“Find your vision, and let it guide you in all that you do. If you lack vision, look inside yourself. Draw on your natural gifts and desires.” – John C. Maxwell
What Is A Personal Vision Statement?
Do you have a personal vision statement for your life? In Habakkuk 2:2, it talks about writing the vision and making it plain. While we usually think of vision statements as something that’s used by businesses and other organizations as a way to clearly to communicate their mission, values, and goals to employees, shareholders, and other parties, vision statements can also be used by individuals.
The goal of a vision statement is to help guide the decision-making process in order for businesses or individuals to reach their goals without neglecting their values or purpose.
A personal vision statement is nearly identical to one used for a business but is directed toward a single individual and his or her life. It encompasses one’s values, goals, and purpose in life. As a Christian, these values will most likely be based on scriptures. It may also include a statement of the lifetime impact you wish to have on the world.
The overwhelming majority of research on organizational business statements shows that they are effective in helping keep an organization on track and aligned with its values. Less research has been done on personal vision statements, but so far it looks like they have the same effect on individuals when created and used properly.
Personal vision statements tend to be short, sometimes only a few sentences long and can include both personal and professional goals. They can include a list of some deeply held personal values and can be either kept private or made public.
Some of the most successful and famous people in the world have or had personal vision statements. Sir Richard Branson, Maya Angelou, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Amanda Steinberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Mahatma Gandhi are just a few examples. Each of these people used or use their personal vision statements to guide their lives.
You don’t have to be famous, a hero, or a CEO to create and use your own personal vision statement. Many people do it. Millions of people around the world in every walk of life from students to farmers to artists use a vision statement to guide their daily lives.
While it takes some thought and effort to create your own personal vision statement, it’s not hard to do and you don’t need any special help or expertise. All you need is commitment and a willingness to do the work to craft it. After it’s finished, all you need is a determination to use it to guide your life.
The remainder of this article will be devoted to exploring the benefits of personal vision statements and teaching you how to create your own.
The Benefits of Creating a Personal Vision Statement
You might be wondering why you should go to the effort of creating a personal vision statement, especially if you’re already driven and goal-oriented, and use the Bible as your guidepost. What’s in it for you? Will the benefits outweigh the time and effort?
Personal vision statements offer many benefits to the people who use them. Here are a few.
It gives you a sense of direction
A personal vision statement will provide you with a sense of direction, of knowing where you are right now and where you’re trying to go. This motivates you and makes your work feel meaningful. This is something most humans crave, especially in a world as chaotic as the one we’re in right now.
If you start to feel lost or rudderless, all you have to do is look at your vision statement to help you get back on track. This is an important psychological benefit -don’t underestimate it!
It helps motivate you
Motivation isn’t something you feel all the time. It comes and it goes. Sometimes you’ll be more motivated than others. Sometimes you won’t want to work on your goals at all, either because you’re too busy or you’re frustrated at a lack of progress.
Lack of motivation is where discipline becomes important but getting your motivation back is also an important objective.
Personal vision statements can provide that motivation when it’s lagging, giving you that extra “oomph” you need to keep pushing and get yourself over the finish line when times are tough.
It provides a framework for decision-making
Making decisions is part of being an adult and sometimes it becomes hard to make decisions that keep us moving forward towards where we want to be in life and that are aligned with our Christian values.
A personal vision statement can provide a framework to help you evaluate your choices, especially when it comes to difficult decisions. Which options move you towards accomplishing your next goal? Which will move you further away from it? Which ones would let you stay true to your values?
This helps take the stress out of decision-making and lets you make decisions that will help you succeed.
It helps you stay on track
For example, one of my goals is to provide biblically-aligned tools, tips, and information to help people succeed. Sometimes I get opportunities to promote items or services that have nothing to do with my goals. For example, selling equipment to commercial fishermen.
Having a written personal vision statement allows you to plan the most efficient course to reach your goals. It’ll give you the clarity of when to say “yes” or “no” to things based on your own personal values and vision. It also helps you to spot potential hazards or roadblocks before you’re impacted by them.
Here are the rest of the articles in this series:
11 Examples of Personal Vision Statements
How to Write Your Own Personal Vision Statement
Step 2: What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Discovering Your Core Values: Finishing Your Personal Vision
*This article comes from a free PLR (private label rights, editable) pack of 7 Articles and 7 Emails, on topics such as: The Benefits of Creating a Personal Vision Statement, Examples of Personal Vision Statements, What Are Your Goals? etc. Creating a Personal Vision Statement