The year 2020 is upon us! A new decade requires a new lens to look through in order to have a change in perspective and continue to grow.
Hindsight is always 20/20
According to Google, 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.
I know you’ve heard the term “hindsight is always 20/20.” Which means, "It's easy to know the right thing to do after something has happened, but it's hard to predict the future." Hindsight means understanding an event after they've happened. It’s much easier to know the right thing to do after you’ve done the wrong thing. The key is to use the knowledge that you gained as wisdom when making future decisions. When someone says to you “you should’ve done xyz” you can always say “yeah well, hindsight is 20/20. I’ll do better next time!” There is no need to regret or feel shame over a decision that you made. No matter how ‘bad’ or ‘awful’ it was because that’s all a part of the journey! We live and we learn.
20/20 vision isn’t perfect (and neither are you)
Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance. Other important vision skills, including peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision, contribute to your overall visual ability.
Trusting in a power greater than yourself, preferably Jesus, you are able to know that no matter what decision you make, you can trust that He is guiding you to the next right thing. Psalm 37:23 states, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”
Nearsighted vs. Farsighted
My first eye exam was an experience! I was only going for my wellness program’s points and ended up learning all about how our eyes operate. If you’re not familiar (aka: you have perfect vision!) Here’s a little nugget. Nearsighted means you’re unable to see things clearly unless they are relatively close to the eyes, owing to the focusing of rays of light by the eye at a point in front of the retina. Farsighted means you’re unable to see things clearly, especially if they are relatively close to the eyes.
If I had to have either condition, I’d prefer the farsighted. Farsighted in life allows me to use my clarity of vision and articulation of a successful future to pull people out of fear or shortsightedness and into hopefulness and a sense of purpose. When caught in the middle of a difficult experience or situation, I’m able to see far past it to know that ‘this too shall pass’ and it’s an opportunity to grow, develop and mature.
It’s still really important to be near-sighted as well because it allows me to be present. It’s really difficult to tackle a problem by pretending it’s not there. From my own experience, I’ve learned that being able to face the challenge head-on allows me to move past it and focus once again on my vision and goals.
The lesson from my eye exam: be willing to adjust! Depending on what’s ahead, it’s important that we’re able to see clearly from all angles in order to move forward. If you’re having issues with seeing things up close or far away, there are tools and resources you can use to help! (see below)
It’s all about perspective
What about when you’re flying in an airplane? Why do we always feel so much lighter when we’re 35,000 feet above everything? It’s a change in perspective. We can look down at our world and realize how small things actually are. We realize how vast our world and universe really is that it suddenly helps us see clearly.
I’m sure you’ve heard many people get their best ideas, come up with a solution to a problem they’ve had for months, or just find peace over their life when they’re flying. I think it’s because we’re closer to God and we’re able to just take a second to detach from everything. We’re also crammed in a small space with 100+ people and have zero control over really anything for an hour or more. Something about that situation just brings things more into focus for me. It helps me to realize what really matters and what doesn’t. Once I’m back on the ground, I feel refreshed and ready to do the next thing that will bring me closer to my goals.
Bringing the right things into focus
Have you ever had a moment of clarity? What does it feel like? To me, it feels like a light bulb is going off like I have a completely new way of looking at things. Or the things I’ve been looking at in my life suddenly look different. Many times this happens when I’m meditating on a word from God either through reading the Bible, being in church, worshiping, listening to a sermon, spending time with loved ones, praying for others, etc.
Clarity is a mixture of knowing who you really are and what is the direction of your life. Clarity in life also represents the understanding of what you want in life and what you don’t want in your life. In other words, having direction and purpose powered by the knowledge of who you are, what you are called to do and having a strong belief in yourself.
Having clarity over these areas are key to living your like intentionally:
Communication with yourself and others - I’d have to say, this is probably THE most important thing to master. Have you ever paid attention to what you say to yourself? If not, I strongly suggest taking time to just
Intentions/motives - what’s motivating you to do this thing, call this person, eat this food, work at this company? If it doesn’t line up with your vision, try tweaking them or trying something new.
Needs vs wants - oh man, this is a tough one. But its is crucial if you’re wanting to up-level your life. First step - put social media away! We are bombarded with images/messages about what we need to purchase. When none of those things are needs at all!
Core Values - There are MANY different values that someone can have, integrity, accountability, diligence, perseverance, discipline, loyalty, commitment, honesty, etc. Take time to think about the 5 core values that drive your behaviors and actions. If there are some that you’d like to foster, write those down too!
Calling/Purpose - This comes with really focusing on what you enjoy doing and knowing what you’re naturally good at doing. When you have that fire in your belly about something, you’re most liking moving in the right direction. I spend a lot of time praying over this topic because we may think we know what our calling is in life, but ultimately - God’s plan is always greater!
Knowing where you came from and who you belong to (surrendering to Jesus) - This is a GAME CHANGER. Period. I highly recommend getting into a good Bible-based church that can help lead you to this truth. It will change your life!
