Ideals & Future Picture
The ability to be introspective is often reflected in greater emotional intelligence. Observing how you are feeling, and then considering how others might be feeling, creates empathy. Done consistently, these principles work equally well on the home front as they do at work, eliminating a lot of the niggly miscommunications. A friend of mine, who made a deliberate effort to apply these principles, shared that his wife joked he had finally worked out that no-one in the family had ESP! He was communicating better, assuming less and having realistic expectations.
Relationships are foundational to much of what we do with our lives. When these are healthy, they allow you to dream and imagine with more freedom. There is power in having and pursuing ideals and aspirations—these give you purpose. Having an ideal to aspire to is like a desired picture of the future, a vision that pulls you forward. There are many different ways to help you look ahead. One approach is to write your own eulogy as a way of projecting yourself toward the end of your life, enabling you to look back and see the impact you made. When creating your future picture, I encourage you to dream big.
Have you ever set a vision and then found it years later? People often share that, when they review old lists and vision documents, they are surprised by how much they have achieved. I came across one I wrote some time ago. I identified three big things. First, I will have exceptional relationships with the people that matter to me and positively impact their lives. Second, I will share my skills and knowledge with people, especially those who are less fortunate and don’t have as much access to education and resources, and through this, I will help the current and next generation to be better off. Third, I will excel at whatever task I decide to put my energies toward, bringing the very best of myself every day, setting an example for those around me, and inspiring others to bring out the best in themselves.
Reading that now, I am reminded of how lost I felt when I wrote it, and that, while I have accomplished much of what was on the list, some of my ideals are a journey more than a destination. Many people struggle to become who they could be because they fail to do the uncomfortable work of clearly defining who they want to be and where they want to be in three, five, 10, or 50 years. When you are clear on who you want to be, prioritizing and decision-making become much easier. This expands the initial question into actions because what you do needs to align with who you want to be. When you act with integrity toward your ideals, it feeds into your self-esteem, self-worth, and self-efficacy.
Clarity equals action. When you can create a future picture that is appealing enough, it will pull you forward. This picture will look different for everyone, but the feeling is similar—it gives hope. Hope is powerful.
I have found that clarity makes a difference. It has made me more aware, and I find myself reflecting and checking if what I am doing aligns with who I want to be.
Without an ideal aspiration, it is easy to lose motivation and get caught up in the minutiae of life. This can amplify problems, creating a mirage where it is easy to get lost in busyness, and it creates the perfect environment for distractions that can easily blow you off course. Clarity enables easier course correction, helping you stay on track toward your desired destination. I marvel at the courage and clarity of the sailors who set out to discover the ‘new world,’ heading into uncharted waters with the confidence that, by following the stars and their compass, they would find land. Even though they were surrounded by nothing but water as far as the eye could see, they had hope—based on their ability to chart a course and correct it as needed. They knew they were not going around in circles.
A clear idea of what you want to achieve, even when the details are unknown, provides a guide for your daily decision-making. There is power in hope and aspirations—are you clear on yours?
