Build a Vision out of Burnout
“He, who has a why to live for, can bear with almost any how.”
“He, who has a why to live for, can bear with almost any how.”
Vicktor Frankl – Holocaust Survivor
There in lies an explanation for burnout; if we lose sight of “why” to work hard, we start to go downhill.
How would you like to have a coach work with you on finding YOUR “why”. Well, one thing is you could speak to Barkus - an amazing coach…
This month – something a little different – a practical tool for building a personal vision that drives you through the challenge. Lets go!
What’s a vision statement?
“ A wellness vision statement is a compelling declaration of your desired health-promoting and life-enhancing behaviours. It encapsulates your core values and long-term wellness goals, serving as a motivational guide towards your best self….. It should resonate with your personal desires and provide a clear picture of what you want to achieve, helping to align your daily actions with your overarching wellness objectives”
Spread over 2 coaching sessions, we work to create a powerful, self affirming statement that our clients own and believe in; its challenging to write one for yourself.
Its harder if you don’t have much writing experience.
Even more so if you speak English as a second language.
But it was that scenario that created this awesome opportunity.
Let’s have fun
The answer was a streamlining the input and then calling on ChatGPT for assistance. It was met with looks of horror from my coaching colleagues. There is a lot of pushback against technology in coaching (some of it for very good reason.)
“How can ChatGPT write a personalised vision statement … If the person doesn’t write it then it’s not theirs…”
I believe that AI can drive us to be better humans if that’s the way we design our experience.
Whilst ChatGPT constructed the statement, it was fed with the fuel of the person’s thoughts and dreams which we had coached and extracted.
I honed the process and prepared for the GPT.
Creating your inspirational vision statement
The fuel for the vision statement needs to be personalised with our own thoughts and desires
Under each of these sections, write three a to five bullet points like the examples provided
use bullets, keep them to 1 or 2 lines
write in the present tense – i.e. “I am…”
about things you are doing, things you are feeling
Don’t say what you want, what you need or what you hope for - write in the present tense like you are doing it
Step 1 - talk about the places in your vision
Where are you, how does it look, how does it feel? For example
I’m living between a small luxury apartment in the city and acreage with a view near the beach
at our country property we are surrounded by nature
Step 2 - what are you doing?
Don’t just write what you are doing, but write why you are doing them
I’m training as a martial artist to hone my skills and so that one day I can teach my grandchildren
I’m working on local community projects, developing my own skills and reinvesting back into the world around me
Step 3 – Add some Values
Start flowing and keep them positive
I’m creating a legacy for my family, a place where they can grow and nurture themselves, to plant a tree with my grandchildren that one day, they will shade with their children
A self sustained lifestyle that is balanced with nature promoting a health mind and environment
Step 4 - Set a timeline
Some people like one year, some people like 10 years. You can always change it later.
My vision is for 3 years time (or your time frame)
Step 5 - How Does the upgraded version of you feel
Be aspirational, you have fixed the things that annoy you, free of burdens, live it and dream it
I sleep well and awake refreshed
I feel great in my body as I continue to keep physically active
I read an meditate so my mind is sharp and always learning
Step 6 – Who are you with
Try something like the following, maybe saying what and how you are doing with them
I have great time with my wife , travelling together
I’m spending quality time with friends
I play golf with nearest and dearest
I’m fit and healthy and run around after my grandchildren
Now – Cull the list
Copy and paste all of your bullet points into one long list:
Make sure they are written in the present tense
Ensure they are positive
Preferably as actions
Pick your best 15 to 20 max
Prime the AI / GPT Primer Text
Copy the following text exactly as it is and paste into a brand new document.
“Hi there! Can you please give me some help with a vision statement.
I’m currently enrolled in a 12 week mental fitness and resilience Bootcamp. The first task is to create our own vision statement.
My coach told me a “Vision Statement is a compelling declaration of my desired health-promoting and life-enhancing behaviours. It encapsulates my core values and long-term wellness goals, serving as a motivational guide towards my best self. It resonates with my personal desires and provide a clear picture of what I want to achieve, helping to align my daily actions with my overarching wellness objectives.”
It’s the sort of thing that I will print out, memorise and stick up on the back of my wardrobe door. On the days that I don’t feel motivated to do the work I need to do, one look at this vision statement will pump me up and inspire me. It’s personalised, it’s everything that my best version of self is living.
Can you please give me some help with crafting my own vision statement.
At the end is a series of bullet points which I have worked on with my coach. It should open with a statement something like “in 5 years time” and be based on the information I provide you.
Could you please make it 150 words maximum
It should be written in the first person and in the present tense –not talking about hopes or dreams in the future, but what I am doing, in the present moment, all about me. It should not be repetitive, it should be fun, it should weave in all of my thoughts and values into a coherent statement that defines my best self.
If you have any questions, please ask them before you begin:
It begins with stating the vision timeline – for example “In 5 years time”
These are the bullet point ideas that I want you to help me work with:”
Paste it into ChatGPT
Copy your bullet point list
Paste it below the GPT primer text in that new document
Select ALL of the text in the document, Copy it, Paste into ChatGPT (or your AI of choice)
Press GO
IMPORTANT FINAL STEP
When the GPT finishes – the first time you read it must be out loud to yourself.
Feeling inspired?