Vision and Your Life Map

Have you ever attempted to cross a busy street blindfolded? Would you ever try to drive through rush hour traffic blindfolded? Would you board an airplane in London headed for New York if you knew the pilots had accepted a dare to fly with their eyes shut?

If you are a sane person, the answers to all these questions are probably, "No." No person in their right mind would ever drive during rush hour without the proper sight to see where they were going. If you are going to jump in an airplane from Tokyo to Los Angeles, you want to be assured that the pilots can see where they're going. Vision is a very important attribute to have, if we are going to make it safely through life.

Unfortunately, many of us endeavor to make our way in this life with our eyes shut tight. Because we do so, we bing-bong along like a pinball bounced around by the whim of the moment, never feeling fulfilled.

Of course, driving a car or flying an airplane takes more than keeping your eyes open. You also need to know where you are going. Vision includes seeing not only the road, but the right road (or combination of roads).

You can experience your best life today and tomorrow if you keep your eyes open and map out the route to your desired destination. The author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey, 2004, calls this seeing the end from the beginning.

Are you accomplishing your hopes and dreams? Are you the husband or wife you want to be? The parent you want to be? Are you on the right path to a life of no regrets? If not, take some time to reorient yourself. Get out your life map and check to see if you are headed in the right direction. If you don't have a life map then take time right now and write one out.

Perhaps, you want to make a life map, but you don't know how?

Covey says that in order to make a life map, begin by envisioning what you want others to say about you after you die. Write your own eulogy. That might sound a bit morbid, but seeing the end before the beginning will help you know which road you want to take in this life. In order to write a personal eulogy ask such questions as: What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind? When thinking about your legacy, include all your areas of responsibility: (a) your relationships with God, spouse, children, and friendships; (b) your occupation and financial matters; and (c) your volunteer life; etc.

When you take the time to define your vision, you will not only see where you are going, you will also find the best path to the best you fulfilled and satisfied.

Five Steps for Creating a Life Road Map

How to Outline a Life Vision

If you had to drive to a previously unknown destination, what would you do? Would you just get in the car and drive? Of course not! You would look up the directions on a map. These days, you would browse MapQuest, Yahoo or Google Maps, enter your starting address and the address of your intended destination, and print out the corresponding road map as a guide.

But why? Why would you go to all that trouble? Why not simply drive into the sunset? You wouldn't simply board your car and drive in any old direction because you wouldn't make it. You would get hopelessly lost and never find your way to the place you wanted to go.

Just as important as it is to have a road map for driving to an unrecognizable place, so it is also important for your life as a whole. Here are some tips on how to formulate a life road map:

First, remember that a life road map or plan must balance all the areas of your life. If your end-state goals are for your career only, you will neglect your relationships and hobbies.

Second, make a list of all your responsibilities, relationships and desired accomplishments. For instance, your list may include:

o Husband
o Father
o Career
o Financial matters
o Friendships
o Relationship with God
o Personal growth
o Health or physical fitness

Third, write end-state goals for each area on your list. End-state goals describe all that you want accomplish in each area.

Fourth, outline the milestones you will need to hit in order to fulfill your end-state goals.

Finally, make a list of the small steps you will need to take to hit your milestones.

A street map will guide you to a physical destination. A life map will guide you to your best life fulfilled. Of course, the street map cannot tell you if any of the suggested highways are closed or blocked. Thus, just as you may need to take a few detours along the way, so you may need to adjust your life roadmap from time to time. Still, having a well-planned out life roadmap will get you much closer to your desired end than not having one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1463583