Vivid Imagination
The ability to picture ourselves in a situation, time or event is an amazing feeling but it is 2-edged in that it may or may not come to pass.
Hey there,
Everyone with a smartphone and access to the internet sees at least one trend every week. I mean, there is always something new someone wants to share with the whole world. One of the trends that has popped up in recent times is the “Vivid Imagination” trend.
People showcase themselves celebrating a goal, milestone or some accomplishment and then insert the “Vivid Imagination” song at the end to reveal that it’s not true or did not happen.
They are mostly funny and not meant to be taken too seriously, so if you come across any of them, don’t think too deeply about it.
Well, I wish someone had given me this advice before I started thinking about the fact that everyone has, at some point in their lives, set their heart on a particular goal, and after a while or the proposed/set date of accomplishment, there was nothing to show for it.
Softly inserts “Vivid Imagination.”
Since I have already gone down this train of thought, let’s keep that energy and talk about the first time I got a chance to do a “Life Map”.
Quick tutorial...
A life map is a timeline or map that includes key moments from the past, helping you gain a broader perspective of the goals you're trying to achieve and your progress toward those goals
I was on a design mentorship program with Victor and Bolaji from Fourth Canvas, a top design agency based in Lagos, Nigeria, when the concept was first introduced. Though my main goal for joining the mentorship program was to increase my earning capacity as a designer, that exercise helped me understand what I wanted for my life, long-term and short-term.
Interestingly, the things I wrote helped me decide to start this newsletter.
We had an outline for creating a life map and some guiding questions.
Write out where you are now
Write what you think your purpose in life is
Write at least 3 ways you envision fulfilling your purpose, i.e. Purpose direction.
Picture yourself going in those directions and then write what you would have achieved for each in 5 years.
Make it as accurate as possible. What rank would you have? How much money? How large is your audience?
Create a vision board. Download pictures of what your life would look like. Car, home, family, anything.
What are your personal values?
Begin to prioritize your vision and then write the little thing you could begin to
List some habits you need to change or have to achieve these goals
Finalise your list of actions to take and attach a deadline to them. Remember baby steps
Having done mine and seeing how it can help, I have a few tips:
Take your time with the map
Don’t overthink any detail. You can always edit
The most essential part is acting on it. Writing the plan is only half the work.
As for me, my loved ones and the people in my circle, we achieve everything we set out eyes on, no matter what.
Not by wishful thinking or imagination but by planning and execution. It’s not a question of “If we will”. It’s about “when we will”.
Cheers.
Two things to note
Having a wild imagination is great, but until action is taken, it’s pointless.
If you can, chase your goals with friends. It easier.
Designer or not, you would love this
For more context on Life mapping, watch this.
Here’s a link to the real song “Vivid Imagination”.