A vision
Sunset and moon rise over Wales. Breathtaking natural beauty inspires visions.
I flopped heavily into my chair and dropped the sheath of paper onto the desk. A deep breath to steady my racing heart and cool my burning face. No good, still feeling crap I picked up a stained mug, and made some tea. I needed something familiar, warm, calming before I could even begin to look at what my supervisor had done to the first draft of Chapter 1.
It wasn’t the first draft though; it was at least the third. I had trawled the literature for evidence and ideas, making copious notes. It was like being a detective, each paper leading to another. I had been living in a rabbit warren. Then I’d somehow assembled my ideas and notes into some sort of scribbled order adorned with arrows and stars and circles. Finally, I’d written it all out neatly on A4 lined paper, double-spaced, so that Jeff could write in any comments.
Before me lay sheets of paper cut up into bits, stapled together, each covered in red spidery handwriting. My words were hardly discernible. ‘It will get easier, once you get the hang of it.’ He’d said. I had nodded dumbly.
Cradling the mug, I contemplated the long days, weeks and months stretching ahead of me, was it worth it? Had I the stomach to write the rest? Could I even write? The hot liquid percolated soothingly into my body. I weighed up the past three years, the trust, the grants, the prize at the end. Slowly I picked up the page and looked at what he had done.
Nine months later, surrounded by golden-tipped leaves, the familiar words spread over pristine white paper in a sharp black typeface, dancing across my eyes. The heavy black-bound book with my name in gold letters rested on my lap.
A vision is what kept me going when I thought writing my thesis was impossible to do. A vision of what it would mean to me if I did finish it. A vision of sick disappointment in myself if I didn’t. Although, these days I try to avoid negative visions for my clients and myself.
What do you think of when someone starts talking about a vision?
Your ability to see and what the optician tests.
How you would describe something of beauty ‘She was a vision of loveliness in frothy white tulle.’
Something sent by the divine, which contains a revelation or a message. Maybe as a snapshot picture, a ‘film’, audio; possibly taste, smell or touch; or a strong gut feeling.
Divine visions might appear as dreams because we are less resistant to visions when we are asleep. The Collins definition of a dream is ‘An imaginary series of events that you experience in your mind while you are asleep.’
Often, we are so focused on our present and near future, just surviving the day, navigating work, paying the bills, looking after children or elderly relatives, fulfilling the demands of others, it's hard to even dream. In a lull there might be some day dreaming. A time when you let your thoughts wander like children let out into a secret garden, poking into all sorts of things wondering what will happen if you do this and that; how things might be. It’s not concrete nor do the thoughts hang about for very long, ephemeral they might leave a feeling maybe calm and peace. Maybe sadness, disquiet - uncomfortable.
Sometimes an idea turns into a dream and it hangs around for longer, keeps coming back. Does it stay as a dream or does it become a vision; something more concrete, an intention.
I think of a vision as a clear picture of something formed by your imagination. The difference I believe between a dream and a vision is that dreaming doesn’t move you to where you would like to be. Whatever you are dreaming about stays in your imagination. A clear vision of your intention will. You can hold onto the smells, the tastes, the sounds, what something looks like - colour, size, how it feels texture, weight. All the emotions.
In my work I like to help my clients create a clear vision of their book. How publishing their book could change their lives and help others. How that knowledge will make them feel.
What their book will look and feel like, the emotions that will bubble up when they have published it.
This clarity is very motivating. It’s what will give you the enthusiasm to sit down and write. Images of the person your book will help in your mind will spur you on when your mind gremlins are telling you that all the effort is for nothing. It doesn’t all have to be altruistic either, you are definitely allowed to imagine that feeling of pride when you hold your book in your hands for the first time. Picture all the congratulations and looks of admiration when you tell people you have written a book. Think about the speaking invitations you will have and the extra money from sales. A strong vision will help you finish your book. You need to know why you are writing and also what.
The first step to creating a vision is to reach a relaxed state where you can dream all the possibilities, then capture it all. I have put together a meditative visualisation with writing prompts, which will help you do just that. You can find it here.
You can then make your vision even stronger by creating a vision board. This is a collage of images, pictures, designs, affirmations or words that encapsulate your vision. It can be physical or digital; whatever the format, place it where you can look at it often.
Happy visioning!
Subscribe to my newsletter below to recieve my blogs and occasional updates