The Importance of Vision

Vision

I've been thinking a lot about my life vision lately, and more specifically, about the concept of vision in general. Everything around us is rooted in vision. Just think: every building, work of art, idea, or concept in life is the result of vision and imagination. Everything you see in life is the product of someone’s imagination. Maybe not all of it is human imagination, but it is the imagination of some being or some power, and humans directly reflect that—at least, I believe so.

In that sense, the power of vision cannot be understated. It is immensely powerful for both the world and your personal life. That’s why I think about it so much. If you look around at life and feel a bit bleak about it, odds are, it is a result of the degradation of vision. One of the simplest examples I can think of is how mega-corporations drain the vision out of so many things. What once started as projects filled with exciting vision devolve into soulless voids of consumerism and profit. How many of you remember when fast food places actually had some life and, God forbid, color inside of them? Now, each building is transitioning into the same old drab, greyscale, corporatized design. That shift represents a lack of vision. It’s also a shift in focus to efficiency and profits at the expense of vision. It’s sinister because as we start to see more of those things around us, it can suck our vision out of us if we’re not mindful of it. A life without vision becomes difficult to live.

*One small example of this is the more vibrant and colorful interiors inside an old Taco Bell.*

Vision is so powerful in your personal life. You can use it to make art, find new people, places, and experiences, and create a beautiful life for yourself surrounded by things you love. Is that not the dream for all of us? If you understand the nature of life and desire, you could not ask for a better outcome. Honestly, it’s not even about the specific outcome or exactly how your vision unfolds, because it will probably be better than you expect, albeit different from what you had imagined. That makes it even more exciting, in my opinion.

One of the simplest ways to envision vision (hehe) is through art. Many things can be considered art, but when we consider creative vision, we usually think of artists in traditional mediums: music, painting, cinema, etc. These are people who have a vision in their head and bring it to life through their desired medium. That’s what life is all about. It’s about bringing the vision you have for your life to life itself. This does not only apply to these traditional artistic realms either. While those are particularly fulfilling and engaging, and I recommend everyone who has a passing interest in anything to try it, you can apply this to all realms of life. It can impact how you engage with family, friends, romantic relationships, career, community, environment, lifestyle, and so much more. The possibilities are endless. This may seem overwhelming at first, but let me delve deeper into some of the common pitfalls of vision and how to actually start making progress.

I am in this stage, and if you are alive, you likely are too. Some people are just a bit further along in bringing their life vision to life. That’s okay, because no matter where you are, if you have your health and well-being, you can do it too. If you don’t, you can reclaim those, and then move forward. Everyone is in a different spot, so there’s no productive use in comparison. We can all bring a little bit more of our vision to our lives regardless of what anyone else is doing. It is beautiful how we can inspire each other and our visions can interact to create harmony, connection, and beautiful creativity. However, that comes after some time and effort. Maybe not every single desire you have will be fulfilled, but it’s better than nothing at all. It’s always worth a shot when it comes to your vision.

Vision vs. Daydream/Fantasy

I have fallen into this trap a lot, particularly in my past. For example, I’ve always loved music and been an avid listener. I loved seeing my favorite artists fulfill their creative visions. I remember particularly, artistic music videos were so fascinating to me. Over time, I found myself driving to school or going about life, envisioning myself in my own music videos. I would have flashes of vision and creativity. However, I realized the difference between fulfilling your vision and daydream/fantasy is whether you are making some form of effort to fulfill the vision. It doesn’t have to be a super direct link to the vision either. You see, I had these flashes of images and creative sensations that I wanted to make a music video to, but did I even know how to make music? No. Now, in hindsight, it seems obvious, but I think a lot of us fall into this trap. I mean, how was I going to possibly make a music video without making music? I guess I could make one using someone else’s music, but I wanted it to have an element of my own music. So what did I have to work up the courage and skills to do? Start making music. I’m actively in this process now, and overtime as I continue to develop and build confidence for feedback and putting my music out there, the next natural step would be to film some shots using some of that creative vision I have stored for some of my favorite songs. Bam. Music video.

Now instead of a lingering unfulfilled daydream/fantasy, I’m on the track to actually fulfilling the vision. It’s not about the outcome or how popular it becomes or any other external factor, but it’s purely about the fact that I had a vision in my head and worked towards it. Some visions may take more time than others. There are slow-burn visions, and others can be fulfilled right away. Like, I’ve always wanted to write more in-depth about complex topics I think about, and so here I am doing it right now. As I’m writing, ironically about vision, I’m fulfilling a vision and going to put that vision into the world to express myself and hope that it resonates with someone who wants to or needs to read this. Maybe you just want to treat your loved ones better. You can envision what that looks like and go into your next interaction with openness and positivity. These are just some examples of how to implement more vision into your life.

Visualization and Anxiety

One phenomenon closely related to vision is visualization. It’s the mechanism through which an overall vision is carried out. Let’s say you love to help other people. You like how it makes you feel. Naturally, your next step would be to brainstorm the professions in which this desire can be fulfilled. It could be becoming a nurse, therapist, or first responder. The possibilities are endless. However, the only way to be able to see that as a potential is to visualize yourself living life in that role. Do you like what you see? Do you feel a sense of purpose or enjoyment while visualizing it? Using that vision as a guide will lead you to the profession that aligns with your overall vision for life. The only thing left to do is to operationalize and figure out the micro steps needed to get there. That part becomes not so daunting when your vision is inspiring you towards it. It’s like a natural pull that the universe helps make happen for you. Visualization is not only useful for big life decisions but also on a micro level.

