Does your vision of the future have room for magic?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during the pandemic, it’s that creating a vision for my future requires some on-the-fly rewrites.
We plan for a future based on what we know of our lives right now, but the way things are right now could be completely different in two years.
Heck, it could be different in two hours.
So, I like to create a vision for my future, knowing I will edit it. If I stay glued to my expected outcomes, there’s no room for magic to happen.
For me, the magic shows up repeatedly when I stay open and say “yes” to possibilities.
Here’s a list of things that I’ve done for money. You’ll probably be able to spot the ones that were part of my goal to climb the corporate ladder. But most of these experiences were not a part of any overarching vision for my life. And many were truly magical.
- Fast food worker
- Bank Teller
- Technical Trainer
- Business Analyst
- IT Project Manager
- Operations Officer
- Improvisor
- Facilitator
- Furniture store representative
- Easter Bunny
- Brand Ambassador
- Live Show Producer
- Convention Host
- Speaker
- Storyteller
- Storytelling Coach
- Presentation Coach
- Audio Book Narrator
- Commercial Actor
- Voice Actor
- Makeup Artist
- Dancer
- Market Researcher
- Art Auction Assistant
- Cheerleading Coach
- Life Coach
- Consultant
- Salesperson
- Pitchperson
- Segway Tour Guide
- Interactive Game Host
- Corporate Entertainer
- Cruiseship Entertainer
- Wedding Singer
- Wedding Officiant
- Production Assistant
- Personal Assistant for Bernadette Peters
I look at this list and laugh because there is NO WAY I could have predicted most of this stuff. Some I did for years and some for just a day. Thank God I don’t have to pull together a resume anytime soon.
Now, as a coach, I know the importance of having a powerful vision for your future. But we can get tied up in planning what we’re going to do and how we will do it and forget the most important part…
Why are we doing it?
The experiences on this list that seem the most disparate from each other I did because my heart said, “yeah, go for it.”
So the question I’ll ask you about your future vision is – What lights you up? What gets you excited? What would be a magical experience that you would love to have in your life?
I’ve had several clients, especially in the last several months, who came to me with a plan about what they want to do and, after deeper work, realize their heart has been whispering something else.
When thinking about your future, if your head and heart disagree, listen to your heart; it knows where the magic is.