Earlier this month, I wrote about creating new habits to help you become the best version of yourself. If you're struggling to decide what habits and goals to focus on, it helps to have a clear vision of where you're going.
Anytime you want to make an improvement in your life, taking time to envision the desired outcome is critical to establish the most effective steps to get there. Also, having a vision of yourself living your best life is a great motivator!
Michael Arloski, a pioneer in health and wellness coaching, describes the Well-Life Vision as an image that represents who you want to be and the life you want to live. Used in combination with an assessment of where you are presently, you can create create a roadmap to bridge the gap - your Wellness Plan.
A simple way to get started with your Well-Life Vision is to generate a list of qualities you would like to see in your best life (i.e. a healthy body that is able to move effortlessly and vigorously). An important distinction when making your list, is that the vision represents who you want to be -- rather than a fantasy, or a list of what you want to do. Your values play a role in helping shape the vision.
From the list of desired qualities, create a motivating statement that captures what you really mean by each quality. One example of a motivating statement is: "I want to be well enough to be able to be active outdoors with my grandchildren."
Next, it's helpful to visualize yourself engaging in the activities that epitomize the quality - such as hiking along a creek and playing with your grandchildren.
Another way to create your Well-Life Vision is using The Best Possible Self exercise that is popular in the field of positive psychology. This exercise in optimism was developed by Laura King, a professor at the University of Missouri–Columbia.
The exercise involves imagining your future self and creating a clear mental image of what your life looks like with the details of what living in that reality is like. Then, imagine what you had to do to get there, and what character strengths you'll have to tap into to take steps towards the new reality.
Working with a coach to talk through where you are and where you want to be can help you develop your Wellness Plan. Schedule a free consultation with me to get started.