VISUALIZE YOUR FUTURE
10 Questions To Help You
VISUALIZE YOUR FUTURE
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’ ve talked a lot about how visualization helps you create the future you want . This powerful tool has made a difference for me in my own life , when as an out-of-worklawyer-turned-executive life coach , I saw myself on a TED stage one day , sharing with others how I changed my life .
In my vision , I was wearing a better color , my neck was not so blotchy , and my pits weren ’ t so sweaty , but seeing myself on that stage was the catalyst that got me doing the work to get there . That vision was the reason I kept such a laser focus toward opportunities that presented themselves , and it ’ s that vision that got me to take a few chances and step outside my comfort zone .
Having a vision changed my expectations , and that was key .
I began to EXPECT better of myself . I knew that if the future I wanted was going to become reality , I had to change what I was doing now .
Since that TED talk , my life and business have blown up and now I ’ m on my way toward the vision I first had while still in high school to hosting a daytime talk show .
Which means a whole new set of expectations has arisen for me . So I ’ m back to visualizing . Does visualization guarantee that your future will turn out exactly as you wish ? I wish .
Life has no guarantees , unfortunately , and success is a combination of hard work , grit , and even luck . But the more you stay the course , the more likely you push yourself further down the line and learn a hell of a lot about yourself in the process .
But I get that visualization is not easy for everyone and it does take practice .
To help you see your future , I ’ ve put together this list of questions to ask yourself . Whether it ’ s one year or five , use this list to jumpstart your personal expectations and next steps . Some of them may be challenging to answer , and that is on purpose . Each question is designed to help you visualize the PROCESS for getting to where you want to be , as much as the outcome .
ANSWER EACH QUESTION AS IF YOU ARE LIVING YOUR IDEAL FUTURE IN FIVE YEARS :
1 ) When somebody asks what you do for work , how do you respond ?
2 ) Describe your physical surroundings in as much detail as possible . Where are you working ? Where do you live ? Where do you spend your free time ?
3 ) Describe the people surrounding you in your business and personal life .
4 ) What is the atmosphere in your business and personal life ? How do you contribute to that atmosphere ?
5 ) What are you most proud of ?
6 ) What is your favorite way to spend your downtime ?
7 ) When somebody asks you for mentoring advice , what do you tell them ?
8 ) Describe the steps you had to take to get to where you are .
9 ) Do you have any regrets ? Explain .
10 ) What would you have done differently to get here ?
Once you have your vision , tap into some powerful research out of UCLA .
Researchers found that visualizing yourself doing the steps it takes to reach your vision makes you more likely to succeed . In the study , people who visualized themselves studying received better scores than those who visualized a positive grade .
You can apply this research to your own visualization and goals for the future . Once you answer the questions above and have your vision , write down or think about the steps that you will need to take to get there . What exactly will you need to do ?
Then , it ’ s time to tap into the power of visualization . Each day , visualize the future that you want — and picture yourself doing the steps to get there . +
Mel Robbins is the host of the new daytime syndicated talk show with Sony Pictures TV , The Mel Robbins Show , which airs nationwide . Mel is currently one of CNN ’ s most popular on-air commentators and opinion writers ; her articles drive tens of millions of page views for CNN . com . Mel has an extensive television résumé as an expert on human behavior and motivation for Good Morning America , Dr . Phil , Dr . Oz , Oprah , The Today Show and Fox News .
MelRobbins . com
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