Feeling adrift? Discover how clarity and vision can guide your energy toward purpose.
Every year, another year goes by. Many people are intellectually aware of this but few truly realize it. What’s the difference between intellectual understanding and realization? Realizing something causes a complete shift in perspective which then results in a permanent change in behavior—the way we act and react to life's experiences.
When you realize the finiteness of time, the preciousness of life becomes profoundly evident, compelling you to deeply value each moment and live with greater clarity and intention. But you can’t live intentionally if you lack clarity.
Having a vision of the future is essential for creating the life you desire. A clear mental picture allows you to focus your energy precisely where it needs to go. After all, life is a manifestation of where you invest your energy. If you do not define a destination for your energy, rest assured, your environment will.
Beyond knowing where to direct your energy, it’s important to understand that everything is created on the mental plane before it manifests on the physical plane.
Here’s an example. You might have an intuitive flash about a service or product that could benefit people. You start reflecting on this insight consistently, eventually discussing it with a close circle of friends and mentors. A couple of years later, you’ve turned that idea into a thriving business, operating nationally with employees and customers around the world.
To create something in your life, you need a clear mental picture of it. I can't go to a builder and simply say, 'Build me a house.' I need clear architectural plans. In the same way, to construct your life, you need detailed blueprints of what you’re planning to build.
When creating blueprints for your life, start with these five categories: physical, mental, financial, spiritual, and family. Look decades into the future (adjusting based on age) and ask how you see yourself in each of these areas. Get specific. Saying, 'I need ice cream' is one thing, but when I get to the store, I need to choose a flavor. 'Ice cream' alone is too broad. As you visualize your future, get specific. Go narrow and deep, rather than shallow and wide.
If you struggle to see the future, look around for examples that inspire you and align with your values and purpose. No one person can emulate everything for you, so take aspects from various individuals. These aspects, combined with your own vision, can form a complete picture, a complete vision, of a category. A mandarin orange, for instance, is made up of many segments, or carpels, which together form a whole. When I view a category of my life, I see it as being made of many segments—some are mine, while others I have adopted from mentors or individuals I admire.
My guru, Gurudeva, always gave me his undivided attention when we spoke. That experience made me resolve within myself to make unwavering focus one of the segments in my mental category. This is an example of how some of your segments can be inspired by others.
Outline a clear picture—a vision—of your future. Then, understand the mind and learn to focus, so you can channel your finite energy and time into bringing it to life. The clearer you can be with this vision, the better. Get specific. If you lack clarity about your life, dedicate the coming weeks to this pursuit. Don’t waste time. Life is ever ebbing away.
