Motivation: The Power of Vision

Here's an interesting story from the world of race car driving. One of the most important things that beginning race car drivers learn is what to do when they lose control of the car and go into a spin. The natural reaction is to focus on the wall or other object they want to avoid. Because their focus is on the wall, that's usually where they end up. Instead of focusing on the wall, the drivers learn to focus on where they want to go. This allows them to avoid the walls, stay on course and go where they want to go.

What does this have to do with the power and strength of vision?

Just about everything.

In my counseling experience, I have found that the approach most of us take to life is to sort of "make it up as we go along." And then we wonder why things end up such a mess. It's like the old saying, "if you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."

Even when we do have a plan, it's only a partial plan. Then when our plan doesn't work, or "hits the wall", we don't know where to go from there and give up.

In order to be successful in life, I believe we need to have a clear vision for what we want, in all areas of our life. Even if we have alot of desire, energy and motivation, without a clear direction and vision, we can end up like a "dead atheist." All dressed up and no where to go.

Why have vision?

So let's look at how to create a vision in several key areas of our lives.

There's a proverb that says "without a vision, the people perish." I think we can extend that parable and say without a vision -

a marriage perishes a family perishes a career perishes

A Marriage Vision

One of my favorite things to do is to help a couple create a vision for their relationship. Most people spend more time planning a two week vacation than they do planning how they want their relationship to be.Here's a key question -"If we could design this relationship any way we wanted it, how would it be?" How would you -

spend your time? relate to and communicate with each other? plan for your future? spend money? help each other grow?

A Family Vision

We live in a society where the average family spends only fourteen and a half minutes a day with each other all together. I don't believe that's what we really want.

So here are some key questions for creating a family vision.

What do we most value as a family? How do we want to spend our time? What legacy do we want to leave for the generations that will follow? What impact would we like to have on our community?

A Career Vision

We spend most of our adult waking hours at work. Yet it's one of the main areas in life where we tend to just stumble in and make it up as we go along. Here are a few key questions for creating a vision for your career.

What are your dreams for your career? How would you like to spend your working hours? What would make you get up each day excited that you get to go to work? Do you want to make a living or make a life?

The answers to these questions can get you started in creating a vision in each of these key areas. You can add other areas and other questions as well. The next step is to begin, right away, to take small daily actions toward each of these goals.

I'll close with an example of the power of vision in our lives. Picture yourself sitting at home at your kitchen table, with a big juicy lemon on a plate in front of you. Now take a knife and cut the lemon in half. Smell and feel the juice. Now cut a slice from one half. More juice, more smell. Cut that slice in half. More juice, more smell. Now take that half, bring it up to your face, take a whiff and then bite into it. If you're like most folks, and you did this exercise, right now there is a bit of moisture in your mouth.

Here's the really cool thing. There is no lemon. You created a physiological response in your body through the power of vision.

And so it can be as you get a clear vision for what you want in life. The clearer your vision, the quicker your brain will respond.

So get clear and get going.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

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Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:05:17 GMT Bush advised to back modest troop cuts in Iraq - Reuters Washington Post Bush advised to back modest troop cuts in Iraq Reuters - 1 hour ago By Andrew Gray WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top US defense officials have recommended that President George W. Bush withdraw one combat brigade from Iraq but not until early next year, Pentagon sources said on Thursday. Military officials: No troop cuts this year CNN International Sources: Bush advised to delay troop cuts in Iraq The Associated Press New York Times - AFP - Voice of America - Los Angeles Times all 561 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:06:35 GMT Cheney seeks to bolster Ukraine - BBC News ABC News Cheney seeks to bolster Ukraine BBC News - 7 hours ago US Vice-President Dick Cheney is in Ukraine on the last stop on his tour of the region aimed at showing support for US allies in the former Soviet Union. Video: Cheney Slams Russia for War Against Georgia AssociatedPress Conflict in Georgia May Raise Pressure on Russia’s Oligarchs New York Times Reuters India - Voice of America - Scotsman - Bloomberg all 2,000 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:52:03 GMT Gustav’s Rains Delay Cup Playoffs - New York Times Los Angeles Times Gustav’s Rains Delay Cup Playoffs New York Times - 2 hours ago By LARRY DORMAN ST. LOUIS - Torrential rain from the remnants of Hurricane Gustav drenched the Bellerive Country Club on Thursday and washed out the first round of the BMW Championship, the third of four events in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs. Hit the virtual green with new 'Tiger' golf game USA Today 'Tiger Woods' tops this season's golf games International Herald Tribune Sports Network - The Associated Press - PGA Tour - Reuters all 496 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:09:34 GMT Work by Hopkins team lights way to cancer 'milestone' - Baltimore Sun Voice of America Work by Hopkins team lights way to cancer 'milestone' Baltimore Sun - 1 hour ago By Frank D. Roylance | frank.roylance@baltsun.com Researchers cataloging the genetic codes of deadly human brain and pancreatic cancers say they have found several dozen defective genes that appear to work in concert to set off the tumor growth that ... Gene trawl shows curing cancer harder than thought Reuters Genetic Mutations Linked to Deadly Cancers U.S. News & World Report Voice of America - The Associated Press - Bloomberg - GenomeWeb News (subscription) all 170 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:10:52 GMT Roger Federer advances at US Open - Los Angeles Times TVNZ Roger Federer advances at US Open Los Angeles Times - 3 hours ago Elise Amendola / AP Roger Federer of Switzerland defeated Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (5), to reach the semifinals of the US Open. Federer Rolls Past Muller New York Times Federer's year of living defensively - Tennis ESPN Sports Network - The Associated Press - NJ.com - Bloomberg all 1,329 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:39:50 GMT GOP Convention Spin, Part II - Newsweek BBC News GOP Convention Spin, Part II Newsweek - 1 hour ago Palin trips up on her facts, and Giuliani and Huckabee have their own stumbles on Night 3 of the Republican confab. By Viveca Novak | factcheck. Video: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani Full Speech at the RNC CSPAN Palin packs a punch Augusta Chronicle New York Times - CNN Political Ticker - Atlantic Online - New York Daily News all 933 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:41:06 GMT Rescuers can't get aid to starving Haitian city - The Associated Press CBC.ca Rescuers can't get aid to starving Haitian city The Associated Press - 1 hour ago GONAIVES, Haiti (AP) - The convoy rumbled out of the UN base toward a flooded, starving and seething city Thursday, carrying some of the first food aid since Tropical Storm Hanna drowned Gonaives in muddy water three days ago. Sorrow and hunger overwhelm Haitian storm shelter Reuters At least 90 killed as tropical storm Hanna passes by Haiti Xinhua Inquirer.net - Aljazeera.net - International Herald Tribune - Air Force Link all 1,894 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:01:18 GMT Create Blog Display RSS Feeds on Your Website

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