Sis, what’s your vision? Better yet, do you even have a vision for your life? If you don’t, you should. When I say your, I mean just that – your vision. I’m not talking about someone else’s vision that you’re copying because it looks good. The truth is, if it’s not your vision you’ll quit when times get tough (and trust me, they will). Many of the challenges we face as Black women make it hard to envision the future because most of us are just fighting to get through the day. It’s hard to think about your future when you’re worried about inflation, the cost of housing going up, etc. Honestly, I believe this system is designed to keep us distracted and disoriented so we can’t focus on our futures.
In order for you to direct your life on the path you want, you have to be a visionary. Visionary may sound like a lofty, out of reach title, but it’s not. You too can be a visionary. You have to be. If you’re unwilling to be the visionary of your own life the greater society has a future already picked out for you. And trust me, it’s probably not anything you want. A visionary is simply someone with original ideas about what the future could or will be. You don’t have to have all the details or everything figured out, but you need to have an idea for where you want your life to go. So again, I ask, Sis, what’s your vision?
See It
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18). Before you can pursue your life’s vision you first have to see it. In a previous post I talked about the importance of making time to dream (you can read it here). Before any of us can create something in the physical world it first starts as an idea, which we later bring to life.
Personally, I believe two things keep us from having vision – distractions and fear. Every day we’re faced with so many distractions that it’s impossible to envision the future unless we’re deliberate about making time to do so. Make regular time in your schedule to visualize your future.
Secondly, I believe many of us are afraid to visualize our future. Many of us are too afraid to dream big. We don’t “see” how we can accomplish our lofty visions with our current resources. This is where our faith has to be greater than our fear. I’m not trying to tell you about something I haven’t lived; everything I write about comes from my own personal experience. My faith in God has brought me to where I am now – working the job of my dreams while I build Nzuri Noire. Where I am now isn’t the end of the road for me. God has given me a vision much greater than where I am now. I firmly believe that God won’t give you a vision He doesn’t intend to help you fulfill. So stop being fearful and have the faith to pursue your vision.
Plan for It
Once you have a vision, you have to plan for it. Your vision isn’t going to create itself. You have to create a plan for how you intend to bring your vision to life. And no, you don’t have to have the details worked out, but you should have a roadmap on how you intend to bring your vision to reality. If your vision is to start a media company, you need to learn and understand how the media business operates. If you plan to retire to the Caribbean, you need to understand what your cost of living will be and how to purchase property there. Once you have a vision you have to have a plan to bring that vision to life.
Write It Down
“Write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2. Once you have the vision and the plan, write it down. No matter how good your memory is, please don’t trust the intricate details of your life’s vision to your memory. Why? It’s too important. Also, as time goes on you’ll find that you’ll need to add to or modify parts of your plan. It’s easy to make adjustments when you’ve written everything down. It’s also important to be able to go back and visibly see your vision when you hit those inevitable low moments along the way. See it. Plan it. Write it down.
Execute It
Now that you have your vision, you’ve planned it and written it down, it’s time to execute it. Your vision will not come to reality unless you execute your plan. Period. All your planning and writing means nothing until you put that plan to work. Faith without works is dead.
Make the Adjustments
While you’re working your plan, you’re most likely going to have to make adjustments. Even the best-laid plans aren’t perfect. There will also be situations out of your control that will cause you to adjust your plans. At the end of the day, it’s about the what (vision), not the how (plan). Also, don’t be afraid to start over if need be. Your vision is worth it.
Mind Your Surroundings
Once you’ve got your vision and are executing your plan, be sure you mind your surroundings. You have to be careful about the people, places and things you allow around you and your vision. Your vision is too important to allow negative people and things around it. Negativity, especially in the early stages of your vision, is dangerous. Negativity kills young visions all the time. Protect your vision. It’s too important and precious to allow the wrong people and places to snuff it out.
See It Through ‘Til the End
Finally, be so committed to your vision that you’re willing to see it through ‘til the end, no matter what. Your vision has to be that important to you that when you hit hard spots and obstacles, you won’t throw in the towel and walk away.
Sis, what’s your vision? Have you written it down? Are you executing your plan? Drop a comment below.