... I hear it echoing over and over again in the stairwells of the continuing education industry. With shining, wide-open eyes, people describe their vision of the future. But what is a vision? How do hallucinations, illusions, psychedelic dreams, and desires differ from a real, tangible vision?
We can learn what constitutes a vision from visionaries. The father of vision is arguably Mahatma Gandhi. His vision was: I will liberate India without violence. Van Gogh was determined to paint "the perfect picture," and Steve Jobs wanted to "make a dent in the universe." Alexander the Great, Leonardo da Vinci, Abraham Lincoln, Marie Curie, Peter Drucker—examples from various fields who wanted to create groundbreaking things and turn the world upside down. They dedicated their lives to their visions—and sometimes even sacrificed their lives for them.
Do you have a dream that every cell in your body cries out to fulfill?
Even though you know it will take all your strength to experience what you can currently only vaguely imagine? Would you sacrifice your heart and soul for it? Would you give everything for it? Do you know deep down that nothing and no one will stop you? Congratulations! You have a vision.
But how many people do you know who have a vision? And how many people do you know who talk about visions? The fact is, a vision can be recognized by its results. By its impact. Wishes are revealed by declarations of intent. By subjunctive moods. "We should ... We ought to ... We need ... You could ..." Talking about visions is one thing. Being a visionary is something else entirely.
Visions as hype
Where does all this hype about visions come from? Of course, a vision unleashes incredible power. Hordes of coaches repeat the mantra of the necessity of a vision. They drum into others that the power of a great idea alone will give them seven-league boots, making the path to their goal a brisk stroll. However, when you look at their own results, they reflect anything but a vision. Nevertheless, vision finding has become a lucrative business model.
We know the scenario: in order to find a vision, the leadership elite retreats to their Mount Sinai. They refine the Ten Commandments and carve them in stone. Afterwards, the apparent vision is communicated "top down" in workshops, published on the Internet, and displayed in picture frames. But it is rarely actually implemented. It almost seems that the more people talk about the vision, the less it is lived. And since goals are no longer so sexy, people like to talk about visions. They have something magical about them. Goals, on the other hand, have become far too boring. But that is precisely the mistake. Making goals sexy is the art!
Step by step toward the goal
"Even the longest journey begins with a single step," says Lao Tzu. Anyone who dismisses this phrase, which has become a calendar saying, as superficial is greatly mistaken. For it contains a profound insight. Lao Tzu names both: the longest journey (goal – overview) and the step (here and now – detail). He gives us clear guidance: know where your path should lead and look ahead at the path. Like the well-known story of the grandmother who – fulfilling her childhood dream – walked from San Francisco to New York and said, "I just took the next step."
Goals can inspire your steps, but you still have to take them one at a time. If you find a vision along the way, thank God. Because that is reserved for only a few. And these people certainly don't need to talk about it. Because their vision becomes visible through their actions. And if you don't have a vision? Don't worry. Hardly anyone has one, even though many talk about it. You are already at a great advantage if you have clear, inspiring goals. That's enough. Because, as former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt so aptly put it with a wink: "Anyone who has visions should go to the doctor."
Yours, Boris Grundl
Are you looking for more inspiration?
Take a look at Facebook or the video blog "Grundl's Reasons." Here, Boris Grundl examines current topics from different perspectives. Always with the question: "What can I take away from this topic for myself and my life?" In the video "International Day of Forgiveness," for example, Boris Grundl talks about the distinctionbetween"forgiving yourself vs. forgiving others."
Everyone carries burdensome issues with them and faces the challenge of having to forgive themselves and others. But forgiveness is difficult. We must first intellectually recognize which issues are weighing us down. The more challenging part, however, is to acknowledge these issues emotionally. Become aware of the people you hold grudges against and how this weighs on you. To cope with this process, you must learn to forgive yourself and others—without having to agree with everything. Boris Grundl shows you how he manages to resolve burdensome issues. Only then can you become emotionally freer.
Image source: © DariuszSankowski Pixabay
