the vision board: envisioning who you want to be

 

“A vision is not just a picture of what could be;
 it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.”

Rosebeth Moss Kanter

Above is a picture of my "vision letters," a version of a vision board that I created about a year ago. Many of you have probably heard about a vision board, but if you're not familiar with the concept, it's basically a board you create and post images and words that you want in your life. The underlying purpose of this board is to use the Law of Attraction (the belief that you can attract things to you in your life if you focus your thoughts on them) to bring the things you want in your life to you. Over the past few years, the vision board, and the concept behind the Law of Attraction, has been brought to popular media lately by the book The Secret and its been featured on shows like Oprah. 

I'm still not certain where I stand when it comes to the Law of Attraction, but I can't deny that the more positive things I focus on in my life, the more positive things seem to come my way. Shortly after I created my vision letters last year, I moved. When I arrived in my new place and hung the letters up, they fell down one by one. Irritated by them (and not entirely sure I even wanted them hanging on my wall), I tucked them into a box beneath the bed and pretty much forgot about them until I came across this beautiful picture that my boyfriend took last year. 

I'd been meaning to write about the vision letters about a year ago and I'd asked him to take some great pictures of them outside so I could use them on the blog. However, I started writing about other tops and one post lead to another and, before I knew it, the vision letters post had been forgotten. When I came across the picture the other day, I decided to pull the letters out and see if, even though I'd been ignoring them and had rudely shoved them beneath the bed, any of the things I'd wanted so badly in my life a year ago had come to fruition... 

Since it's a little hard to see the details on the picture, beautiful as it is, I've written out the words and images that I placed on those four letters so you can see what I was focused on in my life at that time. These are the things I wanted to have, in one form or another, and after writing them down for you, it's going to be very interesting to see whether or not I really was able to attract these things to my life (even with the letters under the bed in hiding). 

 

D

 dream, sunshine, luck, hope, health, fall leaves, sprinkles, fun, happy, Christmas lights, camera, yes-I-can-thinking, opportunities, kisses, hearts, wonderland, California, "live life to create," Oprah show, shine, travel around the world, birthday candles, full moon, guitar playing, clouds, money, music, hand holding, make someone smile, love letter, adorable dog, palm trees, Oscar statue  

A

 stars, now!, give thanks, girl writing, rainbow, freedom, pencil, hand writing, bathing suit, fireworks, painting, four leaf clover, look at the stars, butterfly, smile, money, cupcakes, inspiration, comfortable shoes, drawing, fall leaves, love, an intensely passionate kiss, sex, silver lining, mindful, freedom, health, "ban self-doubt," my name on the cover of a book   

N 

 love, peace, "summer state of mind," laughter, sparkly things, "long live happy," writing, collaged artwork, a huge stack of books, heart, happy, killer high heels, "feel that you're contributing positively," $$$, sprinkles, "dreaming wide awake," palm trees, silliness, glitter, a picture of a dog from Guardians of Being (symbolizing how my dog keeps me present), "look back--and learn," Real Simple, a deep sleep, "dream in colors," paint, kissing, confidence, peace symbol, bright colors, "it is what it is," friendship  

 I 

 peace love music symbol, sandy toes, snowflakes, a wrapped present, happy, kisses, energetic, blue sky, colorful designs, bright sun, clock, sunglasses, modern art, relaxed woman, luxury, hearts, growth, suitcase, "be," a dog's nose, shining star, brilliant friends, stronger, "if you think positively, it will happen"

 

Hmmm... Wow. When I look back on the words and images I've placed on those letters two things happen: (1) I realize that some of my visions are consistent with those of a four-year-old little girl, and (2) I see that a lot -- in fact, most! -- of those things actually happened to me since I made those letters. While I didn't make it onto Oprah to discuss my best-selling novel or clutch happily at the Oscar I won for writing an amazing screenplay, I did find an amazing love filled with kisses and love notes and starry skies. I found a way to love someone else wholeheartedly and love myself at the same time. I've made positive choices and really believe that I'm making a positive difference in the world. Over the past year, I've grown stronger, happier, and more at peace with myself. I believe in myself more and I believe more in the opportunities that are all around me. 

