Never Underestimate the Power of a Vision       

It seems an obvious statement: if you don’t know where you are going, you’re not likely to get here. But simply choosing a goal is not the purpose of this Step.  A goal is a simple thing, an item on a list to be checked off as completed.  This Step challenges you to create a Vision. 

A Vision is a whole set of elements that include who you are, how you live, what you do, how you think, and so much more.  Your Vision is the expression of your core, of your soul.  It embodies your personal energy and it focuses your Intention, which is an extremely powerful force. The Universe responds to the power of each person’s intention with help and guidance, in ways that no one can predict.  As Goethe said:

“… the moment one commits oneself, then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising to one’s favor all manner of unforeseen accidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

In this Step, begin with the simple question: If anything were possible, what would it look like?  What do you imagine for your life, if nothing were in your way?  What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?  This is the time to dream, and dream big.  Find for yourself your “Wildest Dream.”  There is plenty of time to address what you ultimately will decide to do, but for now, let the dream be as big and open as possible. 

This dream becomes your magnet -- your beacon -- to the life you desire.  When Walt Disney was building his first theme parks, he gave a specific direction to the project managers: “Build the Castle first.”  There at the center of all of Disney’s wild imaginings was Cinderella’s Castle – the embodiment of the magic Disney wanted to create.  Once the Castle was built, the heavy, tiring work of building the rest of the park was put into perspective, because the Castle always was there reminding everyone of the magic that was being created.

Your Vision will do that for you.

“When you feel the magic, you can go the distance.”

Exercise

Now it is time to create your Vision. 

Start by setting aside some time that isn’t burdened with daily worries and struggles.  Even if it is 5 minutes in the shower, or a walk around the block.  Try to do this as regularly as you can.  If you have a meditation practice, use that as way to guide yourself in this Step (if you don’t, consider starting one because it has tremendous value in so many areas of your life). In whatever way you can find the time, allow yourself to imagine what you want in your life. 

What it would look like, how you would feel being there, what you would do?  Try not to focus on how you get there, or any other obstacle along the way.  Just see yourself in your new life.  Also, avoid trying to turn your Vision into a goal; just let it be a picture in your mind of what your life would be like when you arrived there. Then, attach a time to when you will have arrived in your new life – a date or an event that can be your milestone.

Give yourself some time to do this, whether it is over a few hours or a few weeks. When it feels like you can describe it, write it down in your notebook. You can refine it and polish it, but get it written down as soon as you can.  If you need to draw pictures, scribble on Post-it notes, make charts or whatever helps you, feel free to do it.  This is your Vision, and how you get there is all yours as well.

If you need some help forming your Vision or want to see what others have created for themselves, check out the "Castles" area in the Forum.  Reading others' Visions can help you see things in your own journey that you may have missed, or inspire you to dream even bigger than you had allowed yourself to do.

Then, write it down on a notecard or some other piece of paper, and put it where you can see it regularly.  If you don’t want others to read it, use a word or even a symbol that you can look at and recall your Vision.  Some people may use a photo cut out of a magazine or a Chinese symbol.  Whatever you choose -- this is your Castle, and when the times get tough in the trenches, you want to be able to see the Vision and feel the magic as often as you need. 

To proclaim your Vision and start building your network, go to the Forum and post your Vision in the "Castles" area.  Share your Castle with the world, and set in motion all the "boldness" of your commitment

“If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits.”

Don Ward

Example

A woman wants to lose 10 pounds and keep it off permanently.  She might choose a Vision like this:

I see myself walking into a restaurant on July 20, wearing a beautiful white sun dress with spaghetti straps and my toned shoulders and arms showing.  I’m meeting my friends there and I am feeling strong and confident in my new shape.  I glow with energy and strength. I know that I will order the right meal to help me keep my weight and I will enjoy the feeling of having accomplished something so important to me.

In choosing a Vision like this, the woman has a very real reason to decide not to have that dessert in April or the extra cheeseburger in June, and to push herself to go to the gym because she knows how wonderful it will feel to live out that Vision. 

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