creating your vision board : 3 essentials for success

 

"What you think is what you are.
What you pursue becomes your reality."

Babylon

 

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the Law of Attraction (sometimes I swear it must be true; other times I feel it's just me seeing what I want to see), but I'm passionate about knowing what I want and going after it. Which is why I periodically create vision boards to physically depict what I want in life. (See my DANI board from back in 2010.) Not only is it fun for me to create something (I'm a big fan of crafts, as you can see by my new craft cart!), but it's also a great way for me to sit down and really think about what I want in life. I, like many of us, claim I know what I want, but sitting down and really thinking about it helps me focus on what's really important to me -- and determine how I can incorporate those important things into my life. 

Creating a vision board is easy. Because it's about you and what you want, you can use any format and any medium. Even though it's a completely open-ended task, having done this a few times, I've discovered that there are some essentials that should be woven into the vision board-creating process. Here's what you'll need to have to make your vision a success: 

#1 : Time

To create a truly great vision for yourself, you need time. You need the time to figure out what you really want in your life. Just slapping some words or images on a board isn't going to get you very far (or very far in the right direction). Determining a vision for your life takes careful thought. As you create your vision, imagine what it would be like to really get (or keep) these things in your life. Are they really what you want? When you dedicate time to your vision, you'll uncover what's truly important to you -- and avoid desiring things you think you're supposed to want.

Giving yourself time to create the vision you truly want also frees you up to think about things that are important to you that you might not have considered before. Time gives you the freedom to see things from a different point of view -- and to contemplate some aspects of your life that you might not have thought of as important before. For example, I put "concerts" on my vision board. Sounds a bit trivial, doesn't it? But, for me, being at a really great concert is one of the true places I feel absolute and utter joy. (Just ask anyone who's gone to one with me and seen that stupid grin on my face as I bounce up and down with the excitement of a toddler!) "Concerts" didn't come to my mind when I first started working on the board, but after spending time thinking about what I really want more of in my life, they came to me. 

It's tempting to just rush into the whole vision board thing. After all, you know what you want, right? But don't rush it. If you take your time, you'll discover things -- important things -- that are must-haves for your life's vision. 

 

#2: Accountability 

Yes, the vision board is just for you -- but when we don't share our dreams and desires with the world, we lose some of the accountability that comes with sharing what we want. When you tell others what you want, you're more likely to actively go after it. You're more likely to stay on track with your goals. Same goes for your vision. If you tell someone about it, you'll both make it more tangible and you'll have someone to hold you accountable for your desires. You don't have go blog it the world (like I'm about to do!), but even just telling one person can help you be more successful in turning visions into realities. Here are the items on my current board . . . 

 

