What is a personal vision and what 3 steps lead to it?

Tibor Kučera, 23. 6. 2021

When is it worth it having a vision and when do we actually need it? A vision is valuable whenever we really want to move forward in our personal development. It is a key component of our plan which enables us to:

organize our thoughts (during its creation or any time after that)
motivate ourselves better than with only temporary goals
keep moving in the right direction

A vision (and the whole personal plan) is like a map - we can use it successfully if we have enough time and energy. In the end, a famous quote by Steve Jobs is: "If you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next." On the other hand, it is good to enjoy the moment of success and when would be a better time to let yourself have some freedom? In any case, good times are suitable for vision creation. The same as with a map, the moments when we really need it are the ones when things get difficult.

What is a vision?

In general, it is a picture, an idea. A personal vision is a summary of what we want our future to be like. I have also mentioned the term personal plan - this means a combination of a personal vision and goals, which we describe in another article. If you want to learn more about a personal development plan, we prepared article. We can also define a vision by its features.

What should a vision be like?

ideal – formulate it so that it represents your future the way you want it
real – it should be ambitious but achievable - it would not motivate you otherwise
personal – this means that its form is up to you - in Salmondo we do not dictate what it should be like
long-term – a vision is oriented on more distant future, typically in 5 or more years
stable – you can continuously adjust your vision but as it is supposed to be long-term, it should not include short-term goals

What should the vision not be like?

too specific – your goals should be specific but your vision should be more general - more like a direction and idea than an exact description

Author's note: we have devoted this article to sub-parts of the vison and described the goals (including the SMART method), setting of which naturally follows up the vision setting here.

What steps lead to a vision?

Step 1 – self knowledge

Before you start planning, you should map yourself and your situation. You should consider the values which matter to you, your motivation, personality, strengths and weaknesses, life opportunities and a number of other aspects. In Salmondo, there is a special chapter and a guide to help you with the process.

Step 2 – brainstorming

Then, it is good to relax for a while and to let your brain come up with ideas and inspiration on what your vision should be like and what it should include. We have devoted an article to brainstorming and techniques used in coaching and therapy - "Brainstorming: 3 methods of uncovering your future".

Step 3 – creating a vision

When you have the necessary information and ideas, you can start to write them down. The best way to do it is to create a concept reflecting your spontaneous ideas and then go back to it after a few days to add more details. Go back to the vision regularly in the future - because of the vision itself and also to complete it or add more detail. The vision is meant to be stable, which means revisiting it regularly, e.g. every six months, rather than replacing it with a new one.

Anchoring

For many, anchoring is a part of their vision. Anchoring means connecting the vision with a real object which will be associated with the vision and will therefore serve as a reminder. It can be a pendant, a stone, a paperweight or even a tattoo.

Even more original is connecting the vision with a song, a poem or even a painting you create based on the vision. If you have a favourite quote or a music piece, these can also be included to make your vision more personal and easier to recall.