I can't seem to shake the feeling of how important having a Vision is in one's life. Stephen Covey defined Vision like this: "Vision is seeing a future state with the mind's eye. Vision is applied imagination." (The 8th Habit, page 70)
Vision and hope go hand-in-hand because Vision represents desire, dreams, hopes, goals and plans. But not in a fantasy sort of way. They are reality not yet realized.
I explained previously how Vision, Purpose, and Values fit together. Also essential to effectively using Vision in your life are discipline and passion.
Discipline is essential because it is the execution, the making it happen. It's the sacrifice of doing whatever it takes to make your Vision a reality. People often hear the word "sacrifice" and immediately think of giving up something good. Sometimes it does mean giving up something good. But this personal sacrifice, the process of subordinating today's pleasure for a greater long-term good, is exactly what discipline is all about.
You might equate discipline with an absence of freedom. In fact, the opposite is true. Only the disciplined are truly free. The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites, and passions. Horace Mann once said, "In vain do they talk of happiness who never subdue an impulse in obedience to a principle. He who never sacrificed a present for future good, or a personal to a general one, can speak of happiness only as the blind speak of color."
Much of the time discipline is unpleasant. But people with vision subordinate their dislike of discipline to the strength of their purpose. While Vision is a roadmap, discipline is the vehicle. Next time we'll talk about passion, the fuel that feeds the vehicle.
(Some content adapted from "The 8th Habit" by Stephen Covey)