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A vision isn’t just a picture of what could be; it’s an appeal to our better selves. @RosabethKanter
For many of us, a change in season breathes life into our ever-growing list of hopes and dreams — things we want to experience, achieve and accomplish.
But what happens if that’s NOT true for you?
What happens when you’ve actually achieved your goal, and you’re left wondering…
Is this all there is?!?
What the heck are you supposed to do after your big dreams come true?
We humans need more than goals to be happy. We need to constantly challenge ourselves, learn, grow, and contribute to others.
We need a compelling vision for our future to keep us moving forward.
How to Create a Clear Life Vision
Want to avoid an “Is this all there is” moment? The MarieTV below will help. A young viewer from India wrote in and asked…
Since I was a young girl I wanted to start my own business, travel the world, and make a name for myself. Today at 31 I’ve achieved most of that. So my question is, what do you do after your dreams come true? How do I get the same drive and passion I had when I was 24 before I achieved all my goals and realized my dreams?”
Tune in below to hear my answer, or keep reading.
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View Transcript
Okay. So these earrings are really heavy, but I really like them, and I only have to wear them for a few minutes, for you, because Elsa is making me.
Hey, it's Marie Forleo and you are watching Marie TV, the place to be to create a business and life you love. And this whole thingamajig is Q&A Tuesday. You and I, As and Qs, let's do this. Today's question comes from Dee, and she writes, "Hi Marie, I'm a follower from India. Since I was a young girl, I wanted to start my own business, travel the world and make a name for myself and more. Today at 31, I've achieved most of that. So my question is, what do you do after your dreams come true? How do I get the same drive and passion I had when I was 24, before I achieved all my goals and realized my dreams?"
Dee, this is a fantastic question and something so many of us can relate to. We set some goals, we achieve them, and then we look around and say, "Is this all there is?" You may know this already, but it certainly bears repeating. We human beings need more than just achieving our goals to be happy. We need to constantly challenge ourselves. We need to learn and grow, and we need to contribute to others. But here's the most important thing that we need. We need a compelling vision for our future.
As Rosabeth Moss Kanter said, and yes, it's a tweetable, "A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it's an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more." I'd love to ask you, Dee, what's your longterm vision? What kind of things do you want to experience in your life over the next five, 10, 20, or 30 years? What kind of things do you want to do in this world? How do you want to make an impact? Is it through your family? Is it through some creative endeavor? Is there some problem that you want to see solved? Or, try this one on for size. Imagine yourself far, far, far into the future on your deathbed, because yes, someday we're all going to be there. Describe the kind of life you want to look back on. What do you want to do with your life? How will you have spent the decades that you've been here on this earth?
These questions can help stimulate your imagination and reignite your dreams. Because I believe that each of us has a deep, inner hunger for something more and that every single one of us is here for a reason. Now, Dee, I don't know if you believe in God, some higher creative force, or the universe, but if you're open to it, I would also suggest asking for guidance and be open to receiving it. I'm a born and raised Catholic girl, and in my twenties, I remember journaling to God, particularly when I felt stuck. And I would say, "You gave me gifts. I'm here to use them. God, show me the way."
And speaking of the early twenties, Dee, don't discount hormones as a possible factor for all that passion you had at 24. The same thing that makes you want to go out dancing all night and do other things all night brings a lot of passion to everything else you're into. Now, I'm not saying you can't recapture that feeling, but you got to admit, we all have a little bit of an extra helping hand when we're young, it's kind of like Hamburger Helper, except it's made of hormones.
Hey guys, I'm going to save the world. Let's do it. I love this song. I like that shirt. I'll have what she's having. Wee.
That's my A to your Q, Dee. Let us know how it goes. Now I would love to hear from you. Have you ever reached all of your goals and had a, "is this all there is" moment? What did you do to get re-inspired? And even if you haven't, I believe all of us need a bigger vision for our future, and I would love to hear yours.
As always, the best stuff happens after the episode over at marieforleo.com. So go there and leave a comment now. Did you like this video? If so, subscribe and share it with your friends. And if you want even more great resources to create a business and a life that you love, plus some personal insights from me that I only talk about in email, get your buns over to marieforleo.com and sign up for email updates.
