Most people have some kind of vision for their lives—whether they’re consciously aware of it or not. If you have a client struggling with motivation or finding it difficult to choose or prioritize their goals, suggest life vision journaling. This task could help them discover inner motivation, inspiration and direction.

Please feel free to use any or all of the three journaling exercises listed below that you think will best suit your client. Ask them to write out what they imagine in as much detail as possible, and then coach them around their results. What was the experience like for them? How did it feel? What surprised them? What did they notice or learn about themselves? What might they do next with those learnings?

These journaling exercises can be given in individual or group coaching sessions, workshops or teleseminars, and they make fantastic homework. Each exercise takes 20-30 minutes, although your clients can spend longer if they want.

These life vision journaling exercises can be a fun way for your clients to get to know themselves better and find new meaning and purpose in life!

Some journaling tips to suggest to your clients:

• Just put pen to paper and write. Then, see what happens!
• Don’t worry about grammar or spelling—it’s about capturing the essence of your vision.
• Quiet the inner critic and let your imagination go.

1) The Rocking Chair Exercise:

1) Imagine you’re 90 years old, blissfully happy, healthy and sitting in your rocking chair looking back over your ideal life.

2) Consider the following questions:

• Who are you as a person? What do people value about you?
• What have you achieved? What are you proud of? What added meaning to your life or gives you a sense of fulfillment?
• What can you see and hear around you? What are you feeling? What shows you that you’re truly happy?
• Consider how your life unfolded in these areas: Family, Friends, Significant Other, Career, Health and Home.  What did you do for Fun? What did you Learn? What did you do in Service and Leadership? What did you do for or in your Community?

2) The Big Party Exercise:

NOTE: I usually use a retirement party, but if your client can’t imagine retiring or if it seems too far off, you could set the scene as a milestone birthday like a celebration for a 50th, 60th or 70th birthday.

1) Imagine a party is being held in your honor to celebrate a substantial change or milestone in your life. For example, you could be retiring, moving somewhere new, going traveling, embarking on a new career or all of the above!

2) Write a speech that celebrates you. Explore what you’ve achieved and where you’re going next. Be sure to write the speech in the third-person perspective (e.g., “Sarah/Auntie Sarah has always…”).

3) Consider the following questions:

• How old are you? Who is at the party? Where is the party being held? Who will read the speech?
• What have you achieved in your family, career, business, community or in the world?
• What is it about you that people at the party truly value?
• What would you want to be said about you? What would you be disappointed by if it was not said?
• What did you do that was truly amazing? Where did you surprise yourself and others?
• What are you most proud of? What mistakes did you make that you can laugh about now?
• What is the essence of you that you want captured in the speech?
• Where are you going next in your life? What are you excited to spend more time doing? How do friends and family fit into your life going forwards?

TIP: Don’t worry about writing a “good speech,” but rather concentrate on what the speaker might say. If it helps, imagine this is a first draft of the speech to capture the key points.

3) Newspaper Article Writing Exercise:

1) Imagine you’ve achieved a great milestone in your life or career. For example, it could be an award received, a book you’ve written, an invention, a fundraising goal reached, a feat of travel or a charitable activity.

2) Write a newspaper or magazine article about this milestone—from 250-500 words—in the past tense.

3) Mention yourself and anyone who has helped you. Quote sources for the article by name.

4) Be sure to give some background including recent successes and other relevant highlights.

5) Consider what your success means for the people reading it. How will the readers benefit?

OPTIONAL: What newspaper or magazine would you like to be featured in? Write in that publication’s style