Your Personal Vision Statement

Hello, there! We are at the top of another month, so it’s time to spend some time together.

With everything in such disruption right now, it’s more important than ever to define our values, our mission, and our vision. Not just for our work, but for who we are. This is a marathon relay race. We all have different roles to play, and we need to step in and step up for each other and let each other rest and restore.

Part of figuring out what you can do and where you fit in is your personal vision statement. This does not ever have to be something you share with anyone else, or you can proudly shout it from the rooftops. This is absolutely for you, your starting point, your foundation.

This is also a living document, and will grow and change as you do.

Why does this matter, especially if you choose not to share it? Because it gives you a sense of what matters to you, a sense of clarity, and that will help you navigate decisions, opportunities, and challenges. The word “authentic” has become overused market-speak. I think of it as connecting to my genuine self. And that self grows and changes, hopefully for the better, though knowledge and experience.

We’ll still make some bad choices, but then we can learn and do better as we know better.

How do you create this statement?

Take time. A few hours, a few days, a few weeks. Write about what your ideal life looks, feels, smells like. Put in as much sensory detail. Nothing is too silly. It’s supposed to be fun, and make you feel grounded and happy.

Once you have that written up, think about what would allow you to live that life. Money is, of course, part of it, and part of our current trauma. There’s a lot of uncertainty around our money right now, and that has a domino effect on other parts of our stability.

The systems we live under have a lot to do with how we live our lives. We like to think we can just ignore them and trot along, doing what we do, but that’s not an option, especially right now. We have the social contracts with the people around us, and then the more systemic contracts. Where are those working, and where are they not? How can we change them?

It’s easy to say, “we can’t.” It’s stronger to dig a little deeper, and find small things that we can do in our daily lives that create a positive ripple effect, and then add up to big changes. There are people who are in a position and have the resources to do Big Things. But each of us has the power to do small things each day to make the world around us better, even in times of chaos, and to progress toward the life we want.

What are you able to do, on physical, psychological, and creative levels? Notice I don’t say “emotional” because our emotions are likely to be all over the place. Acknowledging those emotions, even as they fluctuate, is vital to our well-being. Acknowledge, name, release.

You can remain aware of what’s going on around you, but you also stay clear-headed so that you can make decisions. You figure out trustworthy sources, you talk to your neighbors, and you live your life as best you can, making small adjustment to make each day better. You ride your elected officials, daily, if need be. We all have 15 minutes a day to contact our 2 senators and 1 representative.

All the elements of our lives are connected. How we live our lives influences the way we create, the professions we choose, the businesses we build, or how we fit into someone else’s business. If we are in conflict between our personal values and how we have to navigate the world, that frisson will eventually cause cracks, both mentally and physically. Sometimes we make small concessions that turn us into boiled frogs. Once you realize that, you can turn things in a better direction.

We might long for others to take bold actions to make us feel safe. But we need to show up for ourselves and each other in small, daily increments in alignment with our values. Taking small actions is not passive; it’s building a strong foundation.

Take the next few weeks, and spend time each day on your personal vision statement. Hone it down to be a paragraph of active statements about your values. It will help clarify many details, large and small, and make a difference in how you navigate from here.

Peace, my friends.