Already,
in the blink of an eye, we are celebrating the new year. For the next month or
so, most of us will be trying hard to remember to pen “2020” when writing the
date. But perhaps what may be more challenging is executing our resolutions and
visions for the year.
January
1st is a perfect time to reset the dial, refocus and begin anew – whether it is
to follow our dreams in a big way or to live a healthy, balanced and happy life.
Whatever it is, January seems to be the time we tell ourselves that THIS is THE
year to make our visions a reality.
However,
what at first might seem like an effortless approach in reaching our goals,
often turns into stubborn, hurdle jumping projects by the end of February. On
top of that, sprinkle in some unexpected curve balls and within six weeks we
sometimes have misplaced our dreams and have lost our way. The fact is, nothing
goes as perfectly as planned and this is where having 20/20 vision may come in
handy while accomplishing our aspirations more realistically.
I
recently learned that the well-known eye chart measurement of 20/20 vision does
not mean perfect eyesight. 20/20 does not mean perfection. It simply indicates a
“normal” standard measurement of visual acuity. According to
Clevelandclinic.org, “Having good visual acuity means that
you see things with clarity at a standard distance. It does not include depth
perception, peripheral vision, or color
blindness.”
When our standard/normal vision
changes and needs adjustment, we often turn to glasses to correct that vision. Glasses work by
bending light, so it is in focus on the retina. Much like the retina, we may
require a corrective bend with our personal life goals in order to move forward with a bit more understanding and depth.
Depth perception is the ability to
see things in three dimensions. American Academy of Ophthalmology explains that
our two eyes see an object from slightly different angles and our brain
compares and processes the two sets of information to form a single image.
In the case of moving toward our
ambitions, life events beyond our control can change the route we travel. As a
result, we end up in a landscape that looks nothing like we envisioned, and it
can throw us for a loop. But with a little bit of depth perception – and some
flexibility – we can see our dreams from different angles, making the image we
once had about our dreams sharper and more focused, helping us to become more
clear about what is most important and what is no longer needed to reach our
goals. Also known as tunnel vision. But we might consider treading lightly here
and incorporate a bit of peripheral vision, too.
In
an article for Fast Company Magazine, author Adam Steele encourages us not to
be too consumed by tunnel vision. He suggests including experiences that often
sit on the peripheral edges of our journey and that we find personally
meaningful. He states that reading certain books, visiting certain places, and
sharing certain experiences with loved ones are all equally valid goals that
can help us stay grounded as we stay focused on reaching those bigger goals.
And, I will add that including the peripheral daily experiences, we will not be
blind to the color and beauty that life affords us and we sometimes miss.
So, when June rolls around in five
months and if you feel you have let yourself down by not reaching all you set
out to do in 2020, remember that even 20/20 vision isn’t perfect. You don’t
need to wait until next January to reset the dial once again. Refocus, begin
anew and enjoy the ride.
Happy 2020!
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