Vision

In the past 2 years, I have read numerous books that have discussed vision. What is vision? It is our ability to see the future through our own eyes. To me it is a necessary part of every successful person’s climb to the top. Often times it is a key ingredient that is missing in every failure. We are born with 5 senses; touch, sight, taste, hearing, and smell. We are never taught about our 6th sense, the ability to visualize the future.

According to the movie The Secret “thoughts become things.” Napoleon Hill stated that, “All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination. Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth.” Maxwell Maltz, a renowned plastic surgeon found that, “The human mind can not distinguish the difference between what is real and a thought imagined vividly and in great detail.” Henry Ford was quoted saying, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”

On our journey through life it is important to remember we will make mistakes, wrong turns, poor decisions or bad choices. Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before he actually invented the light bulb. With each mistake or wrong turn, you are one step closer to inventing your light bulb. It is okay to make mistakes and wrong turns. However, it is a grave mistake to lose sight of your goals. When rockets are deployed often they are not aimed at a target, per se. They are deployed into the sky preprogrammed with coordinates of a target. If the rocket starts to veer off from its destination it corrects. Through a series of corrections, it finally reaches the target; its final destination. Without a vision of the final destination (coordinates), the rocket could have never left the launch pad and most certainly would have missed the target. The coordinates kept the rocket on a path to success.

Do you have a vision? The best world leaders have had a vision. Visualization is a mental exercise that some do more than others. The “dreamers” out there have a knack for this, since they use this skill frequently. But those like me, who may consider themselves a “realist” or “analytical,” may need some exercise to work out their visionary muscles. Exercises to enhance our 6th sense include, meditation, visualization, making a vision board or creative writing. When doing these exercises it is always important to be as descriptive as possible. Make your goals seem real and evoke emotion. Don’t just picture yourself reaching your goal. Use all of your senses, see it, smell it, hear it, taste it and touch it. For example, if a beach is involved, see the sand, bright sun and clear blue waters, feel the sand between your toes, smell the fresh air and sunscreen, hear the waves crashing, etc. Did you just get a feeling of being in a tropical paradise? Were your emotions stirred up?

Like all exercises, they must be done regularly to see the best results. In creating your vision remember, your thoughts are the limit. You govern how big or small your vision is. No one can tell you “no, that isn’t realistic.” No one can take your vision from you.