I spent years just going through the motions. Waking up, going through a meaningless routine, and falling asleep, only to do it all over again. I was stuck in a cycle of gaming addiction, overeating, and laziness. I felt adrift without a map or a destination. Change felt impossible because I didn’t even know which direction to walk.
It wasn't until I started building a vision for my life that things began to shift. A vision isn't some magical dream that appears overnight. It's a compass you build yourself, piece by piece. It gives you direction when you feel lost and purpose when you feel empty. If you feel like you’re just drifting, I get it. I’ve been there. Here are the ten practical steps that helped me find my way.
Look Back to Look Forward
Your past holds important clues. Think about the times you felt most alive and joyful. What were you doing? Who were you with? Also, don’t ignore the pain. My biggest pains—the addiction, the 110 pounds of excess weight, the wasted time—became my greatest motivators for change. They showed me exactly what I didn’t want my future to be. Your past doesn’t define you, but it can teach you. Use those lessons to guide you toward a better future.
Define Your Core Values
What truly matters to you? Not what you think should matter, but what genuinely sits at the core of your being. For me, it came down to a few key things: my Orthodox Christian faith, my family’s well-being, my health, and living with integrity. When you know your values, making decisions becomes simpler. You can ask yourself, “Does this choice align with who I want to be?” If the answer is no, you know which way to go.
Find Your “Why”
A vision without a strong reason behind it is just a daydream. Your "why" is the fuel that keeps you going when motivation fades. My "why" became crystal clear: I wanted to live a life that honored God. I wanted to be healthy enough to serve my family and community. I wanted to stop wasting the precious time I’d been given. Your "why" has to be bigger than just "losing weight" or "being more productive." It needs to connect to your core values and give your struggle a deeper meaning.
Imagine Your Ideal Day
Forget about a five-year plan for a moment. What does one single, ideal day look like for you? Be specific. For me, it wasn’t about being a CEO or living in a mansion. It was simpler. It was waking up early for prayer, eating a healthy breakfast, doing a few hours of focused, meaningful work, exercising, and having quality time with my family in the evening. This exercise makes your vision tangible. It takes it from an abstract idea to something you can actually taste and feel.
Write It Down
Don't just keep your vision in your head. Put it on paper. Write down your values, your "why," and what that ideal day looks like. It doesn’t have to be a formal essay. A few bullet points in a journal or a note on your phone is enough. The act of writing makes it real. It solidifies your thoughts and turns a fleeting idea into a concrete goal you can look at every day.
Talk to Someone You Trust
A vision grows stronger when you share it. Talk to a close friend, a mentor, your spouse, or a spiritual father. Sharing your goals with someone who supports you does two things. It creates accountability, and it allows you to get valuable feedback. Sometimes another person can see a blind spot or offer encouragement right when you need it most. You don't have to do this alone.
Break It Down Into Small Steps
A big vision can feel overwhelming. The key is to break it down into tiny, manageable actions. I didn't lose over 110 pounds by thinking about the total number. That would have crushed me. I lost it by focusing on one healthy meal, then another. One workout, then the next. The same thing happened with my productivity. I didn’t start by trying to work eight hours. I built a routine of short, 2–4 hour bursts of deep work. Celebrate these small wins. They are the building blocks of a transformed life.
Get Quiet and Pray
In the noise of daily life, it’s hard to hear your own heart, let alone hear God. Finding a vision for my life wasn’t about looking inward alone. It was about looking upward. I needed to get quiet and pray. This wasn't about emptying my mind. It was about filling it with a conversation with God. I would ask Him simple questions: "Lord, what do you want for my life? Please guide my steps and show me the path you have for me." True purpose is found when our personal vision aligns with His will.
Embrace Imperfection
You will mess up. You will have bad days. You will fall back into old habits. I certainly did. The goal isn't perfection; it's progress. When you have a bad day, don’t throw in the towel. Just acknowledge it, learn from it, and get back on track with the next small choice. Your vision is your compass, not a rigid set of rules. It’s there to guide you back when you stray off course.
Review and Adjust
A vision isn’t something you create once and never touch again. Life changes. You change. It’s important to check in with yourself regularly. Every few months, take a look at what you wrote down. Does it still resonate? Are your actions moving you closer to it? Maybe a goal needs to be tweaked or a value has become clearer. A vision is a living document that should grow and evolve with you.
Building a vision takes time and effort, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. It’s the difference between drifting aimlessly and navigating with purpose.
So, what’s one small thing you can do today to get a little clearer on where you’re headed?
