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As the new year begins, it can be a great time to cast vision over your home and your family. The same principles apply if you are a business owner and want to cast vision over your business, your homeschool, etc. This is not from a place of pressure to make big changes, but from a place of peace – to recenter your family to your values and priorities. And to just have a general sense of where you are and where you’re going.
For me, I consider this the precursor to goal setting. I see casting vision over your home as the broad overview that sets the tone for any goal setting you might do. It’s not about getting specific into the nitty gritty details, but about seeing the big picture. And for a believer, it’s about inviting God into your home and letting Him drive your vision, your home, your homeschool, etc.
This is something you can do at any time of the year, but there’s something that we’re naturally drawn to do at the beginning of the calendar year or at the beginning of the school year. If you are married, I encourage you to do this with your husband.
Pray
If you are a believer, this is the most important part of casting vision over your home.
Sit with the Lord and ask Him what He wants for your family this year. Spend time listening, journaling, and receiving what the Father might have for you and your family. I love to use this time to pray over any dreams or plans I might have, submit them to the Lord, and ask Him to speak into those areas.
Write down the words you hear the Lord speak to you, and speak them out over your home and your family! Spend time in the Word, praying Scripture over your home and your family.
As you go through these, pray specifically over each of the categories below as well!
Big goals
What are the big goals you have for your home/family this year? Think big picture, not small details. Spend some time brainstorming and writing them down.
Brain dump
Do a brain dump of the things in your home, motherhood, homeschool, schedule, etc. that are working and the ones that are not working. Writing them down can help you see clearly the broad overview. You can do this in categories or just in general.
- What needs to be eliminated?
- Are there areas that could be working better or more efficiently?
- What’s working well right now?
- What is moving you toward your big goals, and what is working against them?
Eliminate the clutter
Where is the clutter? I don’t mean just physical clutter – yes, the physical clutter in your home has a major impact on your mental/emotional state, but the things in your schedule, your homeschool, etc. that are no longer serving your family. If there are things that are cluttering your days, it will stand in the way of protecting your family’s peace. If there are things cluttering your mind, it will stand in the way of being a present, connected mom.
Verse or motto
Consider choosing a word, verse, or motto to cover your home this year. Is there something you feel that you should be focusing on this year – either as a family or even just for you, as the keeper of the home?
Rhythms & systems
Where does your family need rhythms or systems? A new calendar year or a new school year is a great time to adjust your expectations or put new systems in place to help your family.
Assess your homeschool/activities
This is a great time to reflect on any gaps or things you are missing from your homeschool, any activities that are draining you or taking your time away from your kids, or places you are putting too many expectations on yourself or your kids.
What curriculum, activities, etc. are working against your family’s values and priorities? What’s working really well right now?
Write it down
Some people create vision boards, and I think this is a great practice if you’re a visual person. But writing down your vision for the year helps you to focus on it, be reminded of it, and pray through it regularly.
This can be as simple as just writing down your verse or word on a post-it note and putting it on your mirror. Or put a note in your calendar to revisit it or reread your journal pages every few months.
Social media
I think we can’t cast vision over our year if we don’t address the elephant in the room – our social media use. How is it impacting your family relationships? Are you spending too much time on your phone?
Take your time
As you cast vision over your home this year, take your time to implement changes, shift direction, etc. Don’t make lots of big changes at once! Don’t treat this as something that puts you under a weight or holds you under the pressure of goals for the year – let it bring you freedom and peace!
This is just a place to begin – you have to find your own way of doing this, and your own vision casting process, and the way it works for you! But I hope this gives you a good place to begin.