One of the most powerful tools you can use to reach your business and personal goals, is a vision board.
A vision board is a collage of selected pictures, inspirational quotes, positive words, thoughts, and mementos that have a special meaning for you. They represent what you want to accomplish, how you want to feel, and goals you want to attain in your life. The items are pasted on a board or in a book for you to hold, view and contemplate every day.
The process of finding these meaningful elements helps you clarify your dreams for the life you want. It establishes a conscious and subconscious connection to your brain, and sets your brain to work to make it a reality.
Why Is a Vision Board Valuable?
A vision board gives you a clear picture of what you want your future to be.
The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
Ben Stein
To get clarity, you have to spend the time to decide what you want. Define your short and long term goals.
What do you want your life to look like? What do you want to be, do and have?
For more on goal setting, see How to Set Goals That Work.
An understanding of your core values is necessary before you can create a board that represents your dreams.
It’s very easy to find a bunch of pictures of things you want, but deeper insight will determine your bigger ambitions.
A vision board is so powerful because it’s a reflection of what you want to create. It’s a tangible thing for you to see, hold and touch. It stimulates your mind every time you experience it. Your mind will stay focused on what is sees and will move you in that direction.
It stimulates your brain to find ways to make it a reality.
How to Create a Vision Board
I already mentioned that you need to have clarity on what you want before you can create a meaningful board. You need to define your ideal life, your desires and the goals to get there.
If you already have a clear definition of what you want, great.
If not try answering these questions:
- What do I want to have?
- What do I want to do?
- What do I want to be?
- How do I want to feel?
You can make a board that representsof just one part of your life, for instance, your business. Or you can make a board that includes all areas of your life. These areas can include: business and finance, health, home, relationships and personal growth, and any others that are important to you.
Start with a search of magazines and websites for photos that represent what you aspire to; positive affirmations that have a special meanng for you; inspirational words, and images that appeal to you; or your own memorabilia that is significant to you, and give you a feeling you want to create.
As you search magazines, you can select the things you want to have. It’s also important to include that which gives you a sense of achievement or a feeling of accomplishment.
For instance, you may pin to your board a certain car or house you want, or the vacation of your dreams. But it could also be a skill you want to acquire, such as carpentry, public speaking, or a foreign language, etc., a recognition or an award you want to attain, or a feeling, such as success, health, independence, empowerment, or love.
These are then used to put together your board. Decide which items you want to paste on the board. Lay out the board and start gluing. Add your own written thoughts, saying as you desire, or affirmations.
Remember to update your board as your goals and dream come true or change.
Here’s What You Need to Assemble the Board
- poster board, cork board or blank book
- scissors
- glue or pins or tape
- pen or markers
- your pile of photos. words. quotes, etc. that you assembled
- time and space to put it together
Do Vision Boards Work?
A vision board works if done and used properly.
Because it is a physical representation of all you want to be, it helps you keep those thoughts front and center.
The more you see it and think about what’s on it, the more it stays in your subconscious which is always working to create your intentions. The subconscious mind determines how we respond to the things we encounter. If what you’re seeing is your vision board, you are encountering images and positive thought of what you want.
It’s similar to the advice not to say negative things to yourself. Your subconscious can’t tell the difference and it acts on what it’s told.
An example of this is not to say “I can’t”. The mind is set up to fail because that is what it hears. Similar, is the placebo effect. Many science experiments have resulted in the person who was given a sugar pill, versus the medicine, getting better because they were set up to believe what they were given would heal them. The mind is so capable of creating the reality you tell it.
One important piece of advice is to make sure whatever you put on your board is something you truly want, and not something you think you should want.
The Next Steps
The work isn’t done when you finish creating your board.
There are two important factors to make your vision become a reality.
Visualize. Put it where you can see it every day. Look at it often and spend time seeing your life as you portrayed it on your board. Read your positive words and affirmations aloud. This will emforce the positive connection to your subconscious. The board is there as a constant motivation and inspiration.
Living your dreams is not a “cheap experience.” It is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of your soul.
Benjamin Hardy
Take action. Nothing is going to happen without you working toward your goals. Take the necessary steps every day to reach those dreams. There is a misconception that all you have to do is put the picture of something on your vision board and it will manifest. Some people have reported that it happened to them, and that may be true. But for most goals they need to be helped by some real action.
I hope you decide to create your own vision board, and see what you can accomplish.
Ready to Move Forward on Your Dream?
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