I am sure you have heard many times you should have a personal vision and mission statement. I find that many people are confused about the purpose of both. Vision statements describe your own unique vision of what an ideal experience in each of your life areas would be like. They tend to focus on the distant future looking forward five to ten years. They represent an ideal outcome.
Mission statements are based on your current situation and what you need to focus on in the next one to three years to move you closer to your long-term vision. While vision statements are passive, focusing mostly what you want to experience, mission statements are active focusing on your actions, behaviors, habits and character.
Your mission and vision statements compliment each other. Vision statements show you an idealized description of your ultimate destination, while mission statements represent your chosen path to get you there.
Vision statements: The purpose of your vision statement is to create a mental picture filled with emotion that energizes, inspires, motivates, and stimulates your creativity, not to serve as a measuring stick for success; that is the job of your objectives and goals. Make your vision statement descriptive, how you will feel when the outcome is realized. The more descriptive detail you add the more passion will be expressed and the more powerful your statement becomes. Step into your vision and describe your surroundings, the colors, scents, sounds and shapes. Who is with you, what are you doing, describe your emotions how do you feel when you have achieved your ideal outcome?
Focus on your vision statement today, next we will look at writing your mission statement. Be sure to evaluate whether your vision is supporting your values. Those things you believe in that guide you and are most important.