Dr. Kim Brazelton explains that it is a basic human drive to have a longing for a purpose and meaning in our lives. A personal vision is what you want your life to be about. It is comprised of your life experiences and how God connects the dots to use what we have experienced to glorify him and to serve others – a personal vision can produce spiritual fruit that reaches many leaving a positive impact on many. It is the God-dreams and goals within us that drive us to find fulfillment. It is the one thing that we just cannot help but do. Personally, this is one of my most favorite topics!
Why is this important? Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life”. People are wired to have a need for hope for their future – a vision to live for. Viktor Frankl, holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, found that those without hope lost the will to live when confined in Nazi concentration camps. However, those who could imagine the possibilities and had hope for their future were able to stay alive. A few prisoners' thoughts and minds could never be controlled even when physical circumstances surrounding them were filled with chaos, injustice, and death. When people are clear on their vision and life purpose, it will propel them to be successful in the hope of things to come. This brings a deep fulfillment where the outcome of our personal vision will glorify God and will help others in the process.
Counselors can walk with individuals to fully develop their God-given potential. Orville Wright became clear on his personal vision of flying and changed the world forever. Did you know that reporters did not even show up for Orville and Wilbur's first test flights because they did not believe in the Wright brothers? Most people believed flying was impossible. Today, we benefit from his personal vision of flight and we are grateful he kept the vision in front of him. A powerful, personal vision and life purpose will always find its way to reaching others and serving a greater purpose.
Professional Christian counseling can help a client develop a vision by having intentional conversations to discover patterns in the client’s life through the use of powerful questions, prayer, and discernment. Assessments and tools help reveal spiritual gifts, talents, personality types, and motivations. It is important to understand a person's story because out of the painful areas is usually where purpose is birthed. Setbacks do happen and should be planned for. If an individual has lost their vision, a counselor can remind them of their reason for their vision. To do this a counselor will use a technique called futuring. Futuring is often used as a means to re-energize the vision. Asking the client to visualize what it would be like to see the fulfillment of their vision – who would be there, what would they be doing, how would they feel? Faith-based counselors can also remind clients of how God motivated them in the past when they felt weary.
Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it”. We can run with our vision and keep it before us which brings a powerful resource called HOPE.
Carpe Diem!
Kelly Roberson, MA, LCMHCA, NCC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate