Create an Expansive Life Vision
You’re going to lose five pounds, increase your income by 15%, grow your network and strengthen your relationships. That sounds great, and I hope you’ll hit all these goals.
Except for the fact that your potential almost certainly exceeds these metrics.
You probably could lose 15 pounds, increase your income by 800%, quadruple your network and deepen a few special relationships so much that you barely even recognize them.
Most goals—even “stretch” goals—are constrained by your fears and self-limiting beliefs. As mentioned last week, you probably can’t even imagine the true upper end of what your life could be.
Importantly, that upper end may have nothing to do with the four examples (weight, income, network and relationships) that I mention here.
When you envision the best that your life could be, your brain starts to see this as reality. That produces one critical shift: you begin to notice opportunities to make that new reality come true.
If, out of the blue, I start to envision hosting a network TV show, every time I spot an opportunity to connect with a TV producer or executive, I take it.
By the way, this is how I gained the ability to publish on LinkedIn back when only about 100 people could do so. The day they announced the Influencer program, I had an instant mental flash of being a part of that program (even though only famous people were in it). This image was so vivid, I had to act on it. I pitched LinkedIn’s executive editor an idea of what I’d write about if they accepted me, and a week later, I was in. This was a completely irrational and unrealistic goal, one I accomplished in a week because I didn’t pause long enough to be “realistic” or self-limiting.
A vision opens your world to new possibilities.
A goal keeps you grounded in your current reality.
Your vision should reflect the true you, what you want so much it may even be embarrassing to admit.
IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO COMMENT…
If you don’t mind, let’s do a little experiment. This newsletter has about 1,300 really good souls as readers. Nearly everyone is positive and constructive. I urge you to add a comment that includes a piece of your expansive vision for your life. I also urge you to support and encourage others who share their vision.
This is a small step in the direction of upscaling your life. Are you ready? Please join in.
I could continue in my industry, but I have a vision of being an author and publisher. To be realistic, I can’t do both at the same time. Yet it’s important to start the other runway before leaving. I’ve done that... started... a little more running (with wings spread in belief of the vision) on the runway and I’ll be flying, even if at first the flying is like a baby bird’s.
My vision is to leave people in a better state than I found them, either through my interactions or assistance. This could be in a work environment providing service or resources, at home in trying to teach how to be a better human, or in other areas of my existence.
Another focus is to be content with what we have instead of striving for what others seem to need in life, most of which is material and truly irrelevant to their happiness. We can be happy with what we have as opposed to seeking happiness through having more.