Building a vision for our best selves
Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have or do.
– Brian Tracy
Growth means different things at different stages of life. When we are young children, the distinct physical changes in our body and how we look are indicators of growth. As we get older, more dimensions get added to the definition of growth like education, profession and relationships. However, one aspect of growth that gets overshadowed by the more quantifiable or visible ones is our growth as individuals. Our personal development.
Unlike physical growth, it doesn’t necessarily happen on its own. While career and relationships are often a topic of discussion with family and friends, personal development rarely finds space in day to day conversations. Very often there is no one to shine a spotlight on the growth that happens deep within. It is personal. It is intimate. And we’re usually the first ones to “feel” it before it becomes evident in how we show up in the world. Interestingly, this aspect of growth, which is not easy to “see”, plays a key role in the quality of the more apparent areas of life – especially work and relationships.
If left to chance, personal growth might happen when and if certain life events bring massive shifts within us. The other, more definitive way of attaining this growth is to work towards it with intention.
Having a vision for ourselves
In context to personal growth, very often we hear the phrase “becoming the best version of ourselves”, without being told how to. The journey to discovering and becoming our best self takes consistent reflection and work. It begins with having a vision for ourselves, and then asking ourselves powerful questions like:
- Could it be that I am living just a small fraction of my true potential?
- If I were to begin tapping into my potential, where could I be 10 years from now?
- What do I need to do to get where I want to get?
- Why do I want what I want? – This crucial question directs us to our purpose and connects us with our vision.
Reflecting on the answers to the questions above can help us understand who we are deep down, and why some things in life matter to us more than others. This process of reflection also brings us one step closer to growing into who we truly want to become.
In my own journey, I have experienced that sometimes when creating a vision, we may not challenge ourselves enough to make our life experience expansive. Having a coach or a thought partner has helped me push my limits, and often provided me clarity that I could not have achieved on my own. While achieving the goals that are part of our vision is a natural outcome of the process, what I love the most is who we become as a result of working towards making the vision a reality.
Stepping into our vision for self
Once there is a clear vision, the next step is to design concrete actions to achieve it. These may be actions that we are equipped to take but have been postponing, or entirely new ones that we have never imagined or tried. There may even be areas where we need guidance from experts or those who have walked the path before us.
About four years ago, I was looking to transform the way I was supporting women through my work. I had a vision for myself but knew deep down that I needed to refine it further. As a next step I shared my vision with friends who understood my work as well as my passion for it. I wanted to explore the possibility of my network connecting me with whoever it was that I needed to meet and, sure enough, a friend of mine introduced me to Bhavna Toor, founder and CEO of Shenomics. Bhavna, through her work with Shenomics, understood the space in which I was looking to work. She was the perfect coach, thought partner and mentor I needed at that point in time. Through our conversations, I was able to crystallize my vision and plan concrete actions. Years later, what began as a coaching partnership eventually evolved into a work relationship. Our “why” for doing the work that we do is closely aligned, and we realised we could create a bigger impact by working together. For over a year now, I have been a part of the core Shenomics team.
I share this example because it illustrates that we may not have visibility of the entire path at the start of stepping into our vision, and that’s alright. Just taking the next tiny step from where we are is enough to reveal the rest of the way. Also, sharing our vision with our tribe amplifies the intensity with which we pursue the vision. It need not be a lonely journey.
Investing in ourselves
Achieving the vision we have for ourselves requires us to constantly, and committedly, invest in ourselves – be it time, money, head space or physical energy. This investment is powerful because its returns spill over into all areas of our life. Being a coach myself, I ensure that I consistently invest in upgrading my coaching skills and work with other phenomenal coaches.
Working on our personal growth drastically enhances the impact we create at work and yet, we neglect taking time out for it – how ironic. Our entire life explodes into constructive change as we begin adding value to ourselves. The shifts we bring within through inner work and personal development not only help us grow and create positive changes for ourselves but also for those around us.
Tell us what has helped you create a vision for yourself, and how do you step into it.
