Jun 10
14
Strategy #3 Hold a Vision
“You must know your destination if you are to ever arrive.”
Dissatisfaction with our bodies, the pain of being overweight, the discomfort of poor health, and the fear of disease all push us to pay attention to our weight and health. We are in constant conversation about health-related issues. There is something inside of us that is unrelenting – pushing us to pay attention and take action. Yes, it has to do with survival, but more than that, it is a deeper calling for us to live up to our full potential, to “live our best life.”
So we keep trying to lose weight, eat better, and get more exercise—alternately having amazing successes and spectacular failures. Sadly, so many of us are left confused, questioning not only our chosen approach but the qualities of our character. We are left longing for a consistent, reliable source of motivation and inspiration. What is that elusive, magical, ephemeral thing that will inspire and motivate and keep us consistent long enough to finally get to the prize?
Vision!
Michael Beckwith says that, “Pain pushes you until vision pulls you.” It is the clear, detailed, and in-depth vision of the totality of the prize itself that will ultimately pull you to your desired destination. And what is the total prize? It is YOU being your very best self, living and fully experiencing all that life has to offer.
You see, it is not enough to want to lose 10 pounds, to be a size 6, to have a 32-inch waist, to lower your cholesterol, or to run a half-marathon. These are only the superficial “wants.” The deeper “want” – what you really are longing for – is the new and improved person you will need to become in order to achieve these goals. And visioning is the direct path from here to there.
Your job, then, is to create and hold in your consciousness an amazing vision of this future you. Your individual and very personalized vision is that consistent, reliable source of motivation and inspiration that will literally pull you out of the unproductive, self-defeating behaviors of your past and into the life-giving choices and behaviors that will help you create the life of your dreams.
Though it can be a very important first step, effective visioning requires more than pasting magazine pictures to a piece of poster board. Your next steps will be to put as much of yourself into the visioning process as possible: imagination, emotions, and a growing sense of inner knowing. You have to be able to see, hear, feel, smell, and taste this new person you are becoming. Below you will find some of my favorite techniques.
Helpful Practices
Vision Boards: Tell the story of the new you in pictures. First, flip through a stack of magazines quickly and pull out any images, colors, words, or phrases that catch your eye—don’t stop to analyze what you are choosing. Next, sort and trim the items you selected and attach them to a piece of poster board or card stock in a way that is meaningful and inspiring to you. It may take days, weeks, or months for you to discover all of the implications or ‘messages’ hidden in the items you have chosen. Just spend some time looking at your vision board and asking yourself questions about the new you that is trying to emerge.
Journaling: Tell the story of the new you in words. Use your vision board for inspiration and write short stories about your new life. Remember to hold the perspective that you already have reached your health and wellness goals. See the new you waking up and moving through your new healthy morning routine, joyfully getting ready for the day, feeling completely comfortable in your own skin – excited about the activities on your schedule and gracefully attending to your needs and the needs of your immediate loved ones. Write a story about it. Write about working at a job you love as the new you. Write about going to the pool as the new you. Write about spending time with your significant other as the new you. This is for your eyes only, so there is no need to sensor or edit your writing. Just quickly write what pops into you mind and enjoy the surprises, and even the contradictions, that almost certainly will show up.
Vision Journaling: Tell the story of the new you in words and pictures by using an extra large spiral-bound sketch book (available at Hobby Lobby). This is my new favorite multi-media way to motivate and inspire myself. You don’t have to be an artist. Just play. Use magazine images, original photos, textiles, paint, pastels, small stones and beads, feathers, flowers, bark, grass – whatever – and combine them with your original writings, musings, and favorite quotes. Create individual pages for the specific areas you are working on: good nutrition, fitness and health, time management, fun and recreation, relationships, money, career, relaxation, etc. Play, play, play! Tip: use removable adhesive so that you can move things around as your vision, desires, and goals change.
Daily Practices: Review the pages of your vision journal daily. A couple of times a day is ideal in the beginning. These important daily reminders keep your vision in the forefront of your mind so that they can be used to inform your moment-by-moment decisions: Will you have french fries or a side salad? Will you go the gym or sleep in? Are you going to stay late at the office for the 3rd time this week? Will you take a short walk after dinner or check Facebook? Your daily vision practice will help to pull you through the life transformation you are asking for.
We all resist change. It is a completely natural and normal human behavior. To give you the best chance of success, take ‘baby steps’ and make changes slowly over time. You will also want to bring as much fun, relaxation, and pleasure to the journey as possible. You are much more likely to stay engaged if it feels good. Work, rest, play and be well.
