Shed doubts and let success smoothen over by having a clear vision for your life. Having a vision gives a purposeful direction to lead actions and decisions such that it helps to walk through challenges in confidence; people with a defined vision have been proven to achieve a lot more. 

In fact, in 70 percent of all individuals, hypnagogic hallucinations occur and can be exploited for creativity and insight during the transition period of being asleep but not quite asleep. Apart from that, experiences having vivid visions while awake time does improve creativity as well as problem-solving ability, just like the doings in the lives of famous minds such as Thomas Edison. 

This blog covers the significance of vision in achieving success, how to develop one, and more about having vivid visions while awake, having tunnel vision, and even having visions from God.

What Does It Mean to Have a Vision?

Having a vision simply means having a clear idea of what you want to fulfill in life. It acts as a guiding principle that takes one through the challenges, giving clues for decision-making. A strong vision inspires you to be motivated when issues arise.

DO YOU KNOW? The brain coordinates vision interpretation, and as much as 70% of people experience hypnagogic hallucinations at sleep transitions. These vivid images help clear subconscious thoughts and goals.

Why the Concept of Having a Vision is Important for Success

1. Direction: A Clear and well-defined vision means a clear picture to one’s mind about what they are looking to achieve and the process that is required to succeed in this.
2. Motivation: The factor of determination to excel in life increases manifolds if he is able to visualize exactly what his desired outcome is and under which circumstances he wants this to occur.
3. Resilience: A strong vision can be helpful to bounce back from failures by revising what it is that you want to achieve in the long run.

Ever wonder where your passion, your dreams, and interests come from? What is it that makes you… YOU?

Unlike how it’s depicted in the movie Soul- where one needs to find one’s spark, to reach Earth, I believe one needs to rather find it after reaching here. Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard professor makes a simple observation in his book Stumbling on Happiness: The human being is the only animal that thinks about the future. Biologically, it is an astonishing ability!

From childhood, we are often faced with the ‘Where do you see yourself in the future or in xx years?’ question in various forms at several stages. Simply because it’s unfathomable for humans not to envisage and look ahead. In fact, having dreams and a desire to reach somewhere breathes life into life and gives us a reason to “Be”.

The Journey of Self-Discovery: What Does It Mean to Have a Vision?

Last year, I went to a workplace reunion which happened to be the first place of work/job for most of the audience and nearly everyone there had two decades of experience or more by then.

I met many of my ex-colleagues, peers, and earlier bosses there, most of whom had a flourishing career- being entrepreneurs or were in senior leadership positions if not part of the C-Suite of multinational organisations. Some had gone into diverse areas and were chasing exciting dreams and running successful ventures. There were however some struggling too and looking for the right career switch or a stable job while balancing with multiple challenges life throws. On deeper interactions and observations, I discovered that most people who were successful and seemed to have a great and fulfilling life had discovered who they were and where they were headed and had figured the reasons why they were where they were. So, they had a north star guiding them toward their set vision while the others were searching for theirs.

(Source:marketing eye)

Strategic thinking develops business performance and competitive advantages, while stress negatively influences health, productivity, and longevity. According to the graph of the Yerkes-Dodson Law, too much stress will improve performance but has no effect on health or productivity.

That got me thinking about how having a vision makes you better able or in charge of your life or vice-versa. Research tells us they are complementary and each triggers the other. People with vision, dreams and goals are far more energetic and fuller of life than the people who are not.

Navigating Life’s Choices: How to Have a Vision for Your Future

As children, we are far more liberated. But often, as grownups, we hold ourselves back from defining a 

personal vision- and that I believe is because we are conditioned to make life choices with a restricted view- with limited options of what is in front of us. Also, because we self-doubt, more and more as we age perhaps.

Recent research shows that those who visualize more often perform way better in almost all spheres of human functioning, from sports to personal development. Visualization helps develop greater focus, and self-confidence, and allows a person to transcend his or her fears and limiting beliefs; thus, he or she will be better off succeeding with his or her goals.

The Impact of Psychological Forces on Having Vivid Visions While Awake

In his book, “Toward a Psychology of Being”, Abraham Maslow explains there are two powerful sets of forces within the human condition: a drive for growth and its opposing force, a drive for safety.

Scott Jeffery observes in Maslow’s book that growth propels us forward toward the wholeness of Self to discover our uniqueness. An opposing force leads us to defend our current self, clinging to safety out of fear of the unknown. The force of safety keeps us where we are now, clinging to the past and afraid to take chances to improve our current conditions (internally and externally). This safety seeking side is afraid of independence, freedom, and separateness—the very things our growth side is demanding. Maslow writes- We grow forward when the delights of growth and anxieties of safety are greater than the anxieties of growth and the delights of safety.

