Vision and Belief are like Cookies and (Chocolate) Milk

Maybe you would disagree, but to me, cookies and milk is a match made in heaven.  They just go together.  Can you enjoy cookies without milk?  Sure, as long as they are Oreos or homemade chocolate chip cookies.  Is a glass of milk refreshing by itself?  Personally, I can’t drink plain white milk, so it must be chocolate milk.  Cookies and milk are good by themselves, but put them together, and you have a perfect recipe for a satisfying dessert or snack.  A little sugar, a little chocolate, some protein, and added calcium for our bones.  Can’t beat it!

Vision and belief is another perfect match in life.  Without a vision, you don’t know where you are going.  Even if you believe in yourself, you will still wander around with no direction.  Likewise, if you have a vision, but don’t believe you can get there, you won’t move very far.  You need both vision and belief.

What is your vision?  Vision is your ability to clearly see what you want in your life.  Getting clear happens when we focus on what is important to us, and tap into who we are, with all our dreams and passions.  Some of us have a business vision.  Others have a vision of how they want their marriage or family to look.  Maybe you have a plan for what you want to accomplish in the next day, week, or month.  Our vision can be a short term or long term picture, or both.

For example, as a parent, I have a vision of who I want my child to be when he goes off to college in another two years.  I picture him being responsible with his academics, able to take care of himself, and having the skills he needs to function in an adult world, without my supervision.  Without this vision, I cannot see what I need to do as a parent to prepare him for the future.  Does he know how to wash and iron his clothes?  Can he fix himself a nutritious meal?  Are his study habits and choices going to ensure him reasonable success in college?  If not, I have some work to do.  With a vision, I can see where I am today compared to where I want to be in the future.  A vision highlights the gaps, and helps you set forward-moving goals.

Belief is what gives you the confidence that you can realize your vision.  Do you believe in yourself and have faith that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to?  If not, you will get stuck or sabotage your success.  Belief requires us to take an honest look at our strengths, and own them.  It is not going to be helpful to focus on what we believe we lack.  The world will deliver to you exactly what you believe you deserve.  If you believe you deserve to be paid $50,000 for your skills and expertise, and you act as if you truly believe it, someone will pay you $50,000.

My son is a naturally talented baseball player.  He has speed, the ability to hit on both sides of the plate, and his coach says he has a “cannon” at the end of his arm.  His peers on the football team recently commented, “You know Kai is a really good baseball player, but he needs to have more confidence in himself.”  People will pick up on a lack of belief – we act different when we feel insecure, and our energy reflects that.  I always tell my son, “You have to visualize walking up to the plate, see the ball thrown from the pitcher’s hand, and picture yourself crushing the ball into a gap in the outfield.  You have to believe, in the deepest part of your soul, that you can hit the ball.”

What do you want for your life, and how do you see yourself?  Do you have a crystal clear vision, and the belief it takes to realize your goals?  If not, go have some cookies and milk and think about what you need to do to develop vision and belief.