How Having a Vision Can Reduce Stress in Your Life
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. Whether it's caused by work, family, or personal issues. Stress can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. Consistent stress over a long period of time not only affects our health but it begins to build barriers around the things we want to do and accomplish in life. However, there are ways to manage stress and minimize its effects. One of the most effective ways to do this is to have a vision.
When we have a clear vision for our lives, it gives us direction and purpose. It helps us to focus on what's important and lets us let go of the things that are causing us stress. Having a vision doesn't mean that we won't experience stress, but it can help us to better deal with those feelings when they do arise.
Why is Setting Goals to Achieve Your Vision Important?
When you set goals, you take control of your life’s direction. A vision provides you with a focal point in your life instead of living life as it comes or perhaps living a fear-based life when inaction is a common theme. When a vision is created, a list of actionable steps or smaller, bite-size goals can be identified to help make an easier roadmap to achieve this vision. Sometimes looking at the larger vision from afar can be overwhelming. Making smaller manageable steps can make the action needed more digestible.
Setting goals for your vision keeps you moving, increases your happiness, and significantly benefits your overall wellness. When you set goals, you create a vision of what your life could look like. Then it becomes a normal practice to push yourself to get the best results possible.
So how do you create a vision for your life? You can start with these three steps:
1. Determine what's important to you.
This is your vision - now think about the things that matter most to you in life. Be very personal, and take the time to reflect on the things that are important. What do you want to achieve? What kind of impact do you want to make? Once you know what's important to you, you can start setting goals that will help you achieve those things.
Some common areas of vision include:
Education
Career
Financial
Spirituality
Family
Mental Health
Fitness
2. Set realistic goals.
It's important to set realistic goals that are achievable. If your goals are too lofty, you're likely to get discouraged when you don't reach them. However, if your goals are realistic and achievable, they'll give you a sense of accomplishment and help keep you motivated. Take a look at your current schedule and see where there is room for you to dedicate time to your vision. Remember, visions do not happen overnight. They are grand for a reason - they take time to accomplish. Baby steps count too!
3. Write down your vision.
Once you know what's important to you, it's time to write it down. This will help you to clarify your thoughts and ensure that your vision is specific and actionable. Not sure where to start? A good idea is to purchase a journal specific to your vision. It could be a dedicated space where you can write out your goals in life, the overall vision you are trying to reach, and even outline a weekly or monthly plan to ensure you stay committed to this vision. Take a few minutes a day to open your journal and review your vision. Remind yourself of the steps you need to get where you want to go. Keep your vision fresh in your mind!
Final Thoughts
Before you know it you will be checking action items off your list. Remember to give yourself credit for those small wins. The anxiety of being lost or stagnant in life is now replaced with the clear path in front of you by the vision you have created. The small things lead up to accomplishing your biggest vision. Stay on track, make adjustments when necessary, and persevere. No matter how large your goals are, you will achieve small wins along the way and those will prove that you’re capable of much more than you originally thought. Just a heads up, there might be hiccups along the way. Remember that setbacks don’t mean failure — they’re opportunities to learn and adapt. Once you identify the right root causes, you can clear the path to achieving your vision!