Over the past year, I've spent hours and hours bathing suit-clad in the sunshine (some of those hours surrounded by palm trees!), I've looked up at a sky filled with falling stars, and I've watched the fall leaves float slowly down to the ground. I've strung Christmas lights and stared out the window at a snow-filled world. I've started really working on making my dreams a reality, striving to make what I want into what is. Since I created those letters, I've upheld strong bonds with my friends. I took a visit, in my own way, to Wonderland. I have been grateful, and I have given thanks for what I have been given. 

After creating those letters, I've had sunshine and luck, hope and health. I've had fun (especially with the camera I bought this year). I've felt passionate and lucky, looking for opportunities and opening my heart to a great new love. I've celebrated with birthday candles and tilted my head up to look in wonder a full moon. I've sat in the audience on more than one occasion, watching a band perform and soaking up their music. I've heard great songs and made someone smile. I've cuddled and played with my dog. I've seen rainbows and words that I've written. I've navigated my eyes through the pages of books and pulled over on the side of the road to watch unexpected fireworks. I've seen butterflies flitting from flower to flower and bit into delicious treats covered in sprinkles. I've laughed so hard tears have come to my eyes and I've found someone that I can be hilariously silly with. I've dreamt and slept deeply, waking to realize that so many of my dreams have already come true. I've thought positively and smiled up into brilliantly blue skies. I've pushed painted toes into high heels and slid sock-covered feet into comfortable tennis shoes. I've been creative and artistic; I've been energetic and confidently relaxed; I've been mindful and I've been strong. 

I have, above all else, become more me. Maybe that is what a vision board is all about -- finding more of yourself. Though the letters have been tucked away, deep down I've always known what I wanted out of my life -- to love, to write, to be happy. The letters, inspiring as they were when I created them, aren't necessary. Vision boards are inspiring, sure, but we don't need them to create the lives we want to be living. What we need is to have an understanding of who we are, who we want to be, and how we plan to get what we want. 

Whether or not you choose to make a vision board, know this: every day is a chance to envision what you want and go after it. You might not realize it, but the more you focus on what you want, the more likely you'll be to get it. I'm still not sure if I can say the Law of Attraction is all that its believers say it is, but it's hard not to have a little faith in it when I look back and see what I wanted and how I eventually got many of those things. Not every single "vision" I had became a reality, but so many of them did. And, hey, who knows -- maybe someday I will be holding that Oscar or smiling at you from the pages of Oprah's magazine... 

Have you ever created a vision board? Did you think it worked for you?
What do you envision for yourself and your life? How do you plan to attract those things to you? 

Comments

[J.D. Meier]

There is always something empowering when you can see the end in mind.

[Christopher Lovejoy]

It's amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it.

[positively present]

J.D. - It's true. When you know what you want, you feel empowered and I think you end up being more likely to go after it.

Christopher - Yes it is! :)

[Ryan @ Fat Loss Informant]

Hey, Great Post!

I created a vision board once. I think I was trying too hard to think things into being and not hard enough to take action. I took the board down and promptly forgot about it.

One of the things on my board manifested itself in one of my dream cars being sold to me at half price about a year later. My companies have done increasingly better and I have become much more confident in myself (all part of the board.)

I don't think staring at it every day made it come to me, but knowing what I wanted and taking the time to identify it made a difference (in my opinion)

One last little story. My wife and I sat down one day and described what we wanted in a house and put a time line of 3 years on the paper. We did this in a Bed and Breakfast with no distractions. A few months later, we found a killer deal on a house right next to the school our kids attend. It's been absolutely magical and has almost everything we described(definitely our most important points.)

Thanks for the post.
Keep up the good work.
Ryan "The Fat Loss Informant"

[positively present]

Ryan - Great comment! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights about the vision board. Also, I did a very similar thing to what you and your wife did when you were looking for a house (but I did it for a person!) and it really did work. I'm not sure if it's Law of Attraction or magic or what, but it does seem that when you put what you want out there into the world, you seem to get it to come back to you.

[jen]

I am making a VISION BOX :)

[Saggleo]

Ok Dani, I'm really starting to think you are psychic! LOL I have been thinking about doing a vision board (hmm may have to give that box idea a try as jen mentioned)...and I missed out on a vision board class at a yoga studio on Friday...and then today I see this! Great timing! I sometimes say my visions to myself (or have on the photographer's blog I wanted to meet - and I got to meet her). I think just the power of knowing it in your thoughts and expressing it to yourself at times (whether out loud or not) can be pretty powerful too. Whatever helps push you forward. I've been working on stopping the fear of the unknown stop me from discovering the unknown of what I want...I'm hoping it's not as scary as I'm thinking once I get there.

