Looking into the New

“Don’t let life’s distractions

eclipse your long-term vision”

In photography, a wide-angle lens represents any lens that has a wider field of view than what the human eye can see. Wide angle lenses distort things and enhance perspective with good composition and lightning. I’m not an expert in photography but I’d like to think of my vision as my wide-angle lens because looking at the big picture enables us to be more future-ready and conditioned for what the future might hold.

Our vision is ours and nobody can take it away from us. 7 months ago I was flying, dealing with different projects at work, taking more initiatives in areas of interest as well as making time for my family, my number one priority.

I thought everything was fine and under control until the control was taken away as I stumbled down an escalator and fell while on a business trip. Shortly after that, I had the longest 60 seconds of my life where I thought “Is that all?” Then I seized the opportunity to swap platform within a matter of seconds and landed on the green safe platform.

Today I’m grateful to stand on my feet and look into the New. I have since embraced a new quote as my motto: “Don’t let life’s distractions eclipse your long-term vision”. This is also the promise I made to myself. Setting ourselves up with a full perspective for what the future has in store requires a structure.

• First things first, pause. We cannot create a strong vision by running more than we have strength. Slowing down allows us to re-think, reflect, adjust and get the best tool to start building from where we stand.

• Create your vision! We cannot drive from point A to point B, to a place we have never been before without a plan or a GPRS. Similarly, the photographer needs wide angle lenses to gain altitude. To discover the valley and capture good shots he has to go up high. Our vision gives us long-term depth and perspective.

• Set up long-term goals. Fulfilling big goals requires the achievement of small baby steps, the small steps that create a big impact. It helps us assess and measure how we are doing against our long-term vision. It is also encouraging for our mindset not to have to wait so long to celebrate success.

• Start where you are, don’t look back unless you are gaining momentum to build ahead. I had 60 seconds to review the past, acknowledge it and immerse myself in the new. Be well grounded in the present is key to find direction. We cannot design a path for the future by constantly returning to the past or be emotional about it.

• Don’t let life’s distractions eclipse your long-term vision. Setting ourselves up with our glasses of belief, courage and discipline lays a sure foundation for what the future might hold. Nevertheless, it doesn’t guarantee there won’t be stumbling blocks on our way but it will help us turn them into stepping stones. There is an opposition to all things. Like the photographer’s wide-angle lens distorting things and enhancing perspective, life’s challenges will attempt to divert our focus but not at the point to get us off track. If we hold to the iron rod whatever it may be for you, the challenges we have will give us strength, momentum and speed to press forward with an eye into the new, into a perfect brightness of hope for what the future might hold.