If you've ever tried to "create" a vision, you may have been disappointed by the results. The truth is, your vision is already in place and guides the decisions you make in both your personal and professional life. Instead of creating a vision, the real goal is to capture it....and put it to work for you.

How do you do that? Close your eyes. When you ask yourself what you really want to do, to have, or to be...what do you see? Get into the details of the vision. Once you've got it, put it down on paper. Read it out loud and if something seems "off", close your eyes again. Keep revising until you feel absolutely sure you're telling the truth. You should feel calm and inspired.

Don't be surprised if at this point you hear a nasty little voice in your head that says your vision is not realistic. That voice is your inner critic - the safety mechanism that kicks into high gear when it perceives you are about to grow and change. The challenge is to blow past the critic - to grab onto your vision and claim it as your own.

The best way to do this is to get into action. Choose three steps you can take today to move toward your vision. Get all the support you need to continue your momentum. Your vision deserves the chance to become

What transforms your vague dreams and longings into tangible goals that can be achieved? A fleshed-out, no-holds-barred, authentic to the core vision. Your vision is what you see as possible for yourself and others.

In First Things First, Stephen Covey's follow-up to The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, he says, "More than any other factor, vision affects the choices we make and the way we spend our time." He goes on to describe how easily our visions are corrupted by the "images" we are exposed to. It pays off to realize that a lot of things influence what we hold as possible for ourselves -- social pressures; focusing on material needs only; and the labels that other people have handed us.

What do you believe is possible for yourself and for the world? Take the time to envision greatness. Ask yourself the question, "Wouldn't it be great if.........." See what pops up for you and get the details down on paper. If you feel a little intimidated by the enormity of your vision, remember what Marianne Williamson says, "...our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure...We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you NOT to be? Your playing small doesn't serve the world."