Vision: What You See That Others Don’t

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”_Hellen Keller

Creating a clear vision is essential to a meaningful life.

A good first step to creating a great success is to create a ‘vision for one’s life.’ 

With a clear vision, we can create extra-ordinary result in the future. Without it, mediocrity will take over by default; as the old scripture says: ‘Without vision, we die.’

Envisioning is important because the amount of one’s endurance and the intensity of one’s focus are directly proportionate to the clarity of one’s vision.

However, envisioning is not a onetime thing that we do and forget about completely; it is something that we do continuously.  It is something we need to cultivate in our hearts every single day. 

This is the secret of true champions as the American former boxer and three-time Heavyweight Champion, Muhammad Ali once said:

“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them— a desire, a dream, a vision.”

Having a vision is about massively focusing on a promise, a principle, and the future. In this direction, James Allen inspires further when he said:

 “Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.”

The author of a perennial bestseller, ‘Think and Grow Rich,’ Napoleon Hill put it this way: “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” For a great thing to happen, we have to picture it first in our mind, and then act faithfully towards its realization on until it is achieved. 

Indeed, our lifestyle can instantly take a new dimension when we populate our minds with lofty ideals and commit to making them happen every day.

Resolve to Stay True to Your Vision

When overwhelming difficulties arise—as they must— don’t give in to despair and never give up on your keenest vision. Be reminded that many icons in history went through the toughest of challenges before they could realize the deepest desires of their hearts. 

More than anything else, what kept them going was a firm belief they had in their vision, a massive focus they placed on their goals, and most significantly, an unshakable resolve they relentlessly nurtured to stay true to their dream. 

In pursuant of their resolute vision, they set and lived by higher standards than everyone else. They lived their lives on purpose; they lived not by whim but by design. Thus, they were not blocked from success by difficult circumstances but they were led to greatness by strong personal decisions.

One of those icons was Walt Disney, the founder of The Walt Disney Company.

Walt Disney built an impressive empire with the supreme force of his vision. As he later commented: “This whole thing was started with a dream.”

Even though he had to face the crippling challenges of bankruptcy and betrayal, he was so driven to succeed that he stared down ‘fatalities’ with a formidable force of his shining vision. 

As Disney demonstrated with his life, when you are possessed by a great vision, you can become almost invincible.

Along these lines, Adam and Matthew Toren share great insights in their book: ‘Small Business, Big Vision: Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right.’ 

To rekindle our fighting spirit, they counsel as follows:

“If you're having trouble staying motivated, do whatever you need to do to recapture that original feeling you had when the spark first hit and your vision was crystal clear. 

Remembering that moment—and, most importantly, reestablishing that frame of mind—will get you through any challenge you face.

 No matter what the world throws at you, you do have the power to push through.

So don't let anything or anyone get between you and your big vision!”

By remaining faithful to our vision through sincere effort to live each day with diligence, discipline and purpose, we can be confident that the best years of our lives are yet to come—no matter the degree of our success, right now.

Remember, being faithful to our vision is about doing what we can with what we have at the moment.

It is about asking ourselves this question, each day: 

“What one step can I take this day to move me an inch closer towards turning my vision into a reality?”

It is about accepting the fact that circumstances will test our nerve, that unforeseen trials will test our mettle; that life will assess the strength of our determination.

It is about knowing that we, therefore, must take 100% responsibility for our ultimate outcome, no matter what happens—even when it is far easier to give up, to give in or to feel sorry for ourselves.

If we apply this every time we hit a wall of hindrances and hurdles, we will remain strong to fight through to the top.