• Does your life reflect what you really want?
• Do you know what you really want?
• What is your vision for your life?

Here’s the kicker: Our lives already reflect our vision for our life!

The sin of omission definitely applies here. Not having a vision means your vision for your life is not to have a vision.

We are each accountable for our current condition.

For a full year, I was focused on writing my new book. After the completion of the project, I had not taken the time to reset my vision and goals. That left me wandering and unfocused.

That condition is common in Olympic athletes who spend years focused on their primary goal of participating in the Olympics. When they finish their final competition and have not yet established their next steps, they may feel despondent and even sink into depression.

The challenge for many individuals is that they focus on their current condition, not on what they want.

If you are out of shape and all you can think about is how overweight you are, your vision for your future condition is that you are overweight.

To get back on track, I shifted my vision about myself from being overweight and out of shape to being healthy and slim. Today, I run about 36 miles a week and work out 6 days a week for 70 minutes. I shifted my focus from what I was, to what I wanted. In other words, I created a new vision of myself.

So what about you?
Do you have a clear vision of what you want?

Perhaps you are struggling in your relationship with your partner. You are thinking negative thoughts about the situation. Well, don’t be surprised when you experience more of the same. You must change your thoughts and vision to reflect what you want—not what you have.

Some of you might argue with me and say, “That’s the reality of what’s going on in our relationship. I just can’t envision a healthy and loving relationship.” Fine. Have your reality. But don’t blame anyone but yourself for it. That advice comes from someone who has a lot of experience in that particular area!

The purpose of having vision statements for all areas of your life is not just about getting what you want. It’s also about living a fully engaged and exciting life! Individuals with no vision have much less energy and passion for life. Why? As human beings, we need direction to feel fulfilled. Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish… .”

Technically, visions are not goals. Goals are created from visions. A vision is an active and ongoing dream that you are striving to achieve.

• I can achieve a weight goal.
• My vision for my health and wellness never ends. It is ongoing . . . as long as I am alive.

I agree with Dr. Wayne Dyer in Excuses Be Gone that people don’t get what they want—they get what and who they are. That means if you want a loving relationship, you need to be loving. You can’t act mean-spirited and expect to realize your vision of a healthy relationship.

Your vision must be congruent with your heart and your actions.

Vision is important for more than personal fulfillment. Families, teams, and organizations need visions, too. In Jim Kouzes’ new book, The Truth About Leadership, 1 of the 10 nonnegotiable characteristics of successful leaders is that they provide a vision for their organization. If the organization does not know where it is going, any road will get it there.

Please ponder the Action Steps below, so you can start developing a vision statement in each main area of your life.

Included with your book . . .

• A complimentary Online Personal Style Indicator assessment

• Value: $45.00

• Your own personalized PSI report (20+ pages) about your specific Personal Style pattern and how to increase your effectiveness with self and others

• Detailed information about the one factor that will forever enhance your ability to build lasting relationships

Why Aren’t You More Like Me?™
Discover the Secrets to Understanding Yourself and Others,
Third Edition