Vision matters. Without it, we can’t see where we are going. What do we aim for? What path are we supposed to be walking on and in which direction? Do you allow yourself time to dream about your future? What is your vision for the different areas in your life? Let’s talk about that today.
Some people believe those of us who are dreamers are out in La-La Land, always floating on some cloud imagining only impractical ideas.
“Stop dreaming. Start doing,” they say.
In spite of what they may believe, dreaming has tremendous value and purpose. We really can’t live effectively without our vision. We need to know where we are headed and why. To know your vision, I believe you need to take time to dream about it.
True Story Ahead
Today I’ve been dreaming. I’ve been in my writer’s studio for three hours now, and I just let myself dream. Part of what I dreamed about included my writing.
I never really know each week what I’m going to write about for my blog post. As Jerry Jenkins would say, I’m an “intuitive plotter.” This basically means I don’t outline prior to writing. I start writing and then the order falls into place.
However, over the years and through my formal educational training, I learned everyone needs some structure to be truly productive. This includes dreaming.
Effective dreaming needs some structure.
This is why I love post-it notes.
Now my post-it notes are not nearly as organized as the photo at the top of my blog, nevertheless, they are structured. And I can move them around if I decide they need to be in a different place as I develop my plan for the future; hence the phrase, “some structure.” 🙂
I also believe we learn by using strategies others have developed that work for them. As I’ve mentioned before, I love reading. One book I’m currently reading The Next Generation Leader: 5 Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future by Andy Stanley.
I decided to use his strategy for organizing my vision. Stanley advises to dream a little. “Visions always seem unrealistic when they are first hatched. This is a vision, not a plan.” Then he provides some strategies for your dreaming. I’ll share two of his strategies.
Strategy One: Organize Your Vision into Categories
I want you to read his book, so I’m not going to tell you everything he recommends. But I will share what categories I focused on today for my vision:
- My family life
- My job at Bethel University
- My writing career
Strategy Two: Ask Questions
You have to ask yourself questions and not just any questions, but specific questions.
Three questions I asked myself regarding each of the three categories:
- What competence do I have in each of these areas?
- What is it that only I can do in each of these areas?
- What makes the biggest difference in each of these areas?
Focusing on my own abilities, talents, and passions, I began writing the answers in my personal journal.
I’m not finished with dreaming about my vision. I have a lot of questions to answer before I will know what specific next steps I’m to take. But it’s exciting to be doing the dreaming, which will lead to my doing the vision.
I believe God places passions and talents inside each of us when He creates us. I believe He wants us to grow and develop those for His glory and to bless others. I believe He wants us to dream and make plans. I also believe the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 16:9) It gives me great hope and peace to know He’s part of the strategy.
My Encouragement for You:
- Start being intentional about dreaming about your vision for your life.
- Start implementing a strategy to structure your dream into plans.
- Ask yourself questions that will help you discover the answers you are seeking about your life’s direction. Then, start doing some of those answers.
- Use post-it notes to help provide structure because that’s one of my personal strategies I know works for me.
Your life matters, which means your vision matters. Start dreaming about yours!
Michelle, I needed to read this today! Thank you for your encouragement to be intentional about dreaming and the vision for where my life could go! Sometimes I have guilt about this as if I need to help everyone else in their goals but somehow it’s bad for me to have my own. Saying “no” to someone in order to pursue what I think might be God-given dreams seems selfish, but I’ve also found I can’t rescue everyone (God’s job), and I only get resentful when I’ve forgotten how to dream. I might have to try your post-it notes strategy!
Pearl, I understand exactly what you are saying. Years ago I struggled dreaming about my own life’s goals. Surrounded by children and wanting them to grow and develop, well, enveloped me. I kind of lost who I was for a few years. Then one day, God let me see a sneak peak into the vision He had for me. I know I’ll write about that one day. I do encourage you to set some “unselfish” time for your own dreaming. God wants you to do that too. I’ve discovered there is a connection between our own vision and others’ visions. I love that! I also really think it’s super cool how we’re both writers and have met each other through our writing. So, yes, get some post-it notes out and start dreaming! I look forward to hearing about what you discover.