2020 Vision

If you're like most people, at some point in the last few weeks you've considered how you'd like things to be different in the New Year. I've never been big on New Year resolutions, but there is something important about spending time reflecting and planning. New Year resolutions are often made with good intentions, but not a ton of preparation and planning. Instead of going into 2020 with isolated resolutions, which are likely to fall by the wayside in a few weeks, consider developing a vision.

A vision is more than a resolution. A vision is your plan that is arrived at through imagination and wisdom. A vision is not a focus on one abstract idea, i.e., to be more kind in the new year. A vision is also more than a singular focus such as a specific weight loss goal.

A vision is a holistic and imaginative construct of health in every domain of your life. A vision considers who you are right now, and who you want to become.

Seeing a therapist or counselor can be a great way of gaining vision for your life. While our friends and family may mean well, sometimes they lack the objectivity required to help you arrive at a vision that is entirely yours. A good therapist will avoid giving you advice and will serve as a sounding board for you to explore, through your own enlightened self-interest, what you desire for your future self.

My clients and I often begin treatment by developing their vision. Once the vision is cast and we know where we are headed, we work through the barriers. Many times, the barriers we discover are found to be deeply rooted in past experiences which have shaped the way in which we respond to the world around us. The goal is to gain mastery over these thoughts and behaviors, which will provide the groundwork necessary for achieving one's vision.