To work the soul is to go within;
That is where the treasure dwells.
But in yearning to see its beauty,
the plight of hardship often swells.
A wise woman once warned of perils
that will distract us from the plan.
"Untilled ground, however rich, will bring forth thistles and thorns;
so also the mind of man." (~St. Teresa of Avila)
What grounds have you yet to till
to realize your dream close at hand?
Idle Hands, Without a Dream
They say that “idle hands are the devil’s work.” St. Teresa of Avila was not that far off when she spoke of thistles and thorns littering untilled grounds, much like a person’s mind might craze when they leave their hands sentient.
How much idleness do we see these days? Just recently, in the US at least, how much idleness was forced upon us, and to what end? It is this sitting still, with little to do, that may be at the heart of the mental health crises so prevalent among children and adults alike.
However, we must also have a direction to put those hands to work to be truly present and productive. In my decades of psychological practice, I see this as a fundamental problem that appears as an ever-increasing after-effect of wandering souls who lack a clear vision or a course for which to aspire. However, I am also a man of faith who realizes that even in the most lost of moments, the spirit of the human soul is encounterable if one listens quietly, intently, for what may be the inner guiding voice of the Self.
Define Your Personal Vision
All dreams start with a personal vision. This vision creates a starting point to chart a course and advance confidently in that dream’s direction. While crafting a personal vision may sound cliche, it is a cornerstone of our developmental journey. While creating a unique vision may sound easy, elements of our past may stand in the way of creating a personal vision statement.
As a psychotherapist, I cannot help but notice a collective weight in our modern world. Everything from social institutions to the most basic building blocks of life, the individual and the family to which they belong or create, seems to crumble under the pressure of this weight. What gives? Has the stress become so pressured that it creates a collective paralysis?
While this may be hypothetical, medical science would agree that the number one detriment facing society today is the effects of hypertension and stress on the body and mind. I will have you ponder, for one moment, what effect developing a personal vision statement will have on helping you to define a direction to channel the stress you will undertake to realize a dream.
For years, I have written on the power of dreams. They are essential, but maybe too fluffy, out in the clouds, ethereal, or even a ploy to distract you from a genuine problem at hand, or what St. Teresa of Avila drew attention to, the untilled ground of the mind. Laziness occurs when one lacks hunger, a devil’s playground unfolded within the psyche of the bored. However, by writing a personal vision statement, we create a channel to focus our energy toward creating worlds of inner and outer possibility.
Engage Your Personal Vision
So, you may ask, “How to write a personal vision statement?” It would help to have a piece of paper, a pen, and a little time. If not, open a new computer file entitled “personal development” and create a vision statement.
Second, find a relaxing place to let your mind wander. Dream the biggest dreams you can. It could be a family trip around the world. It could be retirement at an early age. It could be paying the house or the car off. Don’t judge; this is your exercise. You don’t have to share it with anyone. You are only in the brainstorming part of this exercise, one geared to open and engage your active imagination.
Once you grasp the image, see if it needs expanding. Expanding upon your vision may mean that the vision needs to be more significant. Your family trip may be the start of building an adventurous life, seeing the most exotic places in the world, and learning about new cultures and customs with those you love.
Your vision may need to shrink and focus. When a vision is too grand or may have too many moving parts, focus may be a factor that helps you put it into perspective. The example above could look like this: My wife has always wanted to see Bali. Let’s go there for our next anniversary. By engaging in an exercise like this, you have just awakened your ability to dream and hone your capacity to envision, the first steps in creating your personal vision.
Lastly, write this vision down. Your dreams are your own. They create how you measure your life successes. As you develop your dream, plan for its creation. Your plan shows your ability to captain your life, chart a course, and get from here to that moment you realize your destination’s intent.
Lastly, as you advance confidently in the direction of that destination, you will eventually meet its end. Success will be yours from that moment, including the self-esteem that follows. What could you do with a bit of self-esteem like that? It may lead to more successful outcomes yet to come. How would that feel as a starting point to chart the course to your life’s intent?
As always, my friends, let blessings find you on your journey to envision, chart a course, see, and advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.
More from Dr. Tom
A Sacred Journey Podcast
It is our choice to believe in the beauty of dreams unfolding. When we direct our mind’s eye to belief, faith guides us in the direction necessary to realize our Self as it unfolds into its most optimal being.
Are you being your best possible Self? Dr. Thomas Maples explores our personal and collective journey to realize our ultimate potential through the lens of psychology, personal development, and the myths that drive our journey forward.
Fill Your Glass: The Disciplined Practice of Loving-Kindness – A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens
- Fill Your Glass: The Disciplined Practice of Loving-Kindness
- The Architecture of Joy: Navigating Darkness to Find Your Light
- How to Find Spiritual Grounding: Healing a Fractured Soul through Integrity
- The Unshakable Anchor: Building Hope in a Fractured World
- Finding Grace in the Messy: Catholic Wisdom and the Psychology of Intentional Parenting
