Designing a Life of Vision & Value
Clarity. It’s something that we all are hoping to find. Clarity about our life, career, and next steps forward. We all want to be sure that our life is headed in the right direction. That was my prayer when I entered into this deep introspective period after college graduation. I had just enrolled in my master’s program at UNCG to study Consumer, Apparel, Retail Studies and I knew exactly what I wanted to do — I wanted to increase multi-cultural awareness amongst fashion and beauty brands. And although I was excited to make change in this industry, I had a feeling that I was being called to more.
Yes, I loved the fashion and beauty industry but deep down inside, I knew that it wasn’t my calling. So I entered into this period of prayer and fasting as I asked God to reveal to me my purpose. Although I hadn’t experienced much of the adult world yet, I knew one thing for sure — I didn’t want to be the person who woke up toward the end of her life realizing that she wasted it living up to the world’s expectations or her wrongly defined definition of success. I wanted to do something that mattered. Something that would leave a legacy. I wanted to live a life of purpose.
I didn’t know it right then and there but in that moment, I was casting the vision for my life. I always say that your purpose gives you foundation, your vision gives you direction, and your goals give you focus. So before you start setting goals, it’s so important that you know your God-given purpose and vision for your life. Your purpose will help you to understand your why and your vision will serve as your compass, leading you in the right direction. Here are 4 steps you can take to design a life of vision and value.
Step 1: Identify what you don’t want.
The first thing I did to cast the vision for my life was to identify what I didn’t want. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what you’re wanting most out of life. In the case that you don’t know, ask yourself what you don’t want. Brainstorm a list of what you don’t want or what isn’t working well in your life.
Step 2: Think about the things that you do want.
Think about the things counter to your list that will support your life’s vision. What are the things that matter to you? What is aligned with God’s plan for you? What do you need to do more of to feel purposeful and fulfilled? These are the things that you value the most.
Step 3: Decide what needs to change.
Now that you’ve created your list, decide what needs to change. The only way to grow is to prune what’s hindering your growth. What habits need to change? What do you need to do differently in order to see your desired results? What will you say “no” to and “yes” to to better align with your vision?
Step 4: Identify Your Why.
Once you’ve created your list of don’ts and decided what needs to change, it’s time to identify your why. Your why will ground everything you do and will encourage you when you feel like giving up. It’s the thing that you will always come back to you. Ask yourself, why this vision is important to you. Why is it important for you to not to pursue certain things? Why is it crucial for you to chart a different course? Why do your values matter to you? Your why will nine times out of ten points to your purpose.
Step 5: Redefine Your Priorities.
Now that you’ve successfully casted the vision for your life, what needs to be prioritized in order to manifest it? Maybe your schedule needs to be readjusted to create more space for purposeful activities. Maybe you need to cut back on some of your responsibilities. Maybe you need to develop the discipline needed to pursue your calling. Remember that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Prioritize what will move you forward in your purpose, calling, and goals.
Defining your vision is one of the best ways to get clear on your life’s direction. Need clarity on your life’s vision? Download the free Vision & Value Workbook to cast the vision for your purposeful life.
