Visualize this!

Vision Boards, Dream Boards, Goals, and Resolutions

If you want your life to look different, you need a plan. If you want the plan to work, you need to set goals – clear, specific, actionable goals. If you want to meet those goals you need consequences for not meeting them and accountability.  Simple right? No? Okay let’s break it down.

No matter how much you want something, you most likely will not accomplish it, unless you have an action plan. Sorry, but true. You may have heard of vision boards. They are the new “hot” thing.  Back in the 80’s and 90’s we called them Visualization Maps…pretty much the same thing. Back then, I used to teach classes on how to make these boards. My mother used to say there is nothing new under the sun, and everything, whether bell bottoms, neon or flannel shirts eventually comes back. So true. So, Visualization Maps return as Vision Boards.

That said, these are powerful tools. Simply, a vision board is a visual representation created to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on a specific life goal. A vision board is any sort of platform where you display visual images that represent what you want to be, do or have in your life.

If you’ve heard the term “vision or dream board,” chances are it was straight from mouth of Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, or a life coach.  These goal-manifesting collages have become a seriously helpful creative tool, and all the rage.

Here Comes 2018

Yes, it’s New Year’s Eve, or maybe later, but it’s never too late to start. January, March or June – get to it. Anytime is the perfect time, because, with all the uncertainty we have in the world right now, being connected to your personal truth is never a wasted effort. (Hint: this works for kids too!)

This board will be there anytime you start to wonder where your life is going. Anytime you feel off-track or lose focus, your board, your visual plan will be right there to remind you of your plan, your truth, of the things you want for your life. What’s possible and what matters.

Here’s what we know: in order to attract what you truly want, you must see it, you must feel it, and you must own it.

So here we go…Dream BIG and let’s make it happen.

STEP 1:  The Secret

The secret to creating a powerful vision board is you need an anchor. Yours may be an image, a name, a saying or scripture – mine is a word.

In the center of my board, I place a WORD. It is my word for the year, my overarching theme. I think long and hard for this word.  Sometimes, it is clear and evident; other times I must search for it. But, placing it in the center to my vision board anchors it to my board and my board to it.  Then anytime I see the word, think the word, wear the word, etc. – it takes me immediately back to my board with the meaning, plans and resolutions it carries. Make sense?

So, choose your WORD, or let your WORD choose you.

Here are some questions to help you choose your WORD.

• What virtue do you want more of in your life?
• What challenge do you want to overcome?
• What are you most passionate about?
• What do you want to do more of?
• What’s a goal of yours?
• What brings you joy?
• Is there something that you want to let go of?
• Is there something you want to improve upon?
• What energizes you or makes you feel like your true-self?

STEP 2: What, where, when?

What do you want to manifest this year? In what area of life? By when?

Where are your dreams centered? Work, Family, Creativity, School, Volunteering? Maybe you’re starting a new venture, changing majors, moving, looking for the perfect partner, or more money, success, better teamwork, an international trip?

The trick to manifesting/dreaming/envisioning what you want is in the details. Be specific. The more specific you are, the better. The more you can lock in on the details, the more ownership, more clarity, more vision you have. That is what will give you laser-sharp focus.

For Example: Say your goal is “make more money.” Are you looking for a dime, dollar or thousand dollars?  The key is to create very specific goals. For example, in business, you want to grow your bottom line. So, set a very specific income goal, calculate how many new clients you need to get there. This gives you a metric to focus on and a place to set goals along the way. It may even require being super-specific about who your ideal client is and how you will attract them.

A good method to get these details clarified is a blank piece of paper and quick writing just to get your initial thoughts down. What do you want and where are your going? Most importantly what does it look like when you get there, when you achieve your goal. Identify the stuff that really lights you up, gets you excited. