Importance of Envisioning

What is?vision?

We use vision to perceive things in the world when we interact with it, like when we see a chair. But that is not how our brain works; when we encounter a chair, we see a surface where we can sit on. This is because we perceive the world as tools and obstacles, rather than mere objects.

But that is not the only vision we have at our disposal. We also possess the ability to see and envision the possibility of the future that has not yet manifested. We have the ability to create multiverses in our minds in which we can try out the different possibilities and let those thoughts die instead of us.

This is also what separates us, humans, from animals. Because animals don’t have this visionary ability, they just live in the moment. For example, a group of giraffes don’t see the problem of drinking from a river next to sleeping lions; there is no threat now, so why not? But we can see that the Lions could wake up and devour us, and so we rather sacrifice today’s water for the possibility of seeing tomorrow. In a sense, we negotiate with the future because we give up today, and in return, we get to live and have water later.

You can see the future as chaos, That which is uncertain. It is the infinity that surrounds us, the possibility for multiple pathways. Then you have the present which is the now, where the future becomes actuality. And at last, you have the past which is fixed, unchanging, and set in stone. The future is constrained by the past, but you cannot use the same map that guided you through the past, in the present to guide you in the future. Because the future is different from the past, in many ways.

Thus vision is a plan that orients us in the world and the possible futures that could manifest and are constantly manifesting themselves.

Why have a?vision?

You need a vision and a plan to know where you are headed, and to determine the actions to take, as those actions compound like interest over time. If a person has no plan, it doesn’t mean they have no plans at all; rather, it means they have bad plans. These plans are often based on unconscious, narrow-minded, moment-to-moment desires.

The issue with such plans, in the long run, is the lack of coherence between the actions that have compounded. This will eventually lead to actions that contradict each other and or result in anxiety.

Because there is no overarching vision, plan, or goal for the long term, life will slowly lose hope and positive emotion. How can anyone feel hopeful without aiming towards a higher goal? Or experience lasting positive emotions if they pursue nothing that is worth long-term effort or has meaning?

This is why it is important to have a vision. It prevents aimlessness and hopelessness. Furthermore pursuing something meaningful and aligned with your vision brings about positive emotions and gives life meaning and purpose.

What does A proper vision look?like?

A good question that clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan B. Peterson often uses in his lectures is:

If I could have what I wanted what would that be?

While asking yourself this question genuinely wanting the answer, beware of which “I” responses. because if it is the I of the moment, the one that guides giraffes through life. You get your wants of the moment, the wants that sacrifice tomorrow for today. And if you do that in a span of a lifetime your life will degenerate in slow micro steps. it is like slowly walking towards a cliff, well aware of the dangers, and still walking off it, repeating it every day and falling further each day. Wanting to party & drink every day, sit on your phone every day, gaming every day, and so on we all know that it will end negatively. And it will end, better now than later.

So you need the I that envisions responding, the one that sacrifices time spent doing something worthwhile. that adds meaning, that will give purpose in multiple aspects of your life. for example let’s take your family, who do you want to be for your family? What kind of bond do you want with them? how much time do you want to spend? an hour a week? a day a week? Who do you want your relationship to be with your parents?

Thus a proper vision will aim towards things that you find meaningful and give you purpose as that is what will enrich your life if you get it right and fixed. It will Sustain you when the hardships of life knock on the door, as they will do eventually.

How to develop a?vision?

Develop the playing field:

First, we are going to set the playing field by writing two types of visions. In one of the visions, you are going to write about what would happen if the worst part of you got grip of your life for many years. In the other, you are going to write about what would happen if the best part of you got a grip of your life for many years.

This creates a line with two possibilities at each end, life at its worst and life at its best. By vividly envisioning these extremes, you gain insight into the potential futures that surround you, and it gives you a clear idea of what actions aim upwards or downwards.

You can do this by asking yourself.

What would happen if all the worst got the hand of me, how would life look like?

What would happen if all the best got the hand of me, how would life look like?

Write the answer out in detail, What would your career look like? your family and friends? intimate relationships? Don’t hold back and be truthful with yourself.

Develop the vision:

Now that you have set up the playing field, we can create a vision. As you can see, the vision is sub-categorized. If you have other categories, do add them, but this is not a bad start.

We’ll start with the pinnacle of the Pyramid. The highest good is that you put higher than yourself. To most religious people, it is God. But even if you claim to be an atheist, you have something at that pinnacle, and it is best to find out the essence at the base of the pyramid. As that will point towards that pinnacle and shape what it is. You wouldn’t want false gods.

Then you have the purpose of your life. This can be hard to articulate. It is what drives you, what motivates you, and is very much shaped by the life you choose to live. It is the colors in a painting.

The third layer is an intimate relationship. It is probably the most important decision we have to make in life, as it will contain 70% of our happiness in life or 70% of our misery in life. So choose wisely and carefully.

The first question you need the answer to is, what do you want? Then a great question is, what do I need to become to attract the person that I want? And if you have a relationship, what do you want it to look like? How do you want to be greeted when you are home? How do you want dinner to go? When do you discuss the practical and necessary parts of life? These things seem insignificant, but my opinion is that the things you do every day shape your life together. So get them fixed and negotiate a shared vision together that both parties agree and want.

Then we have family & friends. How many times do you want to see them? What kind of friends do you want? What kind of relationship do you want with your parents? What kind of relationship do you want with your kids? Your family is the backbone of your life; some are assigned to you, some you choose. And it is better to have a good, deep bond with these people.

Then you have a job or career. What interests you? What do you want to earn? What is your plan of attack to professionally grow? Do you want to start a business, and if so, what kind of business? What position do you want to have?

Education is one of the most important aspects of navigating through life. What interests you? Perhaps reading a book, taking a course, or listening to a podcast? Continuously learning keeps our brains sharp and adaptable, especially as we age. It reduces ignorance and equips us with the skills needed to solve life’s challenges. So, establish a vision for your education.

Lastly, consider your free time. What do you want it to look like? What are your passions? Do you enjoy music or working on projects? Or perhaps spending time with family? Identify hobbies that truly bring you joy.

So Developing and articulating a vision for each area of your life gives you a clear goal to strive for. But just remember not to be like a giraffe, focusing only on immediate desires. Instead, consider the bigger picture and make choices that align with your long-term goals.

Remarks

In my experience, developing a vision has been crucial. For example, I’m currently in my exam year and preparing to move out soon to study mechatronics. At 18 years old, it’s a big decision, and a lot can go wrong. So, to ensure that I succeed, developing a realistic vision of what life will look like, what it could look like, was essential. And so many other aspects of my very young life have improved tremendously as a result of developing a vision. Now, the most important part is to aim towards it and put in the work.

Thank you for reading! I hope developing a vision adds to your life as it has added to mine.

And if there is anything I can improve in my writing I would love to hear!

Sources

The bulk of this information about developing a vision is derived from the lecture series “Vision and Destiny” by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. If you enjoyed this read, I highly recommend watching this amazing lecture series.