How to Begin with the End in Mind

Begin with the End in Mind and Live Your Vision Forward.

Habit #2 “Begin with the End in Mind” in the book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” will always be a practical tip that is timeless, even though the life of its author, Steven Covey, had just ended. More than 20 million copies in 40 languages of the best-selling book has already been sold since its publication in 1989. According to Steven Covey, “Begin with the End in Mind” is based on the principle that all things are created twice; first the mental creation and then the physical creation.

We might already have seen this tip being applied but not be conscious of it. For instance, an architect needs to have a mental picture before construction of a house can begin. On your own, prior to going on a trip, you need to know where your destination is before you can start booking the tour. In a third example, you are well advised to have some vision or mission plan before starting up a business. As it is said in the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”: Most businesses failures begin in the first creation, with problems such as undercapitalization, misunderstanding of the market, or lack of a business plan.

Steven Covey’s “Begin with the End in Mind” is a statement that I have quoted in my Life Vision Mastery Program.

You see….what is “Begin with the End in Mind” in a word?

Essentially, it is to visionk(and visualize).

Allow me to explain further, drawing on sources such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Law of Attraction, spiritual awareness, teaching Vision Board workshop classes, personal discovery and so on (essentially what is covered in the Life Vision Mastery Program).

Visioning is to Begin With the End in Mind

“We are more in need of a vision or destination and a compass (a set of principles or directions) and less in need of a road map.” – Steven Covey

In short, if you want a certain physical result, you will need to use your active imagination to have a mental frame of reference.

Visioning incorporates the use of visualization exercises.

You have to actively imagine an ideal picture that you would like to bring forward.

You are connected with joy in the present moment even as you visualize your future.

The more connected you are, the more it feels as if the ideal picture of who you are has already manifested.

Visualization shifts your vibrations positively.

While this is not from Covey’s leadership book but as we already know, our positive vibrations allow us to leverage on the Law of Attraction favorably. Like attracts like; thus, we draw the resources that are in alignment with our dream. It is how we turn our vision into reality.

Values To Create Powerful Vision

A vision can only be powerful if it rests on your values. You are not easily shaken in the face of challenges. You are able to act with integrity, authenticity and decisiveness. Thus, you do not just visualize but you need to develop a vision that is value-driven.

A value-driven vision is formed from self-awareness. You need to know what the guiding principles of your life are. Values are what you stand for. They provide a frame of reference for which you navigate and make decisions.

Practical Exercises for “Begin With The End in Mind”

1. Visualization

In your mental studio, you see yourself living the life you have always dreamed of.

You experience, in your mind, the picture of how you would like things to be.

You visualize a new script for yourself, rather than the one that you have been using for years.

The possibilities are endless and you allow your imagination to stretch.

Sounds good? But what happens if you do not know how to start visualizing for the purpo3e of envisioning your future self?

You could do with some help. The Life Vision Mastery Program comes with a set of 5 guided visualizations to help you kick-start the process.

As you listen in, you completely relax.

The audios take you traveling along the pathway of your heart and connecting with your ideal mental picture.

It does not matter even if you have no or little idea about what your vision is.

The idea is to get started.

You activate your subconscious so that it starts to combine and recombine the data to make some meaning for you. You also activate your subconscious to start tokdraw the answers to the questions in your heart.

2. Value Alignment

Not all of us place equal importance on one value. And so what are the values that you are most aligned with? For instance, mine are creativity, self-love and abundance. These values are clearly reflected on my website and the books and products I create.

Without knowing what your values are, you can become unfocused and “all over the place”. In the Life Vision Mastery Program, there is a Value Alignment exercise that you can do. There are also other worksheet exercises that you can complete for greater self-discovery.

3. Vision Board to Bring Your Vision Forward

Your subconscious mind thinks in terms of pictures. That is why mental movies work far better than just using words to describe your vision. You create the ideal picture in your mind to bring your vision forward.

An obstacle to some people, however, is that they find it hard to visualize. Nothing seems to come to mind. They have difficulty forming a mental picture clearly. Hence, if you are one of these people, consider making a vision board. Getting one madekphysically builds clarity. Thereafter, by focusing your attention on your physical board on a regular basis, you create the subconscious imprinting.

You can get how-tos, examples and best tips for making vision boards in the Life Vision Mastery Program. The Program also provides explanations about leveraging on the Law of Attraction more effectively.

Make “Begin with the End in Mind” a Habit

“Habits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness…..or ineffectiveness.” Steven Covey

A habit is a behavior that you repeat often. Habits can be learned or unlearned. Thus, to model after effective and successful people, let’s learn from them a useful habit. And one being “Begin with the End in Mind”. For more info or additional help, check out Life Vision Mastery here >>>

Finally, I wish to thank Steven Covey for his inspirational book. He had certainly led a life that mattered. He created a legacy no doubt. Even though it was published years ago, his book continues to occupy a space in my personal library and I suspect for many more years to come.

To your visioning success,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach.
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