The World Race teaches a lot of things, and one of those things is self awareness. We talk a lot about vision statements and the importance of having vision statements for your team, your journey, and yourself. Building a vision statement for you life is a pretty intimidating thing to sit down and write out though.
One of Adventures in Missions greatest assets is the Willis’. Kylie is such a great woman of the Lord and has taught me so much over the last few months about how to dream with the Lord and look at the dreams He has given me. She showed me how to do a “Dream Inventory.” It where you look at all the dreams you have ever had, your values, and how the Lord has connected all the parts of you together. Then, you use the themes you see to create a vision statement. I did mine and I want to share it with you! Consider doing this too! There six steps, so strap in. 🙂
Step 1: Write down all your dreams, big and small. Write everything that comes to mind and don’t filter it! If you think of it, write it down! Here are mine:
get married, have kids, adopt kids, work for a ministry, work for a church, career in worship music, open a coffee shop and creperie, be mentored by Lauren Daigle or Jess Ray, go on a family mission trip (my family and my future family), release a worship album, speak Spanish fluently, learn to play my mandolin really well, host a small group at my house, coach a swim team, learn photography, learn to ice skate, learn to sail, lead short term mission teams, start a non-profit, design graphics for devotional bibles and online devotionals, write worship music with a writing team, connect pastors in the US with international pastors, paint a mural, go to grad school or seminary, help mobilize missionaries, memorize more verses, dance to “It must be Love” by Alan Jackson at my wedding; dance with my parents, grandparents, husband, and his parents and grandparents at our wedding; go to the Hillsong Conference, play in a big worship band, coordinated family Halloween costumes and Christmas PJ sets with my husband and kids, learn to play the cello, beach trips with my husband and kids, learn to be a barista
Step 2: Write down all the dreams you have ever had that came true- once again, big and small! The Lord hears us, am I right?!? He is the best.
go on the World Race, teach ESL, lead worship, graduate from UNCW, get in to UNCW, climbing a lighthouse, living at the beach, fully funded for the World Race, Mamaw Effie at my UNCW graduation, studying in Belize, leading Footprints Mission Camp at Camp Rockfish, getting my guitar fixed, getting a dog (I know you at a dig and can’t read but I miss ya Rosie), go to France, run a mud run, have deep friendships, be a maid of Honor, go camping in Colorado, go to the top of Pikes Peak, learn to scuba dive, go to Koh Samet, learn to paddle board, work at the Kayak CO. in Southport, wear a Sari in India, play on a worship team, lead a small group, learn to play guitar, learn to sing, take dance lessons, learn to river dance, have a class of students that I dearly love, teach with one of my best friends (Shout out LY 🙂 ), beach trips with friends, go to the STL Arch (TT and Lawsons shout out :)), the Lord giving me spiritual family each place I have lived, Generations Church, teaching, praying in my prayer language, seeing the Lord heal people in front of my eyes, teaching on Worship, working at a summer camp, reading the whole Bible- cover to cover, loving God’s word, Loving Quiet time
Step 3: Next 12 months. Write goals you can accomplish in the next 12 months.
Get fluent in conversational Spanish, lead a mission team back to Thailand, get a Post World Race life plan, write a song in each country, get good at yoga, Learn to read sheet music
Step 4: Write your WOW moments. Things that made you feel alive! Thank the Lord for these things! (Think last 12 months)
Actually liking Asia, playing worship around the world, praying in my prayer language, beach trip in Thailand, going on the World Race, getting fully funded, playing in the July 4th concert in Southport, loving on kids around the world, looking at the mountains surrounding Kathmandu, seeing Mt. Everest, seeing healings, team leading, having a family of people who support me, Baptizing Trinity (shout out T!), Harden’s Limo ride and my commissioning parties before the race, reading my letters from supporters, teaching on worship at Leadership Development Weekend, being able to talk to my parents and family on the other side of the world, giving Thai boys a haircut, teaching guitar in India
Step 5: Look for themes! What keeps popping up? What are your values?
My top values are creativity, variety, authenticity, joy, connection, peace, dependability, faith, love, and wisdom.
The themes I see in my lists above are music and worship, connection, learning new things, and bringing people into the Lord’s family and my own. I desire to connect with people walk in authentic relationships!
Step 6: Now use that to create your vision statement! Here is mine:
Chase the Lord. Sing unto the Lord.
Spread Joy. Keep learning.
Bring people in.
If you do all this, comment your vision statement below!!! It took me about an hour to do this, so really block off some time and Ask the Lord to reveal your desires and dreams. Something the Lord taught me in India was that I do not need to protect my dreams from the Lord. I should protect them from the enemy and the world, but not from the Lord. He put most of these in my heart! He created me with purpose and knew my dreams before anyone even knew me. This is such a fun activity. The Lord is just so good y’all. Can’t wait to hear what you get and as always, thank you so much for your prayers and support.
