We have only so many hours in the day. Especially as we learn / yearn to establish healthy boundaries for ourselves around how much we work and how much time we spend taking care of ourselves, our families, our communities outside of work.
So how do we really make that time count?
Aligning to your vision means to be increasingly crystal clear about what that vision is that you’re called to participate in realizing, and then to align your efforts towards realizing that vision.
Simple. And… Less simple than it seems. First of all, in my experience, our clarity of vision is ever shifting – thus, we get increasingly crystal clear. It’s a process. Maybe life-long. And Secondly, even once we know what our vision is, how do we know that our efforts are aligning towards it?
Great question…
My long response involves the importance of building systems (reliable ways of doing things) that reinforce that the things we’re spending our time on are the right things and checking in on that question every day. “The right things” are those which measurably bring you closer to ideals you’ve already identified as representing your vision.
Example: My vision is to be building the systems – with you – that are creating the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. I might measure the quality of my collaborations with people
A place to start is to actually ask the question before you start something: Is this thing I’m doing / about to do actually aligned with my vision? Example: If I’m spending hours rewriting one paragraph like my inner perfectionist likes to do, yet meanwhile I’m neglecting the course I want to create to serve my community, then that may not be in alignment with my vision. Asking that question helps me choose more wisely.
Think of something you’ve been prioritizing today. How aligned is that effort with your vision?