The vision questions we need to answer are not necessarily the ones we ask when we begin our internal dialogue. Let’s listen in to an imaginary conversation with Julian, who works in the kitchen of a large hotel.

Julian asks, “I wonder if I’m going to earn overtime tonight? What if Joe leaves early? Will I need to clean up his section, too? Does anyone appreciate me for the work I’m doing here? Why am I in this job, anyway?”

At first, Julian thinks about mundane aspects of his work. His intuition lets him consider the nature of his work and what he can anticipate. Then his perception takes over, and he finds himself asking a profound question: “Why am I in this job, anyway?” This is a genuine vision question for Julian.

Let’s assume Julian is paying attention and is struck by the significance of his question. He would consider whether his job was meaningful to him. He wouldn’t consider any other sidetracks, like, “Yes, but it pays the bills.” Or “I have no college education, so this is as good a job as I can get,” or “The economy is depressed, so I’d better play it safe and just suck it up.”

When we clutter our minds with all the reasons we cannot possibly be successful in taking the next step, we foil our Vision Keeper’s efforts. We either give up, or else willpower takes over and we try to make our situation work by sheer muscle. We all know the result of such efforts: disaster, and wasted time and effort.

Our authentic selves fuel our vision effortlessly. We show up to do our best, with total confidence in the outcome because we’ve given the outcome to the Creator. I find it useful to ask myself, “Am I working for God, or am I working for myself?” Where I feel the reaction inside of me tells me the truth. If I feel it in my gut as opposed to my heart, I’m probably working for myself.

If Julian were staying true to his vision, he might conclude that, for him, the only value comes from working with the other staff members, helping them feel better about themselves. Realizing this, he might begin to understand that while his job provides a small slice of what is significant to him, he needs a larger slice of what he loves. Julian has choices; he can decide to get some training and begin working with troubled teens. He’d be moving closer to a full-time experience that would give his life greater meaning.

Vision isn’t guiding us to just another job. It is guiding us into full-time participation in the experiences that offer us the greatest meaning. Vision Keeper is at work in everyone’s life and cares only about spreading love, encouragement, and opportunity into every open hand and heart. Everyone has a fair shot at finding his or her vision and turning it into a living presence in their lives.

We might wonder about people who are very successful financially but seem interested only in making money no matter how they do it. Are such people being guided by their Vision Keepers? I’ve learned from experience that we’re wise not to judge such people because we do not understand the bigger picture of their lives. One thing we can know is that, as we age, Vision Keeper has a distinct advantage, because our minds turn naturally to the legacy we will leave our children and the world.

We all want to leave a positive mark. Money, power, and position may matter in the short term, but they don’t count when we are ready to leave the Earth. The vision we lived is all that will comfort us. Money, power, and position are not necessarily evil things; the way we use them is what makes them valuable in the world. Money, power, and position, driven by vision from an authentic heart, can change the world.

Never underestimate the power of the Vision Keeper to make use of every one of our passions, turning our self-serving interests into community-serving ones. Vision Keeper is an equal-opportunity employer.

(Adapted from: chapter 3, Wisdom Bowls; Overcoming Fear and Coming Home to your Authentic Self.  Stillpoint Publishing, 2002)

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Meredith Young-Sowers is a spiritual teacher, an intuitive healer, and the founder/director of the Stillpoint School of Advanced Energy Healing. She is also the author of 6 popular books, including her latest one, Wisdom Bowls; Overcoming Fear and Coming Home to Your Authentic Self.  Wisdom Bowls was a finalist for a 2003 Nautilus Award. Visit our websites for more information about Meredith, the Stillpoint School, and the time and places where she will be talking and teaching: www.meredithyoung-sowers.com and www.wisdombowls.com. Or, call Stillpoint, at 1-800-847-4014, and ask for information.