What comes to age, I've always found it comforting that it is never too late to learn. That our minds are not cast in cement; what we learn in childhood sure forms a firm basis for the rest of our lives, but later on it is still possible to re-learn and to witness that basis changing.

I don't know the details on how you think about that visioning thing, and I've read different versions of it. The way I feel, vision and belief are essential, but often they also need to be coupled with practical stuff, effort and little details. Like, if someone had a glorious vision of himself as a super guitarist, the mere belief probably wouldn't make him a super player - unless the belief and vision translates to actual training and practice. The way I see it, these go together; an inner vision urges to have its practical realization - and practical details derive their power from the inner vision which keeps you going to the desired direction. Without this connection a vision is a mere daydream, and practical work is mere mindless toil.

Well, I sure do agree that a personal spiritual / religious relationship helps a lot. The topic is vast and I won't go deeper into it in this comment. But I've been thinking about writing something about the themes of Judgement / Grace (although, I don't yet know if I'd write in more neutral psychological terms, or if I'd use the religious language of Christianity).