Staying Centered in Your Vision: 3 Common Problems and How to Overcome Them

People who are invested in changing things around them in the world that aren’t working, often feel so strongly about their cause that they can’t NOT talk and think about it. They usually have a vision of how to make things better.  But sometimes they get distracted or derailed.

If this describes you, read on. I call people like you Visionaries, and it’s my mission to help you thrive. Here are 3 of the most common ways that Visionaries have told me they derailed and some practices you can use to get back on track.

1. Losing Focus/getting distracted
People who want to make the world a better place tend to care about a lot of things. In addition to their passion for change, they want to spend time with their loved ones. In addition, they are often involved in committee work and they want to take care of themselves.

It's easy to get pulled off course by any one of these things. But the ability to focus is a skill that can be learned. It’s like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Carve out a few minutes in your daily routine to practice focus. A great place to do this is in nature, or at least with a view of nature.

Find something that captures your attention, such as a tree. Narrow your focus so that you only see the tree and nothing that surrounds it. What do you notice? Next, broaden your focus to include all of the things around the tree. What do you notice now?

You can also practice tuning out sounds, smells, etc. We do this all the time but we don’t realize it. When you talk on the phone, for instance, you tend to tune out other sounds.  

Once you’ve honed your ability to focus, apply that skill to your vision. Take mini focus breaks on a regular basis. Decide how much time you want to spend each week focusing on your vision, and add it to your calendar. It could be something small and simple, such as taking 5 minutes each day after lunch or before you go to bed.

2. Feeling Fear and Resistance
Both of these emotions and behaviors are mindset issues. There are several ways you can shift this pattern. Pay close attention to your thoughts. You may find yourself thinking, “Someone else will fix this.” Or, “There are people who know more than I do,” and they should be the ones to deal with this. Don’t allow yourself to pass the buck like this. The fact that you have noticed the problem means that it's your destiny to be part of the solution. We are, indeed, the ones we’ve been waiting for.

If you notice fear showing up related to your Vision, journal about what will continue to happen if things don’t change. This can build your sense of inspiration to continue putting in the effort. You can also examine your fear more deeply. Ask yourself, “If I do what I’m afraid of, what’s worst thing that could happen? What’s the best thing? What’s most likely to happen?” Exploring these thoughts can help you sort through what is based in reality, and what’s not rational.

3. Feeling misunderstood and unsupported
Being able to effectively communicate about your vision with others can be challenging. A great way to overcome this is to use your gifts as a storyteller. Think about defining moments earlier in your life where pieces of your Vision showed up.  

Write a story about why you’re doing the work related to your Vision. Connect w/your passion. Tap into your emotions and include them in your story. Find ways to share your story and speak from your heart. See if others resonate when you tell the story, but don’t be attached to the outcome. Accept that some people won’t resonate with what you are sharing. Don’t take it personally. Find the ones who do.

These practices should help you stay centered in your Vision when you get pulled off course. Remember to have compassion for yourself. You are a spiritual being having a human experience. And an important part of the journey of being human is to bring yourself back to the heart of your Vision when you get sidetracked.