Month: March 2023

Do you find yourself struggling to find the motivation to achieve your goals? Do you want to create the life of your dreams? Constructing a personalized vision board might be the answer to your problems. 

WTF is a vision board?

A vision board is a collection of photos and text that can help you approach the future with hope. Instead of focusing on what habits you should be stopping, focus on the possibilities of the next year. “From a scientific perspective, vision boards do what we call ‘priming,’ which essentially is when exposure to a certain stimulus affects how you act towards whatever comes next,” said Elizabeth Mateer, a licensed mental health counselor associate. A vision board can also help you be specific about the goals you want to manifest. “A vision board is an opportunity to focus on the reality you want to create, a prediction of your possible future, and a connection to hope and a life that feels aligned,” Elspeth Robertson, a registered clinical counselor and professional art therapist said.

There are two ways to create a vision board: digitally and physically. If you are someone who likes to do hands-on activities, you may want to create a physical vision board. However, if you are someone who prefers digital activities, you may want to create a digital vision board. The choice is yours.

If you’re not sure where to start, try looking for images that inspire you or reflect your goals. You can also use quotes or affirmations that resonate with you. Once you have a few items collected, start arranging them on a bulletin board or piece of poster board. Then add any additional details that will help bring your vision to life.

HOW TO CREATE A DIGITAL VISION BOARD

Step 1: Gather digital photos from any website of your choice. I find that Pinterest is one of the best platforms to utilize for vision boards.

Step 2: Decide where you would like to create the vision board. If you are unsure where to begin, Canva has great templates.

Step 3: Place and move your images around until you are satisfied with the final look.

Step 4: Make sure to save your final copy, and just like that, you are one step closer to achieving your goals.

Feel free to make your final creation your lock screen—this way you will be looking at your goals daily.

HOW TO CREATE A PHYSICAL VISION BOARD

Step 1: Order a vision board book or cut out images from your favorite magazine that pertain to your goals and dreams. Cut out images from magazines or print out pictures from the internet that represents you (skin color, hair, nationality, etc). If you need a suggestion, Amazon has a wide selection of vision board books.

Step 2: Get a poster board, cork board, or some paper and play with the placing of the images until you are content with the look.

Step 3: Glue or tape your images to the board or paper.

Step 4: Decide whether you want to hang your vision board up, or if you want to put it somewhere else that is visible to you.

Now that you have your personalized vision board, go reach your goals.

BENEFITS OF CREATING A VISION BOARD

Now that we know how to create a vision board, let’s look at what neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart has to say.

“The science behind why it’s helpful is that we’re bombarded with so much information all the time,” she explains. “There’s a natural process in the brain to selectively filter what’s important to our survival and selectively put attention on what’s important for us to thrive.”

Dr. Swart also mentions value tagging, which is an additional system in the brain that pieces together the information in order of importance. “There is a logical element and an emotional element to that,” she adds.

“If you create imagery that represents how you want your life to be, then you’re more likely to notice and grasp opportunities to make that a reality,” she emphasizes, “it’s priming your brain to remember what’s important.”

You’ve heard it from a professional, so what are you waiting for? Go make a vision board!

What makes a successful vision board?

It’s all about setting your intention. What do you want to manifest in your life? When you have a clear vision, it’s easier to select images that represent that goal. Creating a board that is both visually pleasing and spiritually in alignment will help you to stay focused on your goals.

A vision board is a tool that can help you clarify your goals and bring them into focus. It can also help you identify what steps you need to take to achieve your goals. By looking at your vision board regularly, you can keep your goals at the forefront of your mind and stay motivated to achieve them.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Oftentimes I would find myself setting goals for myself and forgetting about them. I had a picture-perfect life that I wanted to achieve, but I was not motivated to go and get it.

It was the summer of twenty twenty-two when I was offered the great advice of creating a vision board. This was something I’ve always wanted to do, but never got around to doing it. I started with a physical one and eventually decided to create a virtual one, so I could look at it each time I opened my phone.

I find that my vision boards motivate me to create the life that I’ve formed on paper. I continue to strive to achieve these goals, and it makes me feel good knowing I am one step closer to becoming the person I want to be.

Will you be creating a vision board? Leave a comment below.