Exploring Different Facets of Vision: What Does It Mean to Have Vision?

Having Vivid Visions While Awake

Some people claim to have vivid visions while they are awake. The visions are said to be vivid mental imagery that felt real. These phenomena have been associated with increased creativity and even psychic capabilities. Understanding the meaning of such visions can give a person an opportunity to tap into his or her potential for change.

Having Tunnel Vision

Having an acquired vision is important but should not lead to tunnel vision. Such tunnel vision may make you focus too much on your goals, making you ignore every other aspect of life. A visionist must also strike a balance between ideal pursuits and personal life or relationships. Chasing your vision should not at your own expense of personal and relationship needs.

Can People Have Visions?

Most would wonder if they can have visions beyond mere aspiration. Some think that these experiences can be more spiritual or psychic, which can include prophecy or guidance from higher powers. That explains the deeper meaning and the motivation for your journey.

Having Visions From God 

For others, the visions may appear to be real messages from God. This can change the life direction or even the meaning of human life dramatically. Some people can get sense into these visions, which completes their spiritual walk or commitment to their goals.

(Source: jackcanfield)

I personally have used vision boards to achieve my goals for decades. When we were writing the very first Chicken Soup for the Soul book, we took a copy of the New York Times best-seller list, scanned it into our computer, and using the same font as the newspaper, typed Chicken Soup for the Soul into the number one position in the “Paperback Advice, How-To, and Miscellaneous” category.

Steps to Develop a Clear Vision: Can People Have Visions?

A conscious acceptance of one’s safety needs and a constant push to challenge oneself makes one better than the previous version. Getting into the right frame of mind is crucial for the discovery of self and what matters to us.

• A whole lot of guidance is available on finding one’s center- but I believe what works for one may not work for another, hence finding and choosing your own method helps. After all, your values, your strengths, and your dreams are your own- though you could be inspired by someone or happen to inspire others.
• Once we have found what compels us enough to propel us forward, that’s when we are ready to craft that Vision- we need to remember it’s a process and it’s ongoing. It doesn’t have to be perfect and final. This knowledge gave me a lot of confidence to take that leap and start somewhere.
• Having crafted a vision is just a start- visualization, revisiting, setting your goals, and evaluating is constant and iterative to bring it to life. And somehow, when you’re living your vision, you get external help too. As author Paulo “…elho put it The Alchemist: “. when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”  

This study, “Technology Vision 2024: Human by Design,” by Sweet and Daugherty suggests the need to design technology for more humanity especially in artificial intelligence and spatial computing, advising organisations to adopt a culture that is both creative and collaborative to enable this approach with regard to technology.

How Can AITD Help Develop a Vision for Success?

One thing with doubts and challenges that usually arise as one embarks on having a vision for life and success, among other things, is that they can easily be brushed aside with good guidance and support. This is where  Amity Institute of Training and Development (AITD) takes over.

AITD solutions are aimed at helping individuals and organisations realize desired performance results. One of the areas in which they specialise is in conflict management and leadership development. But for someone who is aspiring to have a vision and get rid of doubts, such services can indeed benefit much.

How AITD Sees Having Vivid Visions While Awake

1. AITD appreciates that such  having vivid visions, occurring while awake, can be a powerful tool of personal development and creativity. 
2. AITD helps you learn the science behind hypnagogic hallucinations and their possible benefits, techniques for harnessing the Having Vivid Visions, balancing your vision with other aspects of life, and devising strategies to deal with any problems that occur with vivid visions.
3. AITD guides you through those experiences and helps you make better sense of what you’re experiencing and then integrate that vision into your pursuit of success.

AITD’s Commitment to Your Success

AITD solutions are implemented after comprehensive research and valid statistics. According to their research, they were able to prove that the individuals working with AITD have twice the chance to achieve the target than a single person trying to do this job individually. Apart from this, the AITD conflict management solutions enhanced the levels of workplace stress from the depth of 30%, thus increasing productivity and job satisfaction.

Empower Your Dreams: Have Vision with AITD Support

If you have visions for your life and want success, then working with AITD is sure to change everything. With their complete training and development solutions, AITD can be able to help overcome the obstacles that are likely to put you behind schedule, improve your skills, and achieve your goals. Whether you are seeing visions while awake or still restricted to having tunnel vision, AITD will help you get a clear plan and facilitate tools for success.