Last night I saw the movie “Side Effects” – a provocative thriller that focuses on the subject of depression and the consequences of prescription drugs. Depression is defined in the movie as “an inability to create a future.” That line got me thinking deeply about suffering, pain and anguish which all share that tightening field of vision into only what is right in front of us at the moment.

Certainly, being fully present is a good thing. But is seems to me that presence and vision go hand in hand to reduce suffering. Creating a vision for yourself, your business and your relationships is just as vital as being aware of what is happening in the here and now if there is going to be growth and generation.

I like to think of it this way. In order to use a GPS mapping system successfully, you only need two things, a point where you’re headed and a point where you’re starting. Without either one, it won’t work. Once moving, no matter where or when you make a wrong turn, the map will still direct you toward your chosen goal. The "side effects" of knowing where you're going is that you get to enjoy the scenery more.

So it is with human potential, business success and healthy relationships. What’s needed is an acute awareness of where we are right now, often with the help of assessments and a coach or guide to hold up the mirror for us, and a vision of where you want to go. And all you need to get started is a general location. The forces in play when that future is articulated in detail exponentially improve the odds of getting there.

Have you spent time creating a vision for yourself? Have you sat down with your business partner or loved ones to create a shared vision? Or are suffering and anguish – manifested as poor financial results, relationships stagnating or falling apart, languishing sales, more unresolved conflicts, etc. – becoming the norm?

What might be different if you took 5 minutes today to think about where you are right now and where you’d like to be in 5 years and sharing that with your partners? What a great prescription for success with enjoyable side effects!