Interested in creating a vision board? Are you worried it's going to be a lot of work? I know I was when I first heard about them.
I always thought the idea of one seemed great, but I wasn't sure how to create a vision board being that I'm not a very artsy or craftsy type person. I just assumed you needed to be. I would see pictures of them online and they were always so pretty and perfect.
But rest assured, you do not need to be artsy or craftsy at all! And your vision board DOES NOT need to be pretty and perfect. What is a perfect vision board anyway? If it's your vision, then it's exactly as it should be.
I recently gave my vision board an update. I had created it about eight years ago and still love the images and messages on the board, but I had used a Banker's Box lid as my board. Trust me when I say there is nothing wrong with using a box lid as your board. You can use anything you want.
But recently, a good friend gave me a beautiful pin board as a gift, so I decided to use that as the backdrop for my new vision board. Here's a picture of it :):
You can see I still have some space to fill :).
If you are thinking of creating your first vision board, then here are some things to think about as you get started. But as I give you these tips, please remember that this is YOUR board and it has to work for you. Don't feel confined by "rules" for your vision board :).
Why Are You Creating A Vision Board
Why create a vision board? What is the purpose of one?
A vision board is simply images and words that represent your dreams and goals. As HuffPost says:
"When you create a vision board and place it in a space where you see it often, you essentially end up doing short visualization exercises throughout the day."
Exciting, isn't it? Creating a vision board is very empowering. It allows you to create a vision using images, phrases, words and physical items. It's not only a fun exercise, but a creative one too.
The reality is, we as humans (especially us women) often get caught up in the "busy" things in life; raising kids, going to work, cleaning, running errands, etc, and our dreams and goals tend to take a backseat. The vision board is a friendly reminder of why we are here and what we truly want in our lives. So don't be shy when putting your vision board together. Dream big!
They also serve as a daily reminder of what makes you happy and they are meant to give you motivation on days when you need an extra push.
Define Your Goals
Think about what you want simply by asking yourself some questions:
- Where do you want to be with your career and life in the next year? In 5 years? In 10 years?
- How much money do you want to make in these same time frames?
- What do you want your relationships to look like?
- What do you want a typical work day to look like?
- Where do you want to live?
- What’s on that bucket list?
Remember, there are no wrong answers here but there should absolutely be some answers. If not, it’s time to define what makes you happy and what will motivate you to move forward and grow.
I’ve also seen some gurus online say they are motivated to earn more because then they are able to give more to their favorite charities and causes that are close to their hearts. Again, there are no wrong answers when defining your goals. It’s more important to have them defined so you know when you reach those goals so you can find something new to achieve.
Focus On Feelings
When choosing images and words for your vision board, look for things that represent how you want to feel. You may find images of a fancy car or house and that is wonderful. Just make sure that represents a feeling for you.
Maybe it's a feeling of success or security. Maybe you want to be in a position of power so you can inspire or help others. How do your images make you feel?
The feeling part isn't always as easy as it looks, but it's the key to really attracting what you want, so make sure your board reflects those feelings.
Here are a few examples:
- a postcard from Italy because traveling makes you feel adventurous
- an image of someone getting a facial may represent the feeling of luxury and relaxation
- a brochure from a co-working space may give you the feeling of success when you move your new business into an office there
- an inspirational quote can make you feel inspired to launch that new career
These are just a few examples to get your juices flowing!
How To Create A Vision Board
This is the fun part, and there are really no rules here. But here are some guidelines to help you get started on making your vision board come to life!
Choose your backdrop
Your backdrop is simply what you are going to use to place your images on. This can be anything! Like I mentioned, my first vision board was the lid of a box because that was all I could find in my house! Here are some other ideas:
- Posterboard
- Cardboard
- Cork Bulletin Board
- Pin Board
- Piece of paper
- Your wall
- Dry Erase Board
Pick your images
Once you choose your backdrop, it's time to select your images, words or phrases for your board. Refer to the questions you answered above to help you find the right images. You can find your images any number of ways, including:
- magazines
- books
- internet (I just Google'd phases and words I wanted and printed them out)
- physical items (this can be anything...postcard, feather, brochure, key, necklace, business card, etc, etc)
Once you have selected your images, grab some scotch tape, pins, tacks or glue and start placing your items on your board anyway you choose.
Pick a spot for your vision board
Once you have placed your images on your board, find a good place to hang your vision board. You want to have it someplace where you'll see it often (at least once a day). Some great places might be by your desk where you sit all day or in your bedroom where you can see it when you wake up every morning.
Read to Create Your Vision Board?
Oooh I'm so excited for you! Start making those visions come to life! If you have any tips for vision board inspiration please share in the comments below!