For example, I used to deal with a lot of social anxiety. One of the best ways to combat that is to visualize yourself in a way that is not rooted in anxiety. Anxiety is a distortion of these visualization mechanisms where you start to envision the worst possible outcomes and fears. In that sense, your brain’s imagination is being used against you. It becomes black and white and completely misses shades of gray. Personally, I combat this by being aware of these anxious visualizations, letting them run their course, and redirecting my attention to other activities, tasks, and things to occupy my mind. It’s even better to get into my body through activities like hiking, basketball, or whatever floats your boat.

I will do a whole write-up about anxiety at some point, but this section is to illustrate that you have to be mindful of whether your visualizations are rooted in anxiety and fear vs. excitement and possibilities. Instead of letting your mind run amok, shortly before a social engagement, consciously sit down for a set period of time and envision the ways in which it can go well. Envision yourself talking to new people, enjoying conversations, feeling relaxed and open, regulating your breathing, and comforting your body in the moment. I will basically put myself in that open, relaxed, and regulated state, and visualize the situation making sure it’s either neutral or positive. The specifics are not really important. It’s more about the overall feeling. Heck, you can even visualize some negative outcomes, but just notice that you feel fine and your body feels fine. By doing that, you can be okay with awkwardness or even some tense interactions. They become something you can handle. More importantly, they become something you don’t feel as afraid of in your body and mind. This is a visualization not rooted in anxiety, but rooted in reality and an optimistic view.

Then you stop. You are in the desired state through visualization. The only thing left is to experience whatever that engagement is. It will absolutely be different than what you expect, however, since your visualization was balanced, you will realize that your state of mind in the experience will carry over. It will even likely turn out better than you expect, or at least on a more neutral level, but it very rarely turns out worse than that. And you play a role in making sure that doesn’t happen. Sure, you can’t control the external world, but you can control your reaction, perception, and how you respond to what’s going on around you. Therefore, you have some control over your experience, which goes from an anxious vision to a more open, relaxed, and positive one. It’s some powerful stuff that I recommend you try to implement. The key is to not go overboard and constantly visualize or turn this into a daydream or fantasy about what may happen. That starts going into the realm of inflated expectation, which often leads to some level of disappointment with reality. Grounded and balanced visualization is the key if you find yourself anxious about life. Use it as a tool in your arsenal. This is just one of many tactics to keep anxiety at bay, but you can read more about that in my in-depth posts about anxiety itself going forward. It’s a process that I am working through alongside you, so I hope anyone who feels similarly feels encouraged alongside me!

Imagining new ways of life and being:

Vision is essential to quell many of our societal ills. Many people have a dark vision of what life is or ought to be—a vision fueled by excessive greed, desire for power, and manipulation. If we allow these forces to dictate how we treat each other, we create a dysfunction-filled society. A vision inspired by connection, love, and positivity, while grounded in reality, is the only way to move forward as a species.

In that sense, how life is and the fabric of reality are dictated by whose vision is pushed to the forefront and allowed to permeate our lives. Be mindful of how much of your vision for life is rooted in darkness. We all have shadow selves and darker elements, but being aware of these, using them to understand others and life, accepting them, and moving forward with more light is the only remedy to what we see today. It starts on an individual level and spreads like a positive contagion to the overall health of society. Then you can meet like minded people who desire the same change as you. That’s where the magic happens. So, start within your sphere of influence, and don’t worry about what you can’t control.

The internet is an amazing tool, but if you browse enough, you know just how dark the deepest parts of the human mind can get. It’s why we’re so fascinated by serial killer documentaries and other darker aspects of human nature. However, if you entertain or get lost in this darkness, it begins to cloud your overall positive vision, rather than being just a piece of the puzzle. It’s not about naivety or innocence, but about facing the darkness and choosing light in spite of it.

In that sense, using imagination and visualization to fulfill an overall vision of how we coexist, how society ought to function, and how we should treat each other is paramount if we want to thrive going forward.

   
Closing thoughts:

Hopefully, you learned a bit about the importance of vision in your personal life, but also how it impacts the collective. I am reflecting and implementing my own vision just as much as everyone else reading this post. However, I can’t tell you exactly what will carry you forward. I can only speak from my experience, and what resonates will hopefully bring some clarity for the direction you want to go in. Remember, vision is intrinsically linked to dreams. In order to live the life of your dreams, you must consider your vision for your life. I am a very optimistic person and believe that many more people can live the life of their dreams than traditionally thought.

I understand there are some very tangible barriers in life, and it is a privilege to consider and implement these things while some are focused solely on putting food on the table. But even that basic desire takes some form of vision. Making sure these barriers are broken down so as many people have access to the joys life can bring will take some vision as well. Some visions may take more time and effort, and honestly, you may realize that your vision and dreams change throughout the course of your life. It’s okay to let go of some and move forward with others. For example, when I was younger, I wanted to be a professional gamer. It’s safe to say that is no longer aligned with my life vision at all. No shade to pro gamers, they are very talented, but I am using my talents to affect life in a different way now. At one point, it did though, and I’m sure if I knew then what I know about vision now, it would’ve been easier to follow through on making that a reality. It’s a bit of a blessing in disguise for your vision to develop later in life because you’re more sure of what you want for the long term. My advice is to have your vision centered around your ideals in some way shape or form. 

So, reflect on your vision in different realms of your life, and figure out how to take concerted action one day at a time. Over time, you will realize you’re living more and more of the life you envisioned for yourself, and it will bring you immense joy and fulfillment. Trust me. Good luck to you all. Peace and love.

- Sain