I used to wake up every day with no real direction.
My life was a loop of bad habits. I’d lose myself in video games for hours, numb my feelings with food, and let my health slide. I felt stuck, like I was drifting through life on a raft with no paddle, just going wherever the current took me. Change felt like a mountain I could never climb. Maybe you know that feeling. The sense that you're meant for more but have no idea how to get there.
Creating a vision for your future sounds like a huge, intimidating task. But it doesn’t have to be. It’s not about having a perfect five-year plan. It’s about getting a little clearer on where you want to go so you can start taking small steps in the right direction. It's about trading the drift for direction.
Here are the 10 steps that helped me go from feeling lost to building a life with purpose.
1. Be Honest About Where You Are
You can't get directions to a new place without knowing your starting point. Take a gentle but honest look at your life right now. What’s working? What isn’t? Look at your health, your relationships, your work, and your spiritual life. Don’t judge yourself. Just observe. Acknowledging reality is the first step toward changing it.
2. Look to Your Past for Clues
Think back to when you were a kid. What did you love to do? What were you naturally good at? Often, the things that brought us joy before the world told us what we should be are clues to our true passions. For me, I always loved building things and solving problems, which I now see in how I approach my work and my routines. Your past holds hints about the future you’ll find fulfilling.
3. Define What Truly Matters
Your values are your compass. They guide your decisions when you’re not sure which way to turn. What is most important to you? Is it faith? Family? Honesty? Health? Freedom? Write down your top three to five values. A vision that doesn't align with your core values will never feel right. It will always feel like you're wearing someone else's shoes.
4. Let Yourself Dream a Little
Forget about limitations for just a few minutes. If you couldn’t fail, what would you want your life to look like in five years? What would an ideal day feel like? Who would you be with? What would you be doing? Don’t worry about the "how" just yet. The point is to give yourself permission to think beyond your current circumstances and get excited about the possibilities.
5. Write It Down
A dream in your head is just a wish. A dream on paper is the start of a plan. Take those big ideas from the last step and write them down. Be as specific as you can. Instead of "I want to be healthy," write "I want to have the energy to hike on weekends and feel strong in my daily life." Writing it down makes it real and tangible. It’s a declaration to yourself that this matters.
6. Bring It to God in Prayer
For me, this step is everything. A vision I create on my own is limited. A vision I build with God has a much stronger foundation. I don’t just present God with my list of demands. I ask for His guidance. I pray that He aligns my desires with His will for me. This changes my vision from being self-serving to being purpose-driven. It brings a sense of peace, knowing I’m not in this alone.
7. Break It Into Smaller Pieces
A big vision can feel overwhelming. The key is to break it down. If your vision is to be physically healthy, what does that look like this year? Maybe it’s losing 20 pounds. What does that look like this month? Maybe it’s walking three times a week. What does that look like today? Drinking a glass of water right now instead of a soda. Small, manageable pieces make the journey possible.
8. Find Your Deeper "Why"
Your "why" is the fuel that will keep you going when motivation fades. Why do you want this vision? What is the deeper purpose behind it? When I started my health journey, my "why" was more than just losing weight. I realized my body was a gift from God, and I wasn't treating it well. My "why" became about honoring Him with the life He gave me. That purpose was far more powerful than just wanting to look better. It carried me through the tough days.
9. Create a Simple Reminder
Put your written vision somewhere you’ll see it regularly. It could be a note taped to your bathroom mirror, a sentence on a sticky note on your computer, or the lock screen on your phone. This isn’t a magic trick. It's simply a tool to keep your goal at the front of your mind. When you see it every day, it helps you make small choices that align with where you want to go.
10. Take One Small Step Today
This is the most important step of all. A vision means nothing without action. Don’t try to change your entire life overnight. That’s a recipe for burnout. Just pick one thing. One tiny, almost laughably small action you can take right now.
When I wanted to lose over 110 pounds, my first step wasn’t a crazy diet or intense workout plan. It was deciding to drink one less can of soda a day. That’s it. That one small win gave me the confidence to take another, and another. Progress is built on small, consistent steps, not giant leaps.
Creating a vision for your future is a journey of discovery. It’s about listening to your heart, seeking guidance, and having the courage to take that first small step. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to start.
So, what’s one small thing you can do today to get one step closer to the life you want to live?
