“How your vision for tomorrow affects your happiness today”
You’re sitting quietly in your corporate cubical that seems today not much larger than a postage stamp; your only light is a fluorescent that is blinking its way to “burnt out”, much like yourself. The stack of paper work piled on top of your “in” basket would make your desk buckle if it weren’t one of those old crappy metal desks that weigh just under a ton.
Earlier in the day your boss emailed you a terse note about a project that went south and though you only played a small part in the process, she has chosen you to be the scapegoat, lest her image be tarnished to upper management.
To make matters worse, just moments later she walks by your cube smiles, pats you on the back, and wishes you a happy day, confirming your suspicion that she in fact deals with a multiple personality disorder.
You decide to go have a cup of coffee but two things deter you, first of all, the coffee in the pot looks and smells, as if it was made last week, secondly, all of the cups are dirty and piled in the sink, and there is nothing to wash them with.
Your need for caffeine is intense enough for you rinse and wash a cup using your hand, pour yourself some black mud and just as you turn to head back to your desk, mid sip, the brown-noser from two cubicals over, who is flirting with the receptionist, runs into you splashing coffee all over your new white shirt. He feels bad and says, “O super sorry”, and finishes with, “lucky I didn’t get any on me, this is a new shirt”
You do your best to rinse the coffee stains, pour out the remnant left in your cup and head back to your desk caffeine deprived.
You sit down and notice that despite all the horror of this day, you are smiling.
Strike that, you are giddy with happiness.
Why?
Because it is Thursday and in just 24 hours you will have officially started your vacation where for 2 weeks you will do little more than lay in the sun, drink those happy drinks with little umbrellas in them, eat food that other people prepare for you, walk on the beach, go to sleep and wake up whenever you want, read and spend time with the one you love.
You are presently in cubical hell, but nothing can kill the emotional buzz that your future vacation is providing you.
Because your immediate future is determining your present state of mind.
The converse is also true
It is the last day of your vacation; you are working on the finishing touches of the tan that you have so carefully crafted (with the help of the sun). Dirty Martini in hand, a warm breeze caresses your skin and the love of your life is breathing softly as she sleeps soundly on the sand next to you.
But you are feeling stressed, your chest feels tight, your mind is spinning with thoughts of deadlines and unfinished tasks at work…. And why?
Because in less than 24 hours you will be back in that dank cubical with the flickering light and the pile of unfinished work, that no doubt, has grown in your absence and even though you are physically in paradise, your mind is in hell.
Because your vision for tomorrow is affecting your happiness today.
Do you have a “vision” for your future?
A vision is a picture?
A picture of yourself down the road a bit….. five years from now, ten years from now, thirty years from now.
If we were sitting in my living room you and I could exchange stories of people down through history who grew to be amazing contributions to the world around us against tremendous odds, only because they chose to see their future before it materialized. It became the prime motivator, the daily inspiration and the purpose for their living.
This ability to dream of “what could be” is a powerful and amazing gift given to each one of us. Our ability to visualize a future filled with what it is that we want out of life is paramount to curbing the negative energy that wants to kill our joy and excitement for each new day.
Take some time to sit down and think about what it is that you want for your life.
Picture yourself involved in various activities included in that future. What is it that you like? What sorts of people will you meet in this possible life? Will their lives be impacted for the better because of what you are doing?
And then write it out, write it out, write it out….
And then do whatever it takes to get you there. Do you need more schooling? Do you need funding? Do you need a friends help?
No matter your age, your experiences (both bad and good), your gender, color or creed. You have a God given inner strength that can change your world and bring peace and good-will to you and to all those around you.
Take a picture with your heart and mind, a picture of your future and review it every day.