Is Your Horizon Horizontal or Vertical?
By Tim "Fric" Johnson

I recently saw a billboard that mentioned a vertical horizon. Can't tell you the product it was about or what the rest of the message was, but that phrase stayed with me.

Normally, when I think about a horizon, I see it as a line separating a huge expanse of water or land from an equally huge sky. The actual line is somewhat fuzzy where the two meet. No real details, it's far off in the distance. It moves from left to right or right to left and has no real beginning or ending. The sides fade into background.

Vertical Horizon.

First thought was, "Cool!"

Second thought was, "There is something powerful here."

What the heck is a vertical horizon? Let me describe how I see it in my mind.

I see a white expanse. No color, no ground, no walls. Just like one of those "infinity sets" you see on TV commercials. Usually white. Can't see where the walls touch the floor. The only way to tell there is a floor is usually from the shadow that a person/car/thing casts on it.

In the middle of this expanse I see a pole. It starts at the ground and goes up. There is no end to the top, though there is a beginning at the bottom where I am. The pole has images and words all around it from bottom to infinite top. Those images are the picture, scenes and settings of my life. All the images above me are extremely active and fluid. The ones directly at eye level are nearly still, just a little motion. Bottom is totally fixed and unmoving. The bottom is also dark, shadowy. It's as if the bottom were buried and not important.

As I look up the pole, the images move and rotate faster and faster. They also gradually go from being gray and dark to being extremely colorful and vibrant the farther up the horizon you look.

I realize that this vertical horizon contains my view of my past, present and an unending, positive future that my vision is played out on. I also realize that I can climb this pole and see any point on it.

What is my life like in 20 years? Climb up and see. Really cool concept.

The other thing that intrigues my about this concept is the ramification of how I see it. The horizon, which is really my life, has become a tangible thing that can be viewed at a distance, from close up, from any angle and from any height with effortless ease. My future is also defined and vibrant. It goes forever up and I can climb it and be at any point I want.

Now THAT is cool!

Imagine the power of seeing your life in this way. Instead of seeing a fuzzy line off in the distance that cannot be deciphered, because by definition it is always far away, you see a solid object that is energetic, moving and touchable. How much more can you believe in yourself if you see your life this way? What can you accomplish? Who can you do for?

Best way to answer those questions is to climb that Vertical Horizon.

Now, excuse me while I go do some climbing.

Thanks and have an awesome day!

Tim "Fric" Johnson
Fric@SuccessManiacs.com
http://www.SuccessManiacs.com

© 2002 Tim Johnson. All rights reserved. You may reprint this article as long as it is reprinted in its entirety, from the headline to this copyright and reprint statement. For information on booking Fric and Frac for a Conference Call training or a live event, email Fric@SuccessManiacs.com.