What is a Vision Board and How to Make One

What is a Vision Board?

A Vision Board is a virtual representation of your goals and dreams.

Why Make a Vision Board?

Vision boards help you clarify and focus on what you want for yourself in the future so that you can work towards those goals today.  Vision boards help turn dreams into goals.

 

How Do You Make a Vision Board?

#1.  The Form:  Decide how you want to display your vision board.  Choose what will work best for you:  a poster, screen saver, cork board, etc…but think of a form that you will use and that can be displayed in a location where you will see it everyday.  (If you see it everyday then it will sink into your brain and help you remember what you are working towards.)

#2.  Establish your goals:  Do you want to work on long term goals (get a degree, learn to long arm quilt, run a marathon, etc.) or short term goals (organize your closets, learn to make quilt blocks, run a 5K, etc.)…OR…would you like to focus only one area of your life (like your health)…OR…are there several things you have on your mind (health, profession, home life, etc.).    There is no right or wrong…just focus on what is important to you and remember to DREAM BIG.

#3.  Gather images:  

Find photos or magazine images that represent your dreams and goals.

#4.  Create a Layout:  Decide if you want to organize your images into groups by your areas of focus:

Or in a collage:

Whatever makes the most sense to you and your dreams!

#5.  Personalize:  Add doodles, drawings, notes, etc. in your own writing.  Even add photos of yourself.  This is your board after all!!!

#6.  Display:  Find a location to display your vision board where you will see it everyday.

#7.  Take Action:  After you start seeing your vision board everyday start doing what is required to make those dreams a reality.  (If you want to reorganize your kitchen start by cleaning out one drawer…if you want to run a race start by jogging around the block).

#8.  Continue Adding:  Keep adding images, photographs, and quotes to your board.  Keep building on your dreams!

Last year I go to teach a class on creating vision boards…it was a lot of fun…I have had working vision boards for as long as I can remember.  I usually make a new vision board at the beginning of every new year but this year I didn’t…last year was hard on me…I’ve talked about loosing family members, moving, etc…and in January I was still feeling a little lost…and for the first time since I can remember I wasn’t sure what I wanted.

But I know the power of a vision board…and I wanted a new one…the only problem was I was having a hard time nailing down my dreams…so I made two different vision boards.

The first one (which is still unfinished) is the one pictured above on the lavender background.  It isn’t so much a vision board but one of what I know about myself at this point and what is important to me…making this board was a surprisingly good experience…just asking myself what do I really like…what is really important…and it helped me to create my second board.

My new vision board.  That is the one pictured above on the gold background.  It is also unfinished but I am confident as the year continues I will keep adding to it.  But for now it is on the shelf next to my bed so that I can see it every morning and every night.

What does all the stuff on each of my boards mean?  The bread?  The Minion?  The tomatoes?  That for me to know…after all it is MY vision board…but you will find images and phrases to place on your board that will only make sense to you as well.  And that is ok.  The board is for you…and no one else.

Which reminds me…I have 2 more pieces of advice:

#1.  The board is yours…for you, by you, about you.  You don’t have to share it.  Put it somewhere safe…maybe you don’t want it hanging on your wall…put it inside your closet door, on the back of the visor in your car, maybe you make a small one to keep in your wallet…your dreams are important.  Keep them safe and don’t let anyone make you feel anything less than perfectly capable of accomplishing them.

#2.  You are never to young or too old to create a vision board.  This is one that my 5 year old made last night.  I love it…and so does she.  She is looking forward to more family pizza nights, asking Santa for “way good” gifts for Christmas, and catching butterflies this summer.

Dream big my friends…Dream Big.

Over a decade ago I had “write a book” on my vision board.  At the time I had no prospects to ever make that dream come true…but last summer Elizabeth and I released our first book.  Dreams take time…they take work…and they don’t always happen in the way you envisioned but they can come true…the first step is to identify what those dreams are.

Good Luck!  I believe in you.

-liZ