Stay on your game and keep going for your dreams. The world needs that special gift that only you have. Thank you so much for watching and I'll catch you next time on Marie TV.
What would you do? [foreign language 00:04:16] And let me get, let me ride up on that.
As Harvard professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter said, “A vision isn’t just a picture of what could be; it’s an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.”
I believe each of us has a deep hunger for more. To discover your own inner hunger and create a vision for life, ask yourself these questions:
- What’s your long-term vision? What would you like to see, do, and experience over the next 5, 10, or 20 years?
- What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to make an impact in the world? Is there a problem you want to solve? What’s important in your personal life, your professional career, business, family, and community?
- How do you want to have lived your life? Imagine yourself on your deathbed (hopefully far, far, far into the future). Describe the kind of life you want to look back on. How will you have spent the precious time you were given?
- What does the universe have in store for you? If you believe in a higher power, I suggest asking for guidance and being open to receiving it. Here’s a simple mantra: “You gave me gifts, I’m here to use them. Please show me the way.”
The Difference Between Visualization & Dreaming
If you’re thinking, “This sounds great, but does visualization actually work?” Look, nothing works unless you do. But here’s the truth. Visualization doesn’t have to be airy fairy.
Don’t get hung up on the word. Call it creativity or simply making a plan. Whether you’re getting the keys to your new home, a big bonus check at work, or starting a business, you’re visualizing your future.
Done right, you can create the life of your dreams. In fact, I bet you’re already visualizing — you just don’t know it yet.
The key difference between dreaming and visualizing comes down to a simple script flip.
Instead of thinking, “Wouldn’t that be nice?” tell yourself, “That’s a done deal.”
Now doesn’t that feel better? Can’t you just feel the confidence and power that comes with knowing you’ll get it done, rather than agonizing over whether it’s possible?
And here’s the thing: Once it’s done, you have a framework to tackle your next big dream. Then the next one and the next one.
You Don’t Need a Long-Term Life Plan
While I’m a big believer in creating a clear vision for yourself, sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way we want. And that’s okay!
A failure might be a cosmic redirect, guiding you to a better, bigger purpose.
You don’t necessarily need a long-term vision to achieve success. Sometimes you just have to take the first step and gain clarity from there. Bring your A-game to everything you do. Trust me, a clear vision will eventually emerge.
Do you think I had a clear vision of what my business would look like when I first started? Of course not!
I loved so many things, it felt paralyzing. I couldn’t envision my life more than six months into the future. Not having it all figured out didn’t keep me from starting, though.
Instead of one grand life vision, I started with mini, immediate goals, like:
- Fill my hip hop classes and experiment with new choreography.
- Get my first coaching client.
- Write a consistent weekly newsletter.
I didn’t have a long-term vision. I just took the next right step every day and did the best I could. I worked hard at each of my passions until I eventually found convergence for myself and my passions. (Hello, multipassionate entrepreneur!)
How to Envision the Future & Still Live in the Present
At first glance, training yourself to be present contradicts the whole notion of planning your future. But it’s not! You can absolutely balance being present with planning ahead.
You just need to know the difference between planning and worrying.
Planning keeps you in the present moment. Worrying takes you out of it.
For example, think about rain on your wedding day.
Worrying about rain is a future-based anxiety about something you can’t control. Planning, on the other hand, is about being prepared just in case it rains. It helps keep you in the present, because your preparation lets you set aside your worries about what will go wrong in the future.
Any time you find yourself worrying over your vision for the future, stop. Bring yourself back to the present, and redirect that energy into planning.
Where Will Your Life Vision Take You?
Look, achieving your goals is awesome, but real happiness comes from growth. Embracing the challenge of working towards your goals is far more fulfilling than achieving and checking them off your list.
A compelling life vision gives you a reason to meet those challenges head on.
Again, you don’t have to have every step figured out. Conjuring up a vision for your future stimulates your imagination. It’ll help rediscover old dreams and ignite your passion so you can head in the right direction.
Now, let’s turn this insight into action.
Grab a journal, and take 5 to 10 minutes writing your life vision statement — in reverse. Imagine yourself on your deathbed, and describe the kind of life you want to look back on.
What will you have achieved? What will you have spent your time doing?
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