Risk & Business Magazine Nesbit Agencies Fall 2020 | Page 9

VISUALIZE YOUR FUTURE
I’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 started 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 BOTH
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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