Beyond Expectations: Stepping Onto Your Vision’s Path

Break free from your illusions to embrace what you're made of

One of the key traits that sets us apart from other animals is our ability to put action toward bringing the visions we see in our minds to life. We have the unique capacity to pull together people, resources, and expertise to turn ideas into reality, whether it is establishing a company, creating art, or building a community. It can even be as simple as transcribing words on paper. This remarkable ability has propelled our species further than any before us, making us the most advanced life form on Earth.

Sometimes visions do come to life, but there are also those that stay stuck in our minds, looping endlessly in a way that prevents us from taking action. Without action, it will remain just that: a simulation of our imagination. Our advanced ability to visualize can ironically keep us trapped inside our heads, where we construct entire worlds and keep them alive within the confines of our minds. It is not about adapting our physical life to reflect the vision, but ruminating in our exclusively produced and directed major motion picture. When this happens, it becomes difficult to distinguish between what is real and what we imagine, blurring the line between reality and what we experience in our mind’s eye.

Visions are products of our imagination and a conditioning of our psyche. Yet, unbeknownst to our conscious mind, we allow them to define us.

Replaying our vision may feel comforting, but we can easily perceive external signs as opposition. Expecting an outcome to transpire based on what we see in our mind’s eye than what actually exists can make us feel threatened, even alienated by society. Visions exist to the extent that we rely on and believe in them to shape our truth: our view of the world, of others, and of our surroundings.

The extent to which we believe the stories or visions we create can be crippling. They can take control of our senses, leading us to perceive what we see in others—and more easily, within ourselves—as "the truth." For example, to say “I’m not good enough” is true insofar as we believe it to be true. This mindset is a trap. We often fall short of recognizing that stories and visions exist separately from who we truly are as people. They are products of our imagination and a conditioning of our psyche. Yet, unbeknownst to our conscious mind, we allow them to define us.

Editing our vision requires letting go of parts of our identity that we have intimately known and grown comfortable with. Our identity is a mosaic of experiences, interactions, and emotions that shape our whole self. We are always our whole selves, even when we may not feel complete. We build our sense of self based on what we have been conditioned to believe, often coping with difficult emotions through self-soothing behaviors that may feel aligned, yet ultimately hold us back from taking desirable actions. Until we create space between ourselves and the images upon which we developed an intimate relationship, we will find ourselves stuck in a loop of strong emotions that are manufactured in our mind, never allowing our vision to dissipate from our heads into a real life manifestation.

What causes us to remain stuck?

Visions often arise as a way to cope with emotions that feel too intense to confront directly. Over time, these emotions linger in our bodies, manifesting as physical ailments, addictions, obsessions, and fantasies. These mechanisms help protect us from experiencing core emotions, such as fear, sadness, anger, or even excitement.

For example, we may fear that "success" will change how we see ourselves or that our friends will view us differently if we fulfill our desires. We might hesitate to act on new ideas, weighed down by the sadness of past failures or rejections, fearing further rejection. Anger toward others due to unresolved conflicts can create a defensive mindset, preventing us from moving forward and engaging openly with reality. In essence, we create narratives to avoid uncomfortable emotions, leading to obsessions, addictions, and distractions that prevent us from intimately connecting with life and with others.

We often compare reality to rigid expectations of what things "should" or "must" be, letting defensive or self-sabotaging behaviors limit our flexibility. Until we address the root of these emotions, our mind's creations become the reality we live in, eventually becoming what we perceive as the norm.

Editing our vision requires letting go of parts of our identity that we have intimately known and grown comfortable with.

Expectations play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of our vision. We often adopt habits that give us a sense of control over life, incorporating them into our daily routines. These expectations create an illusion of flowing with life, when, in reality, we are often swimming against the current. This truth becomes clear when circumstances unfold on their own, in their own time, reminding us that we are not in as much control as we think.

