Vision is a clear mental picture of a desirable future. Think of vision like standing on your tiptoes to see over the horizon or tilting your head while trying to look around a corner. True, we can’t actually see over the horizon or around a corner with our eyes. But we can with our imagination. Vision looks to the imagination to picture a desirable future. Now before you say this all sounds like hippy mumbo jumbo, stop and consider how often we already use vision. Vision is what people are using when you hear them say,
“When I graduate high school, I see myself going to State University.”
“I’m really looking forward to relaxing on a sandy beach on my next vacation.”
“Someday we’ll start a family. I think we will make really good, loving parents.”
“I can totally see myself being a teacher someday. I know it doesn’t pay well, but I believe teaching kids would be really fulfilling.”
Are not each of these statements clear mental pictures of desirable futures? See, vision is already part of how we do life. We regularly imagine or see ourselves in the future. The question you need to ask yourself is, how meaningful and purposeful is my child’s, my student’s, my mentee’s vision for the future?
See how they answer the following questions: “What do you see yourself doing in one year? How about in three years, or five? What about ten years from today?” How far out into the future does their vision extend? Try asking them.
How far into the future did they have a clear mental picture? One year? Three? Five or ten? I’ve heard countless adults complain that today’s young people don’t look much further than the moment they are in right now. Like an easily distracted Jack Russell Terrier with eyes on a SQUIRREL, they lock in on immediate gratification and tear around until a BIRD presents a new distraction.
My experience with asking tweens, teens, and twentysomethings about their future has been much different, though. When asked, “What do you see yourself doing in the future?” I find most young people have given it some serious thought. They may lead with, “I don’t know,” but when given the opportunity, they usually have some very specific aspirations. What trips them up more today than perhaps in generations past is their desire to know that what they are doing is also making a difference.
Now try asking them a slightly different variation of the question. Instead of asking what they see themselves doing, try asking who they see themselves being. See the difference? Doing vs. being. First, they answered questions about their actions. Now, what is their vision for their character?
Who do you see yourself being in the future?
In one year from today, who do you see yourself being?
In three years from today, who do you see yourself being?
In five years from today, who do you see yourself being?
In ten years from today, who do you see yourself being?
How do their answers relate to each other? Are what they want to do and who they want to be complementary? If so, good. Encourage them to move in that direction.
See any conflicts? If so, pause and determine why. Correcting potential tension between what they see themselves doing and who they see themselves being in the future will save a lot of time, focus their attention, and help them steer clear of self-doubt.
CONSIDER THIS:
Skills make a person valuable.
Character makes a person invaluable.
| Name: | Today | 1 yr. | 3 yrs. | 5 yrs. | 10 yrs. |
| 1. _______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 2. _______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 3. _______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 4. _______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| 5. _______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |