Five Keys to Creating a Vision Board

One of my favorite things to do around the New Year is update my vision board.

This year I had some new things that I wanted to add and some things that I was able to take off of my board because I have achieved them.                                                             

My previous board was on a huge poster board. A few things that I have accomplished that were on my board are: to go kayaking, have my own office and open a business.

This year, I decided to make a smaller board with fewer pictures. I wanted to make the board really focused and more specific.

I selected a few specific things that I want to achieve and work on this year. It definitely evokes a different feeling than the old board. To me, it says "action."

Some of the things on my board are: get published, see U2 on their 2015 tour, spend more time with my nieces and nephews, kayaking trips, grow my business and surround myself with positive people.

Vision boards are utilized by many successful and influential people.

The object of a vision board is to create a picture of your goals and desires. For those who consider themselves a "visual person," they can be a powerful tool. Visualization can help bring your dreams to life.

Aesthetically pleasing images and words can convey a personal message and energize and motivate you. Not only is the final product a motivating factor, but the discovery process along the way is a significant part of goal setting and creating the life that you want.       

To help you get started, here are five keys to making a vision board:

1. Create Something Meaningful for You

Anything that you choose to include on your board should speak to you. Use images that strike a chord inside of you.

A vision board is personal and individualized. The key is to create something meaningful and useful for you. You can create a board that has few pictures or many pictures.

It is important to ask yourself questions when thinking about what you want on your board. What does your ideal life look like? What's on your bucket list? What blessings do you have now that you want to see continue to blossom?

          

2. Take Your Time and Be Intentional

The most popular way to create a board is to gather a stack of magazines and flip through them to clip out any phrases or pictures that jump out at you. I encourage an alternative approach.

I find it much more useful to select my own images by gathering and printing them out. I encourage you to take some time gathering some photos that are relevant and meaningful to you. You can gather them from magazines over time, search for images online, or even use your own photographs.

It can take days or weeks to gather the pictures that you want to use for the project. I suggest creating a folder on your computer and taking time to gather images that you want to use for your board. The more thought you put into your board, the more useful it will be for you. 

Part of the power in creating a vision board is allowing yourself to think and evaluate your current self and who you want to become.

When you do gather your images, you can still pick and choose what images you would like to include in the final product. As you are putting it together, see which pictures convey the most meaning to you.

3. Incorporate Words                                                               

It can be useful to include words or quotations when creating your vision board. Words can be a beneficial tool to emphasize a principle or concept that's important to you.

Adjectives like, "success" and "gratitude" can be a clear and concise way to convey your purpose and desires. Words or phrases can help inspire you and evoke just as much emotion as a picture.

Quotations can also be great to include. Whether they are words of guidance that you live by, or quotations involving certain areas that you want to improve upon, think about what quotations might be a good to include on your board.

4. Just Do It

Quit talking about it and saying that you should create a vision board. Just create one. Take some time to let yourself dream. Think about what's important to you and what you want to achieve.

It can be an enlightening and grounding experience to create a vision board. Making one lets you tap into your artistic side. When is the last time that you have devoted your energy to dream and lay out a vision for yourself?

Making a vision board can be a lot of fun. Make the decision to try it and then just do it! Take charge of your life. Take the step to create a vision for your goals and manifest the life that you want.

5. Come Back to It Often

The purpose of a vision board is to use it as a reminder of your goals and dreams. A vision board can help be a reminder and ground you. For best results, keep your vision board where you will see it often.

Over time, you will find that there are goals that you accomplish and can take off the board. Or, there will be goals that you want to add. Then, there will be some things that will remain on your vision boards over the years.

It's good to do an assessment every so often and recreate the board when you are moved to. I find that it is beneficial to do every one to two years. Save your old boards if you can, or take photos of them. They will all tell a story of the person that you strive to be. It will feel great when you see how far you've come.

Happy visualizing!