It Might be Time to Box the Compass
In early nautical times, one of the first things a new sailor was required to learn were the 32 major and minor points of the compass. To “Box the Compass” was to recite all 32 points in order. Box the Compass also has a second powerful and symbolic nautical meaning — to make a complete reversal in your direction.
If we are to make meaningful changes in our life — if we want to actually design the perfect life that is in harmony with our values and desires — we need to have total clarity on where we are, where we want to be, and how we’re going to get there. We need to clearly understand the major and minor points in our lives and sometimes, we may need a complete reversal.
Most people have only a vague idea of what they really want their life to look like. Very few know exactly what they need to do today, this week, this month or this year to create the life they desire.
We all have dreams. We all have desires. But, despite best intentions, we rarely create a road-map that defines every step of reaching those dreams. There’s more to achievement than vision boards and empowerment statements. You can broadcast your dreams to the universe all you want, but until you engage focused, consistent effort you’ll just be dreaming.
So how do you create a vision for your future that encompasses all your desires and then break that all the way down to what you need to do today to make that vision a reality?
The first step is to gain total clarity on what you want your life to look like.
And that starts with a Life Vision.
Your Life Vision
If I were to ask you to describe what your perfect day would look like, could you do that? What would you be doing and who would you be with? Would it involve traveling to a beautiful island? Helping those in need? Being around loved ones? What would the day look like, sound like, smell like? How would the day begin? How would it end?
Your Life Vision is more than just a statement of a desired outcome or a long-term goal. The primary purpose is to create a vivid, rich vision that you can almost feel as you read it. When completed it should almost sound like a journal entry from yesterday.
There are two main elements to a Life Vision. The first is that it needs to be big.
Dream Big
Many of us have lost our ability to have big dreams. Life circumstances, trials and challenges can break us down to the point that we don’t see how we can make those dreams we once had a reality. The first goal of your Life Vision should be to push the boundaries of what you think is possible. Your vision should be so big that, given your current circumstances, there is no way you can reach it. It should be beyond your current abilities but still reasonable. (You aren’t going to make it to the big leagues if you’re turning 40 this year, even if you were amazing in high school.)
The point is, really push yourself and the boundaries and beliefs you have imposed upon yourself. Because those self-beliefs are the first thing that need to change, and your Life Vision is the first step in expanding your internal dialog on a daily basis.
Take off the cynic glasses for just a few minutes and let your inner child come out and play. What would that part of you want if there were no obstacles in the way?
What Will it Take?
The second part of your Life Vision is to put a real, tangible price tag on it. This is to show you exactly what it takes to participate in that perfect day in the future.
Let me give you an example. Part of my perfect day includes my family at our ranch property. When I put together my Life Vision, I researched ranch properties that were for sale. I found several that fit my vision and began to piece together what it would take to purchase that dream ranch. I looked at asking prices, researched mortgages on ranch properties and broke all these numbers down to know how much I would have to put down, what monthly payments would be and how much I would have to be making on a monthly basis to sustain that kind of property.
Do the same with your vision. Is it to take 3 months and travel the Caribbean? Spend a summer in Africa helping develop clean water sources? Joining a marine expedition to study ocean changes? Spending a month photographing Iceland from a sailboat? Whatever it is, research it and know what it takes to get you there. This is critical because it takes a very ethereal idea and makes it a tangible concept. You may have no idea how you’re going to get there, but you’ll have a clear understanding of what it will take. And the universe has a crazy way of opening pathways when you’re clear on your purpose and desires.
Some Things to Consider
This is the only goal that we don’t put a time frame on. That’s because it should be substantial enough, and require enough change on your part, that any time frame would be a complete guess. After you complete the Life Vision, you’ll be working in intermediate steps that help you define the other major and minor points on your compass.
The Life Vision is your North Star and encompasses all your values and belief systems. It’s the vision that will guide you on your journey to create your life on purpose.
Also, recognize that as your life progresses, this vision will change. What you want today may become less important as you grow and reach important “life-steps”. You should review your Life Vision annually and modify it to keep it relevant and in harmony with where you are and where you want to be.
I’ve put together a free Life Vision template and also an example of a completed Life Vision. To download either or both, click here.
