I love fireworks. This year, as each artwork fills the sky, perhaps we can view them as our dreams igniting into the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams. As the glow from the last of the spectacular fireworks fades, it’s time to reflect on that new vision you’ve created and make it a reality.

You’ve done the hard work of pulling up the weeds of false beliefs and rewriting the old stories that can hold you back. Now comes the opportunity to nurture the new growth and make your vision your reality. I liken this process to playing the accordion. You must stretch out, then push in (broaden, narrow, broaden, narrow) to make beautiful music. This is also true to build a new life.

You’ve done the initial stretch. Now, let’s begin to narrow. Identify the core elements of your vision. These will comprise a plan for making your vision a reality. Review them to see if some of them can be combined or can be eliminated. Define how you will use each component. Ask yourself why each is important. For example, if you see yourself as a world traveler, do you want to check places off your list? Experience different cultures? Have adventures?

Now stretch again. See if you can imagine other ways these elements can be combined. If you want to be a world traveler to experience different cultures, for example, you may be able to meet this desire in your own city or state.

For personal changes – losing weight, increasing your activity level, making and sustaining friendships – you will also want to identify elements and ask why this is important.

Finally, to turn your vision into reality, you will want an action plan. I always recommend old-fashioned goal setting. The vision is an overarching goal. Break it down into specific steps. I ask clients to list potential obstacles for each step and come up with three ways to overcome the obstacle.

Making it happen. I have been using – and recommending – Marshall Goldsmith’s Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts for creating lasting change. He sets goals for behaviors he wants to change and charts them, scoring his efforts from 1 – 10 daily. He also has an accountability partner who shares their scores for his change.

As someone who still lives by an academic calendar (old habits die hard), I will be tracking changes through Labor Day. You might also set that as a good point to review your progress.

Here’s to implementing your new vision!