Heading towards the end of 2023. The conclusion of a year, renewed resolutions, and positive changes that are kept for one month or so until we go back into old previous behaviours, maladaptive coping mechanisms, and getting stuck in the same cycle of negative thoughts and feelings that, for whatever reason, hold you back from being the person you know you want to be and the potential that is within you. Try to see these next brand new and fresh months as an opportunity to reassess your progress in life and implement positive change through understanding how “mental illness” affects your identity, understanding what a vision statement is and its purpose, and the connection between vision and recovery. Finally, try to see how linking vision statements to goal setting will ultimately improve your life and take back control of your mental health well-being.
Let’s start of where we want to go the rest of this year by creating a vision. A vision is a picture of where you see yourself in the future. When struggling with “illness” it is often difficult to distinguish yourself from your “illness”, therefore, creating a vision can be a difficult task initially. As recovery occurs this becomes more achievable.
Understanding the impact of “illness” on identity raises two important points:
- “Mental illness” can be seen as something separate from the ‘Real Self’ which has to be lived with…
- “The key is to know yourself, know your “illness”, and know the difference”.
Clinical studies have established that having a vision for your life is an important factor for recovery and maintaining wellness.
Now. Let’s have a go at practicing to create a vision for your future.
Consider the following vision examples:
- Can be abstract e.g. A world without poverty (Oxfam).
- May serve as a guideline or express a strategy of how to live e.g. I will live a life of integrity.
- Often are inspirational or present an ideal e.g. “I have a dream…”, Martin Luther King.
- Might be short-term e.g. My vision is to get through today.
- Used to express an attitude to life e.g. To have fun in my journey through life and learn from my mistakes (Richard Branson) Nevertheless, there are advantages and disadvantages in creating a vision for your future.
While the drawback may seem difficult at first, such change may be necessary and a long time coming. Human beings are able to do one thing better than any other species on this planet. We are able to adapt to situations and adjust to our surroundings to fit our personality, current living situations, and desires to head towards our goals. Remember…going back into old last-year behaviours, maladaptive coping mechanisms, and getting stuck in the same cycle of negative thoughts and feelings is simply…short-term relief but LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.
Let’s get your motivation and energy levels flowing. Ideas:
- What do you want to create for your life?
- If all of a sudden you had the energy again like you were a little kid and the journey had just begun, what would you be excited to tackle?
- What would get you up early and keep you up late at night?
- What would you like your life to be about?
- If you had no fear about moving forward, what would you do in your life?
- What challenges might you be excited to overcome?
- What do you want to contribute to your own life and the lives of others?
- What do you want to give, create, be, feel, or share?
- If you were a little kid again…
Setting Goals:
Once a vision is established for your future, it is time to set goals. A goal is an aim or an object in life. Creating goals that are consistent with your values and vision often assists with motivation by utilising your strengths and skills to achieve goals, which in turn, increases your likelihood of success.
Designing goals using the SMART acronym keeps you focused on the task to be achieved:
An Example:
Riding my bicycle more
OR
In one month’s time I will be able to ride my bicycle a distance of one kilometre from my home.
Conclusion
We hope this will provide you with the starting blocks for yourself that will ultimately lead towards a better personal, social, and professional life that encapsulates exactly want you want. Remember…it is not the end destination that counts…. but the journey itself that makes life beautiful and increases one’s motivation and zest for life to achieve the initially “perceived” unachievable.
If you need any assistance or support to keep on track and be successful towards the vision and goals you set for yourself, get in contact with our team at Spencer Mental Healthcare to schedule an appointment here.