Prioritizing Your Vision Amidst a Helping Heart

Helping too much? Is that even possible?

We see a need; we want to fill it. We see somewhere that can use our talents and skills, we want to help. It’s easy for us to see where we can pour into and jump in where help is needed.

It’s not our fault. Our hearts are big. We’re helpers.

But are you so busy helping everyone else that your vision has fallen through the cracks?

Helping Isn't the Problem

The problem is when the helping causes us to abandon our own vision that helps others.

We run around helping here, helping there, building up everyone else’s visions, that we have no energy or time left to work on, let alone think about, our vision. So, the vision, the one placed in your heart that only you can bring forth, gets put on the back burner. Again.

And if you do manage to muster up time and energy to work on your vision, it only gets partial attention, because then you’re back to ripping and running again.

If no one has told you, let me be the first one to tell you: Your vision is important too.

It’s great what everyone else is doing, how they’re helping others. And we should all work together to make this world a better place. But this world also needs YOU, YOUR VISION, and your unique approach to helping others. Because there are those who specifically need you, your vision, and your unique approach to helping them

The Solution

Focus ONLY on what’s important for you to accomplish in this season.

That way when you look back at this season, it is not with resentment and regret but knowing that not only did you help people, but you did what you were meant to do. You accomplished purpose

I know, easier said than done. Here’s what I do and advise those I work with to do:

1. Define Your Season

Determine what is important for you to accomplish in this season. When you define your season, you define your focus.

A season can be the next 3 months, 6 months, over the next year, or a life or vision stage. For me, my season spans over this year and what’s important to me is improving my health, continuing to build Just Clear and Simple, connecting more with Chris, my husband, and developing relationships with family and friends. 

What is important for you?

2. Say No to Outliers

   
   

   

   
   

To everything that falls outside of what you’ve defined as important for you in this season, say no. I get it. Saying no is hard, especially when you like helping people. You might even feel guilty for turning them down. You don’t have to be mean about it; but if you’re serious about your vision, you do have to say no to the outliers.

Why? Because when you say no to what lies outside of what’s important for you to accomplish in this season, it allows you to say yes to you, your vision, and those it is meant to help and have the time and energy to bring your vision forth.

Even as I write this, I can hear you saying "But they need me. I can't just leave them hanging. " You don't have to leave them hanging. You can put a transition plan in place, including helping to find your replacement or beginning to train someone on your team to do more of what you do, thus creating space for you to take time for your vision.

Now let me warn you, those and the visions you've been helping may not be thrilled when you decide to focus more on your own vision. They'll probably try to keep you around, so you'll need to be firm about what you need and what you can and cannot do and continually remind yourself that your vision is important too.

3. Be Intentional About Your Vision

Wishing your vision into existence won’t get your vision built. Set aside time to intentionally work on your vision and follow through. It doesn’t have to be built fast. You do have to be consistent and intentional.

Every step forward you take with your vision the more it becomes reality and the closer you get to those you are meant to help

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Putting It into Action

• Take 30 minutes to sit down and write down your responses to following questions: (Writing it down helps to make it real.)

  • What are my priorities for this season - for my life and for my vision?

  • What are my goals for my priorities in this season?

  • What are the outliers - things taking away my focus from my priorities?

• Make a plan. Once you’ve identified your priorities and goals, plan out how you want to meet the goals you’ve laid out.

  • If you need to develop a transition plan, be straightforward and determined, but also show you're open to collaboration. Aim for a solution that works well for everyone and makes the transition smooth.

• Keep your vision in front of you. Do one thing for your vision every day, even if it's just taking a moment to think and get your own mind organized regarding things or flush out next steps for your vision. I have many of these. What is one thing you can do for your vision today?

• Block out specific time(s) in your weekly schedule to focus on your vision. For any space that remains, you can give to outliers or better yet, fill them with what fills you. Revisit my last bi-weekly tips or read it here on my blog.

• Find an accountability buddy. If you find it hard to stay on track or saying no to the outliers, it helps to have a friend or someone in your life to keep you accountable.

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Comment and Share

Comment below and let me know what came to mind as you read this post and how things went when you applied the tips above. If you found these tips helpful, let me know that too! 😊

And share this post if you know of someone who has a vision that helps others that could be helped by these tips.