“If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” Yogi Berra
If you don’t care where you’re going, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland
On the other hand, if you want to be intentional about how you live, and you care where you’re going, then
“Begin with the end in mind.” Stephen Covey
Life vision
As we start a new year, this is a great time to become clear about your life’s vision. Where do you want to end up? What do you want people to say about you when you’re gone? What do you want written on your tombstone?
Your life vision should be:
Emotionally compelling
Personally meaningful
Inspiring
Enduring
Guiding
Consistent with your core values
It will help you decide what to do—or what not to do. Goals flow out of vision and mission.
Examples
Paul
Paul’s personal vision:
“[To] know [Christ Jesus Christ my Lord] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10).
To see Paul’s passion, read his entire statement (Philippians 3:7-14).
Paul’s “niche” was to be a minister and witness, and to open the eyes of the Gentiles. (Acts 26:15-18)
Here is how Paul evaluated himself very near the end of his life:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Ezra
Ezra “set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
Luke
Luke said: “it seemed fitting for me, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out … in consecutive order …” (Luke 1:3).
John
John’s wrote his gospel “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
What about you?
If you haven’t already done this, spend some time the next few days prayerfully thinking about what you want your end to be. (See But What Are We to DO? and Spiritual Self-Appraisal.)
Your life vision is your base. Goals flow from that.
Then your path becomes much more clear.
And you have much more energy for the journey.
It’ll give you a good start for the New Year.
Do you have a vision for your life?
How does that vision affect your day?
What advice do you have for those developing their own vision?