Thanks for this...great post! Glad to see you got a lot of what you visioned too!

[Clearly Composed]

"You might not realize it, but the more you focus on what you want, the more likely you'll be to get it." That sums it up for me! I am always astounded when I look at my vision board and see how much of it has manifested in my life. I am totally inspired by your zest for life and passion for seeing the good in it. :)

[Pam Komarnicki]

This is a cool idea, and I'm thinking of trying it. Though at the same time, I agree with you that you don't really need the board, just a clear idea of what you want out of life. It's so important to have clear goals, and, I think, to have a clear plan to reach them, even if the plan is constantly changing as you go. I don't think it's enough to have a plan in mind. You need to write it down, or make a vision board, or SOMETHING, to take them from thoughts and ideas and turn them into something more tangible. Things that stay ideas in our minds have a tendency to get cloudy and hard to see sometimes. It helps to make them more real and less varying with our day to day moods.

[positively present]

Jen - A vision box sounds like a great idea! I might have to give that a try.

Saggleo - Haha, sounds like we're always on the same page! I'm going to have to say that this post seems like a sign that you should start a vision board (or box). You brought up a great point in saying that sometimes it's actually scary to think about what you want to get out of life. When you make it real in the form of a vision board/box, it can really make you see more about yourself (which can be scary at times!). However, after my experience with it, I'd recommend giving it a try!

CC - That's awesome that your vision board has worked for you. I almost forgot about mine, but when I dug it out from under the bed and realized how much of it had actually happened, it was pretty amazing. I might just have to create a new one and see if it works again! I'm so glad you're inspired by my posts. It's hard to put myself out there sometimes so it means a lot when I get compliments like the one you left in your comment!

Pam - You should definitely give it a shot! Even if you don't need to have a vision board, it's great to have a place where you can keep track of what you really want in life. As you said, the important thing is to have goals and to be very clear about what they are so that you can achieve them -- and it's often easy to forget about them if we don't put them down in words (or pictures, as in the vision board). Thanks for your comment! You shared some great insights.

[Molly]

I love the idea of a vision board! A little reminder everyday of what's important to you.

I think I feel a weekend project coming on:)

[Stephanie]

I can very much relate to this post. This week, we were cleaning the house and I discovered a single sheet of paper with a list I wrote of 54 things I love on it. I wrote it in high school, not sure what date. Here's some of the list:
Rain, writing, the colour red, Justin Timberlake, music, singing, playing piano, my dog, the beach, good movies, chocolate, fudge, French culture, my grandparents, the number 8, being happy.
Over 6 years later, I still pretty much love the entire list and it's great to read and remind yourself of who you are! Cheers Dani.

[positively present]

Molly - It's definitely a great way to remember daily what you value (unless, of course, you keep it under the bed like I did!). I'm glad this has inspired you. Good luck with your vision!

Stephanie - Thanks so much for sharing some of the items on your list. How awesome that you found that! I've looked back on old journals and been surprised by how much of me has stayed the same. (By the way, I was just saying last night how much I like Justin Timberlake!)

[Caroline]

What a great post! I have done vision boards before and I think they are very powerful tools. Funny...I have been thinking about creating one again...and I come here to read this post today. Hmmmm wonder if that's a message.

[positively present]

Caroline - Thank you! I absolutely think you should start a vision board again... The coincidence of coming across this post seems like a sign to me!

[iHanna]

Wow, love the idea of letters with a collage of images and text messages. They look great, I think you should hang them up again or do new ones with new visions on... I did a dreamboard/vision board but I'm not sure yet if it "worked" :-)

[positively present]

iHanna - Thanks! I'm glad you liked the idea. When I saw the letters in the art store, it just came to me and I knew that's what I needed to do with them. I agree that I should hang them back up -- or, as someone else suggested, I might start a vision box where I can store all of the things I'd like to have in my life!

[Stephanie]

Dani,
This was a wonderful post. Your writing in it is so loose and free - literally vibrating with happiness. This is a great summary of how we create with our thoughts what we want our lives to take shape to be. I loved it.

[positively present]

Stephanie - Thanks for the compliment! I was a little hesitant to put this out there, but your comment made me realize that it was worth it. I'm so happy you liked it! :)