Healing your past - It's almost impossible to rank these key areas - but if I did, I’d say this is THE most important. It’s what’s running in the background of all of you daily actions/thoughts/beliefs. (There are tools, resources, and professionals that can help - trying to do this on your own is really difficult!)
Staying focused
The 64 million dollar question is how do you stay focused on your vision and goals in the world that we live in today. If I had the answer to that.. oh man, I’d be much further along! It’s really not rocket-science though, if we really think about it! It’s all about your discipline and if your why is strong enough to propel you toward your vision vs. being caught up in the distractions always pulling at our attention. A few things that I try to practice daily include:
Setting crystal clear boundaries (aka. saying ‘no’) - oh how I have learned this the hard way - but it is now the guiding principle that runs my life! I am super intentional about boundaries with my time, with people, with
Line up your team/tribe - It’s so much easier to get things accomplished when you have an awesome team of people that understand your vision and know your potential AND want to help you reach your goals!
Master your time - (am/pm routines) - Again, more game changers! Setting the tone for your day and ending your day on a positive note are extremely helpful in creating the vision and life that you want to live. It’s the little daily habits that make the biggest impact.
Set a daily intention - Think about the person you want to be and how you want to show up for the day. This is just about the only thing you can control!
Be willing and able to pivot - If you’ve lived long enough - you know they are going to be curve balls. Be willing to change your plans, perspective, goals - while still keeping your vision in mind.
Stay open to creative opportunities - having vision and clarity requires creativity. Being open to new ways of doing things can help you see things in a whole new light.
Stay true yourself - Try not to get caught up in the messages that culture send you 100’s of times per day. Do what’s best for you no matter what the media is telling you. In the end, you will have more integrity with yourself which breeds confidence.
Set up quarterly check-ins - I do these monthly (hence, monthly intentions!) But once per quarter allows you to look back over three months and see what went well, what didn’t, and how you can improve and grow in the next three months. Taking a honest look at your life is a catalyst to seeing clearly and getting where you want to go!
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller
Your prescription for 2020
It’s important to remember that you will need a new prescription every year. If you wear glasses, you know it’s a good idea to get your eyes checked yearly. Just like your life, it’s important to have a yearly check in. Here’s a sample ‘eye chart’ for you to use to get yourself thinking:
What do you spend most of your time on? Look at your daily habits, which ones do you feel add to your life? Which ones take away?
What makes you feel alive?
Who do you spend most of your time with?
How often do you sit alone and reflect?
When was the last time you wrote down a gratitude list?
Who is in control of your life? Do you believe in a higher power greater than yourself?
When was the last time you prayed?
What/who do you lean on during challenging times? Do you feel better afterward or worse?
If you looked at all areas of your life: Body (health and fitness), Mind and Emotions (psychology and beliefs), Relationships (intimate), Family, Social/friends/fun, Business/Career, Money/Finances, Spirituality (religion, meditation practice), would you say they are all balanced? If not, which areas can you focus on over the next year?
Have you practiced blue-sky thinking lately? (if money was no object and you had all of the time in the world, what would you be doing?)
Have you cried lately? Happy tears and sad tears are very therapeutic and actually aid the healing process.
When was the last time you had a deep belly laugh?
Have you made anything with your hands recently?
Have there been past experiences that you feel like have been holding you back? What’s the best way you can you process them or make peace?
Take time to really think through these questions. If other questions come up, allow them. Follow the thought and see what your inner self is trying to tell you. Do a little investigating on yourself. There’s no better time than the end of a year and especially the end of the decade to take some time to really look at your life as clearly as possible. It’s not supposed to be easy or fun!
Do you actually enjoy going to the eye doctor? No! You’re probably going to leave with big pupils and feel disoriented the rest of the day, but you’ve just had something and someone look deeply into a very vulnerable place (probably one of the most vulnerable places, our eyes!) But you also left the office knowing more than when you got there. You can now course correct by adding in a new lens, or continue doing whatever has been working to keep your eyes and vision healthy! That is much like this practice. Take it slow. Make it manageable and treat it as a learning experience.
If any of these questions made you feel stumped or simply an “I don’t know” came out as the answer, please know I’m always here to help guide you! I’ve had some amazing therapists and support that have helped me work through each of these questions. I’m always here to help point you in the right direction! Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
A few great resources that I have been loving lately:
Books:
“You are the Girl for the Job” by Jess Connolly
“Rhythm of Life” by Matthew Kelly
“Essentialism” by Greg McKeown
“The One Thing” by Gary Keller
The Bible - The Bible is ALL about vision! Jesus could see things no one else could and we now have a guidebook available to us to seek the gifts that He promises!
Sermons:
How To Build Your Vision From The Ground Up - Q&A With Bishop T.D. Jakes
Fix Your Focus | The Other Half - Steven Furtick
2019 Vision - Part 1 - Transformation Church
The Land of Make Believe | Vision Series - Pastor John Gray
If no one has told you lately.. I want you to know that you are doing AMAZING! You are really making some big moves, just by reading this blog post and taking time out to put your life to think about where you want to go!
Lift up your eyes! 2020 is going to an incredible year!
xoxo - Gretchen
