One of my favorite things to do to get myself motivated for the New Year or any time I'm feeling like I need help staying focused, is making a Vision Board.
What the heck is a Vision Board (VB) you
may ask… it’s basically it’s a visual tool to help keep you
focused on your goals throughout the year. Consider it a collage of words and images made to invoke warm fuzzies inside you to help you stay super motivated and focused on accomplishing your goals.
To make a VB, first gather some supplies like: poster board or foam board; a
stack of magazines; a glue stick and some Modge Podge (optional).
But before we get “crafty”, we need to get “in touch” with our feelings so to speak.
So find a quite place; take a few
deep breaths to help clear your mind and use a journal or just brain storm on
paper and answer the following:
· What do I really, really want to accomplish this
year?
Example: “I want
to start my own business by March 31st,
2015”
· What is my intention in accomplishing my goals? (Meaning “Why” do I want to accomplish XYZ goals).
Example: “My
intention in starting my own business is to use my skills and talents to help
others and create financial independence for myself”
· How do I want to feel?
Example: “As a
business owner, I want to feel like I’m making a positive contribution to my
community by providing a valuable service.”
Of course your goals and
intentions and how you want to feel in accomplishing them will be different for
you, but you get the idea. Ask yourself
these questions for each aspect of your life that you want to make positive
change – ie. finances, health, relationships etc.
Keep your answers specific and
detailed but simple and concise (I know it sounds a little contradictory, but
you can do it!). Try not to list too
many things, that’s an easy way to feel overwhelmed before you even get
started! Think of things that are most
important to you, things that would have the most positive impact on your life
in the next six months to a year.
Now comes the fun part! Begin looking through old magazines and/or
search the internet for images that evoke a positive emotional reaction for you
– look for images that grab your attention as you filp through the pages – they
don’t necessarily have to depict your exact goal but it’s helpful – the feeling you get from each image is
more important than what it depicts.
Use the following guidelines when
searching for images:
- Visual: Your VB should be easy for you to understand
- Emotional: It should evoke a feeling of excitement and interest to you
- Personal: It should make sense for you and really fit your true goals
- Current: It should be relevant for you given where you are right now and in your life – feel free to edit your VB or create a new one once you’ve accomplished some of your goals.
Another necessary element to add
to your VB are inspirational quotes or positive affirmations. They can either be phrases or quotes from a
magazine; personal affirmations; or even some of the goals you listed in your
brainstorming. Next, arrange the words and images on a piece of poster board until you have a composition that looks pleasing to you.
Use a glue stick or mod podge to permanently adhere them to your board. At this point I sometimes like to add a little pizzazz with some acrylics and glitter paints.
The last and most important part
is to hang your VB in a place where you will see it every day. Try to look at
your VB at least twice a day; remembering all the positive feelings you had
while making it.
Looking at your vision board
everyday sends a message to your subconscious mind that these are the goals
that are important to you and the intention you hold for your life. As your subconscious mind takes in these
images everyday it will begin to work with your conscious mind on helping you
achieve your goals.
While a VB can be a helpful tool in helping you stay focused;
it’s just one part of making positive change.
Another crucial step is Taking Action!
My hope for you is that by utilizing the tool of a VB, you will begin to
feel more confident about taking necessary steps to move you closer to your
goals. Remember just as you are the
designer of your board, you are the designer of your life!
I hope I’ve inspired you to create your own inspirational
masterpiece. To help you get started,
I’ve created a free printable page filled with images and inspirational
phrases; which you can cut up and use to embellish your vision board.
Some of the images are in black and white so you can
color them with the medium of your choice and get those creative juices
flowing! You can download my 2015 Vision
Board prompts here.
Have fun and here's to being Fierce in 2015!
