VISION

POSITIVELY TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE

Let’s face it!  You’ve come to the stark realisation that your life, at the moment, is not quite working out the way in which you would have liked.  You, therefore, appear to be stuck in a proverbial ‘rut’.

SO, where exactly are you on this journey of life and, more to the point, where would you rather be?   

As you contemplate those questions, it may become apparent that the trajectory of your life needs to change.  Why? Simply because positive, successful, transformation, is your goal; To coin a phrase, ‘if you continue to do what you’ve always done, the way you’ve always done them, the results will always be the same.’  So, let’s turn the tables.  Let’s begin by visualising and deciding to take the necessary steps to fulfilling those deepest desires.

DARE TO DREAM

What are YOU happy about?  Let’s be specific. What do you DREAM about? Think! Now I’m not asking you to think about what you remember ‘seeing’ whilst you were asleep last night or, indeed last week. I’m asking you about what or whom, you dream of or, have been dreaming about, becoming. In other words – What is the VISION you have for your life? 

In fact, do you actually have a VISION or, are you content with being right where you are at this very moment? If you are, then of course, that’s fine.  However, if you are not, then perhaps now is the time for you to begin your journey of transformation, bearing in mind the fact that nothing will change for the better until you start.

As I reflected on those very questions, not too long ago, I remembered the following words of the song, ‘Happy Talk’, from the classic 1958 American romantic musical film, South Pacific:

‘Happy talk, keep talkin’ happy talk, talk about things you’d like to do.
You got to have a dream, If you don’t have a dream,

how you gonna have a dream come true?

‘Talk about the moon, floatin’ in the sky, lookin’ like a lily on the lake.
Talk about a bird, learnin’ how to fly, makin’ all the music he can make.

Happy talk, keep talkin’ happy talk, talk about things you’d like to do.
You got to have a dream, if you don’t have a dream,

how you gonna have a dream come true?’

Talk about the star, lookin’ like a toy, Peekin’ through the branches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy, countin’ all the ripples on the sea.

Happy talk, keep talkin’ happy talk, talk about things you’d like to do.
You got to have a dream, If you don’t have a dream,

how you gonna have a dream come true.’

ENCAPSULATE THE VISION

Oh the power of the imagination! According to Dr Seuss ‘you have brains in your head, feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.’

You see, visualisation is key in enabling you to ‘see’ where you’d would rather be before it is actually manifested.   This necessitates positive action on your part, involving your surrounding yourself with images of your VISION, to give you clarity as to the ‘tug’ on your heart.  So, in answer to your questions, which I am glad you asked, ‘What do I do, or where do I start?’ Here are some answers:

1. Get yourself a beautiful A5 spiral bound notebook.  Make sure it’s very pretty to look at on the outside. You’ll be surprised at how you will be inspired to write in it, if that is the case. Trust me – it works. 
2. Set aside at least ten to fifteen minutes every day, for the next 6 days, wherein you sit quietly, with no distractions, to simply think, imagine or ‘dream’ about your future.  As you go through each day, write down your dreams. Try to come up with a list of at least twenty things you would like to do every day.  THINK BIG and BE INTENTIONAL. Really engage your imagination, as you ask yourself these ‘hard’ questions over those six days:
3. What do I really want?
4. How am I feeling right at this very moment?
5. How do I want to feel?
6. What makes me happy?
7. Where do I want to go?
8. What do I want to do?
9. What was I born to do in this world?

It’s all about being still and ‘dreaming’ intentionally about your deepest desires; Capture them all or, as many as you possibly can.  You will then be ready to take the next step on your journey to positive life transformation. Just in case you are tempted to procrastinate, just take a moment to think on the following words spoken by Mary Kay Ash:

 ‘There are three types of people in this world:

1. Those who make things happen.

2. Those who watch things happen.

3. Those who wonder what happened’.

Now just in case you are thinking, as you read this, that you are too old to dream, let’s just get one important thing out of the way before we continue.  Regardless of your situation, whatever your age or, whatever you may have experienced:

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DREAM OR TO EVEN SET A GOAL!

Forget about the pessimists and the cynics – the naysayers, if you will, who may try to discourage you.  Success IS within your grasp. There are many people on planet earth who have become hugely successful at an age or time in their lives, when they thought it was not possible.

For Example:

One of the highest-grossing actors of all time is Samuel  L. Jackson. He starred in more than 100 movies. Interestingly, Samuel took an interest in drama back in his early 20’s.  However, he only became world famous when he was 46, for his outstanding role in the film Pulp Fiction.

Best known for his role in Harry Potter, actor actor Alan Rickman, started his career in a completely different field. Before his days as a famous actor, he pursued a career in graphic design. He even opened a graphic design studio called ‘Graphiti’.  At the age of 26, however, Rickman decided to become an actor and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His talents were recognized only after starring in “Die Hard’ in 1988, when he was 42 years old. His fame skyrocketed when he portrayed Severus Snape, in the first movie of the Harry Potter Series in 2001, when he was 55.

A story worth telling is that of millionaire, Chris Gardner,  Before his story was shared with the world, however, he was living on the streets with his young son.  At the time, he was trying to pursue a career in finance, despite not having any experience, whatsoever, in that field or even a college degree.  He received a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training programme but could not afford to live off of the small salary.  Consequently, his wife eventually left him. 

The movie, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ starring Will Smith, is based on Chris Gardner’s life.  Additionally, Gardner has two New York Times bestselling books to his credit: his autobiography, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’  and ‘Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.’

Today, Gardner is a motivational speaker and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Now, let’s not forget:  Sam Walton, who founded Wal-Mart at the age of 44;

Walt Disney, who opened  a theme park in Anaheim, California called DISNEYLAND at the age of 53;

Winston Churchill, who became Britain’s Prime Minister at the age of 65;

Granma Moses, who began her famous career as a serious painter at the age of 78;

Gwen Ffangcon-Davies,  the British actress who appeared in the Sherlock Holmes Movie, ‘The Master Blackmailer at the age of 100.

Talk about success – despite age and adversity!

Today is a new day.  Just remember, if you do not know where you are headed, then any road will take you there!  In fact, I’ve heard it said that ‘complacency is the greatest enemy of possibility.’ 

SO, what do you have the impudence, if you will, to imagine?

Why not begin to create a VISION for your life. 

Start by doing the following exercise.

• Think about your purpose; this creates imagination and will pull you into the future.
• Go after good ideas – use your imagination and imagine BIG.
• Ask yourself the following questions and write down your answers:
  • Do I like what I am doing now?
  • What would I like to do – What am I really passionate about?
  • Can I actually do what I would like to do?
  • What is it that I love so much that I can do very well, effortlessly and would do for nothing, if given the opportunity?
  • Do I know why I would like to do what I would like to do?

This is what helped me, which I firmly believe will help you too, on your journey to transformation. Your success is dependent on your facing the hard facts. Additionally, you cannot win if you do not begin, so find or make the circumstances which will help you to make that start.