writing a vision statement - the basics

Today, I would like to offer you some tips on how to go about writing a vision statement.

You can write a vision statement for anything you'd like to create in your life - be it better health, a loving relationship, a rewarding job, or a new car, house, or apartment. You can put together a vision statement encompassing all areas of your life - health, relationships, finances, fitness, spirituality, and more. For now, I would recommend starting with one area of your life that you would really like to improve.

A vision statement is basically a compilation of positive affirmations. One crucial element to keep in mind is to keep all of your statements in the present tense. Our subconscious takes every word very literally, so, if you suggest to your subconscious that you want better health or will have better health in the future, it will always keep your goal just an arm length's out of your reach. It will create more of the wanting, or keep you stuck in a place where you've got the prospect of better health, but can never quite reach it.

Another consideration is to go into as much detail as you can possibly think of. Paint the picture, make it vivid, make it real. Now, there is one caveat when it comes to detail. While you want to be as specific as possible in describing your ideal circumstances, you want to avoid getting too hung up on details that may not necessarily be that important. For instance, if you are describing your ideal partner, and you write that he is 6 foot tall, with brown hair and a PhD in Physics... well, if that is really important to you, then, by all means, include it! However be aware that this is narrowing down your options and keep in mind that the universe knows best what's ideal for you. If you get into too much unnecessary detail, the universe may send you a mate that fits your description, but it may not be the ideal person for you in the grand scheme of things. So maybe, rather than detailing the specifics as above, you could affirm that you are grateful to the universe for guiding you to your ideal partner, who you are physically, spiritually, and emotionally attracted to and who shares your interests and passions in life. Get the point? It just might turn out that you fall head over heels for a blond man who's 5 foot 6 and holds a Master's degree in Fine Arts!

The point is to be open and receptive to inviting that into your life which will be ideal for you. And to bear in mind that, sometimes, you don't know yet what's ideal for you! Based on this premise, I like to add to all my affirmations the sentence, If it is for the higher good of everyone involved. I also know that, from my limited human perspective, I cannot see the greater picture at all times. So, if I intend to manifest something into my life and it doesn't happen on my own agenda, I acknowledge that the universe knows best when the timing is right, and I trust that the ideal circumstances will present themselves in their own divine right time.

Lastly, and based on the same premise that we do not always know what's best for us, I would like to issue a caveat for attracting new circumstances into our lives. If you are stuck in a job or a relationship that's not fulfilling, you may find yourself tempted to write a vision statement for a new job or relationship. At times, our home or work environment may be so toxic that we need to let go of it and move on to something else. However, I would like to suggest the possibility that existing situations can change dramatically once we start to release old patterns within ourselves. As we become clear about what it is that we want in our lives and work towards becoming more centered and at peace with ourselves, we'll often find that the people around us begin to change, as well. They become more responsive to our needs, they treat us with more respect, and, sometimes, they may just drop out of the picture without our doing anything to remove them from our lives.

For instance, picture Jane, who's working in an office with 5 co-workers, one of whom is driving her crazy with her constant bickering and nagging and complaining. That co-worker is the boss' sister-in-law, and so there is no way the boss would let her go, no matter how much trouble she may cause. Jane thinks her only way out of this situation is to find another job, even though she likes everything else about the work that she does. She loves the interactions with her clients, and she's rather fond of 2 of the other co-workers and enjoys her daily lunches and conversations with them. Now, as Jane begins to become clear about the work environment she wants to have and affirms on a daily basis that she is surrounded by respectful, friendly, and loving people at all times, a number of different scenarios might unfold.

A) Jane runs into an old acquaintance at lunch. As Jane tells her about the kind of work she does, her acquaintance exclaims that her company is looking for someone just like her and sets her up an interview for the following week. Jane gets the new job and leaves behind the old work environment and the toxic co-worker.

One caveat: if Jane doesn't consciously work at releasing any patterns within herself that have attracted the toxic co-worker in the first place, she will continue to attract the same kinds of people, no matter where she goes! If she holds a belief that she is a magnet for people who take advantage of her and treat her poorly, she will keep manifesting those people into her life!

B) As Jane starts to release her old patterns and beliefs and begins to practice more self-respect and to assert herself, the toxic co-worker starts to act differently in Jane's presence. Or else, she doesn't gravitate towards Jane's desk as much and, instead, finds another co-worker to bicker and complain to. If no one in the office will put up with her bickering, she will eventually stop altogether.

C) Jane arrives at the office one day to find out that the toxic co-worker is moving across the country and will no longer be a part of her daily environment.

Morale of the story: rather than asking for a specific outcome, ask for specific circumstances in your daily life (i.e. being surrounded by loving, respectful people, having a flexible schedule, earning a salary that allows you to do the things you wish to do, etc.).

In my next post, I will give you examples of vision statements that you can use as a template or starting point to create your own.