Expectations disrupt the mental frameworks we have built, trapping us in a narrow view of ourselves. Phrases like "I should" and "I must" become ingrained in our psyche, transforming into rigid rules we feel compelled to follow. Decisions and behaviors from others that go against our expectations can shift the ground beneath our feet—exacerbating unmanaged emotions and challenging the status quo. As a result, we often surrender to the outcome of our expectations, perpetually accepting life as just the way it is. We become what we believe and what we constantly reinforce in our minds, merging into our identity the beliefs we have been conditioned to adopt. Maintaining a healthy distance from them creates the needed space to put our idiosyncrasies into perspective.

Accepting What 'Is'

Stepping back from your thoughts and creating space for yourself is essential for gaining clarity. Although your thoughts may feel vivid and all-encompassing, viewing yourself from a different perspective can help you see beyond the immediate. This shift requires engaging in activities that pull you out of your mind, allowing you to experience the world not just through your own eyes, but as an outsider looking in. Practices like meditation, journaling, exercise, and even something as simple as mindful breathing can help you create this space and gain a fresh perspective.

Our breath is the most immediate rhythm we have to anchor us to the moment. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we can always return to our breath to bring our attention back to the now. Try it for yourself—where is your breath as you read this sentence? Are you inhaling or exhaling? Is your breath shallow or deep? Are you breathing through your nose, or mouth? Are your teeth clenched? Is your tongue relaxed? What about the muscles in your body—are they tense, or at ease? This simple practice of mindfulness can be done at any moment of the day. Although this practice powerful, being deliberate about applying this practice will result in higher consciousness down the road, offering immediate respite from your overthinking and grounding you in the here and now.

Next, learn to accept where you are—mentally and emotionally. Take time to breathe, slow down, and fully meet yourself in that space. Whether you are facing an emotion, a mental image of a place, a desire to be with someone, or to be someone else, approach that familiar, comfortable space as an observer of that space, without judgment. Try not to identify yourself to it. Ask yourself what draws you back. Be patient and listen for the answer, allowing its significance to emerge. It may take several attempts to truly grasp the essence of what you are experiencing, but simply becoming aware of it will help it shift and eventually take on its own presence.

Our primal brains have not evolved as quickly as technology, leaving us with a constant "dopa-need" to check our phones.

Finally, limit your screen time and consumption of information. What easily grabs our attention often infiltrates our minds, fueling the need to stay "on." Constant exposure to screens erodes our ability to disconnect and diminishes our chances to think critically, especially as we rely on devices throughout the day. Our primal brains have not evolved as quickly as technology, leaving us with a constant "need"—or rather, a "dopa-need" (dopamine)—to check our phones, even when there appears to be no logical reason to do so. Our screen habits become conditioned, giving us the illusion of freedom while we are actually trapped in a cycle determined by where we direct our attention. Likes, comments, and clicks feed into algorithms that create a digital representation of our preferences and behaviors. This makes our identities easier to pinpoint, allowing targeted advertising campaigns to further capture our attention, influence our interests, and fuel our vision’s fantasies.

In Closing

Being invested in your vision may sometimes feel isolating, as though you are walking a path that others do not fully understand. The truth is, this sense of solitude is part of the mechanics of our evolution. Our primal brain has adapted to its surroundings as a means for survival for thousands of years, constantly prioritizing immediate needs, safety, and social conformity. In this sense, stepping away from the crowd and pursuing something unique or unconventional can trigger a sense of disconnection, as it goes against the grain of what our ancient survival instincts might deem as "safe" or “normal."

This very disconnect is also a sign of growth. The evolution of human consciousness involves expanding beyond the limitations of our primal programming, challenging established norms, and embracing the discomfort that comes with change. While our brains are wired to seek familiarity and social validation, embracing your vision often requires moving outside of these comfort zones, forging a path that may not always be immediately understood by others. Over time, this self-directed journey can cultivate deeper self-awareness, resilience, and a stronger sense of purpose, helping you connect more meaningfully with those who share a similar vision and society at large.

➤ About GlideView

GlideView Collective is a privately held company offering coaching programs designed to help individuals approaching milestone ages envision the next decade of their lives with clarity and intention. We offer small group programs and customized one-on-one coaching for those turning 30 and 40 years old. GlideView coaching programs empower individuals by providing content that enhances self-awareness and uncovers internal resources, enabling them to thrive organically and take progressive action as they navigate this momentous, inevitable period in their lives.