How to get clear on your vision when the future is foggy
When my partner and I first met he asked me about my five-year vision on our first date. I didn’t have one. Up until then, I had lived my life month by month, year by year, not looking too far into the future. I moved with things as they came along.
Where do you see yourself living in the future? I don’t know…
Where do you want to go next in your career? Haven’t got a clue.
That was three years ago. Since then I have re-learnt to dream. I’ve gone deep to uncover my truest desires. I’ve mapped out big, juicy, and exciting visions for where I want my life to go. I’ve become more clear on how and where and with whom I want it all to unfold. Some things I’ve achieved already, while some were on the horizon. Then along came Rona.
Since March 2020 we’ve all been living in a fog of uncertainty. When will we be able to go back to the office? When might we be able to go to restaurants or coffee shops? Will the vaccines be successful? What will happen to the economy? Will we ever be able to travel on public transport again and not feel worried about being too close to others? When will we be able to meet up with friends for dinner? Picnics in the park, haircuts, and holidays are but distant memories these days.
With the rules of lockdown changing all the time, it can be challenging to look ahead and make plans. If you’re feeling deflated and unclear about what you want, here are three steps to gain more clarity — even if the future is foggy right now.
1: Review Your Life Pillars
Taking stock of where you are at is a good way to get started. You could use the wheel of life for this, as it will help you identify what areas might be out of balance. It will also give you a good view of what you’ve achieved so far and how you’re spending your time and energy. I like the pillars in Sheri Salata and Nancy Hala’s The Pillar Life:
- Health + Wellness
- Spirituality + Happiness
- Romance + Sex
- Friends + Family
- Creativity + Innovation
- Adventure + Discovery
- Sanctuary + Beauty
- Money + Abundance
2: Write It Out
Journalling is a wonderful tool to dive into your mind and get clear on what truly matters to you. Write out what you love and what you hate. What sparks joy? Are you living a life that fits with your values? If not, how might you? If you’re working, does what you do energise you or not? What kind of people do you want around you?
3: Listen To Hour Heart
As Roxette famously sang in the late 80s, listen to your heart. Most of us know what we want, as long as we slow down enough to hear what our inner voice and our intuition are telling us. Usually, this might be a challenging thing between commutes to and from the office, driving kids around, and simply doing life. I sincerely hope that these days you’re able to find more time for being, and not always doing.
Your vision of what you want to achieve might not align with the overculture where you live and it can be scary to step into your truth. There will be ups and downs along the way. But ultimately, designing a life born out of your vision. That’s worth every bump on the path ahead.
