CREATING CLARITY AND DIRECTION FOR YOUR FUTURE
Dirk DevosYour vision is the sense of direction for your life—the picture of what you want to create and where you want to go. If your values are the banks of a river, then your vision is the estuary, the place where your energy and actions flow into the open sea.
Having a vision matters because it brings clarity and orientation, especially in moments of uncertainty or complexity. Vision is not about focusing only on what is—it is about seeing what could be. A strong vision helps you move forward with intention, aligning why you do what you do (your purpose), how you live it (your values), and what you want to bring to life in the future (your vision).
True vision is also deeply connected to kindness. The most powerful visions are not just about individual success but about creating something that contributes to others. A vision rooted in kindness inspires trust, cooperation, and shared hope.
As Oprah Winfrey once said: “Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.”
REFLECTING ON YOUR VISION
Exploring your vision begins by asking yourself some guiding questions. When you look at your professional life, what would “great” look like, and how does that differ from today? When you reflect on your most important relationships, what would “great” look like there? And when you look at the relationship with yourself, what would it mean to live fully in alignment?
These reflections connect back to your purpose and values. Taken together, they point toward the one to three major decisions you may need to make to move closer to a future that feels true to you. Writing prompts such as “The future I want to move toward is…” or “If I lived my purpose and values fully, my life would look like…” can help you bring your vision into focus.
CREATING AND LIVING YOUR VISION
Building a vision is both inspiring and practical. You can begin by imagining your future self—picture where you want to be in five or ten years and what would make you proud. Visualization helps here: close your eyes and imagine your ideal day, from the people you are with to the work you are doing. From this, you can write a short vision statement—one or two sentences that express your desired future in a way that inspires and motivates you.
Of course, vision only comes alive through action. Break it down into goals and milestones so that your steps are both achievable and meaningful. Align those goals with your values so that the process feels authentic and sustainable. Stay flexible: a vision is a direction, not a fixed point, and life will always evolve. Surround yourself with people who encourage, support, and challenge you to stay true to your compass.
You may encounter common challenges—fear of dreaming too big, feeling overwhelmed by the gap between vision and reality, or moments of self-doubt. The key is to start small, break things into steps, and anchor your vision in kindness and trust. Growth is a process, and every action aligned with your vision brings you closer.
As Joel A. Barker wrote: “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
START LIVING YOUR VISION TODAY
Your vision is not just a dream—it is your direction. By aligning it with your purpose and values, and grounding it in kindness, you create clarity for your future and strength for your journey.
Ask yourself today: What is one small action I can take this week to live more in alignment with my vision?
Are you ready to imagine your future, clarify your vision, and start building it step by step?
and take the first step toward clarity, growth, and a life guided by vision.