1. Bella  –  my best pup; need to enjoy the time I have with her 

2. Boyfriend  –  best guy I know; need lots of him in my life

3. My Book  –  hoping for lots of success with the launch (coming soon!)

4. Sobriety  –  two years and counting... gotta keep it up! 

5. Now  –  living in the present is a struggle, but a worthy aspiration

6. Music  –  cannot live without it; a life-long must-have!

7. Love  –  romantic, platonic, familial: the more love, the better

8. Beach  –  need to spend more time by the seashore

9. Calling (not Job)  –  less work, more passion

10. Organization  –  essential for my productivity (and sanity!)

11. Meaning  –  living life with a purpose is vital

12. Art  –  it inspires and excites me

13. Positivity  –  imperative for living the best possible life

14. Friends  –  couldn't survive without them

15. Knowledge  –  always learning, always curious

16. Romance  –  adds a little sparkle to any day

17. Sunshine  –  lights up even a dark day

18. Color  –  one of my favorite things in life

19. Dreams  –  never giving up on my crazy ones

20. Perseverance  –  even when I struggle, I must keep going

21. Time  –  to do what I love, to enjoy life

22. Happiness  –  a lasting, content kind

23. Relaxation  –  hard for me, but I need more of it

24. Creativity  –  making my ideas into realities

25. Concerts  –  few things make me happier

26. Truth  –  difficult at times, but always the way to go

27. Tools  –  particularly technology, one of my great loves

28. Gratitude  –  striving to be thankful for all I have

29. Laughter  –  without it, life would be such a waste

30. Writing  –  the only thing I could spend a lifetime doing

31. Action  –  less waiting, more doing

32. Give Back  –  donating time to those (pups) in need

33. Clouds  –  without them, sunshine would be meaningless

34. Business  –  building, growing, succeeding

35. Celebration  –  life's too short not to celebrate

36. Beauty  –  it's everywhere & I want to find it all

37. Adventures  –  need more of these in my life

38. Money  –  enough to be comfortable & make a difference

39. Books  –  without them, I would be lost

40. Home  –  someday, a house; now, my little family in our apartment

 

It feels good, putting those desires out there. Now if ever start to give up on these dreams -- or lose sight of what matters most -- I've got a whole bunch of people out there in the world who could hold me accountable. 

#3 : Conviction

Finally, you need conviction. You need to believe that what you want is what you can get. If you don't, your vision board is certain to struggle. You need certainty. You need confidence. Without the belief that you can (and will!) succeed, your visions won't be more than just images on paper. The main purpose of creating a vision board is to identify what you want, but it also serves as a reminder for you to be confident in yourself and your desires. Believe that you can achieve what you want -- and, more importantly, believe that you deserve to achieve it. 

 

Have you ever created a vision board? 
If you have (or will), what's on it (or will be on it)?  

Comments

[Amy]

It's like you are reading my mind! Just earlier this week I started thinking about how beneficial it might be for me to create a vision board as I am beginning a new chapter in my life. I just graduated from college and went through some pretty rough experiences there. I have had a hard time shaking off the negativity that accompanied those times. I really want to work on being my best self now, and really believe that a vision board will help me home in on the important things I desire. I even visited your blog last week to look for inspiration and read the post you wrote about your DANI letters. Now I'm taking this as a sign that I really do need to do this!!

[positively present]

Amy - This is awesome! I'm so glad I published this when I did. I've been meaning to create a new vision board for over a year and I finally got around to it. I definitely think it's a sign you should create one of your own! I'd love to see it if you do. Feel free to email, tweet, or FB me!

[Fab 'n Fun]

I have read about Law of Attraction and found it really fascinating. I took time and looked back at my life so far and I thought Law of Attraction in something that really exists. I always try to navigate myself with positive thoughts. But I actually have never done the vision board. Your post makes me inspired and I think maybe it's time to make one for myself. Thanks for a lovely sharing

[positively present]

F 'n F - The Law of Attraction is interesting. Sometimes I'm not sure if I really believe it, but I figure it still doesn't hurt to create a vision board of the things I want in my life! Hope you enjoy putting together one for yourself!

[Marita Steffe]

I like the way you have it set up. I love vision boards, they are wonderful and helpful tools to remind us what we want and focus on that. I sometimes have a hard time to believe in the law of attraction, but I do try, it makes total sense.

[positively present]

Marita - Thanks! I used an old iPad cover case and a lot of my Instagram photos to make it. I know what you mean about struggling with believing in the Law of Attraction, but I feel like it doesn't hurt to give it a try!

[Isabella]

Your blog is really the only one I check religiously! I love it so much and I am really excited to try and make a vision board!!!!

[positively present]

Isabella - Thank you so much for reading Positively Present! It makes me so happy to know that you check it regularly. Best of luck with your vision board!

[Isabella]

Yes! I made mine and here's what I have on it:

- Yoga pictures because I want to get really good at it
- A yoga studio because I'd eventually like to get certified to teach it as a side job
- A report card with a 4.0 GPA
- UCLA medical school logo (my top school)
- an MCAT book so I can get a good score
- an attractive man for love
- an apartment in NYC
- Pictures of healthy bodies so I'm motivated to work out

I'm so excited about it!! But I was curious as to how exactly you use it?

[positively present]

Isabella - What an awesome collection of things! It sounds like you're on the right path to getting them already. The best way I've found to use it is to put it somewhere where you'll see it frequently, allowing it to serve as a reminder of the things you want in your life and a motivator for making choices that will help you achieve what you want. I have mine propped up on a stand on a shelf right next to my desk so I can see it all the time!