vision is to ask myself: Who do I have to be right now to achieve my vision?
10. Make it a habit and follow your compass. Try to incorporate reading your vision into your daily habits. Maybe you read it out loud first thing every morning. Or you read it every time you feel like you need that extra boost of motivation. The more you reread and work on your vision, the more you will believe in it, and once you think it, you can see it. You will start to see the opportunities life throws at you, and you will be able to make something out of them.
You will become what you believe you can become — start taking action today!
Looking for more wellness help? JFS Orlando’s licensed counselors are specialized in various areas and are here to support you. Telehealth counseling appointments now available! Medicare, Medicaid and almost all commercial insurances are accepted. Call 407-644-7671 or complete our new online form to request an appointment today!
Author: Carla Fischer, MA, LMHC, LMT
Carla Fischer, MA, LMHC, LMT has been a Mental Health Counselor for over 15 years. She received her training for Mental Health Counseling at Webster University in Central Florida. Carla has traveled extensively; through that experience she developed an understanding of culture and discovered that background shapes who we are and how we experience the world. Carla is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish she also has a good control of the German Language.
Carla approaches Mental Health Counseling therapy with an open heart and mind. She is aware that the willingness to start opening up and dealing with emotions is the first step in finding solutions to whatever concerns the client. The use of body centering or emotional centered therapy has been an integral part of helping her clients find balance in their lives and work through some of the difficulties that they might face.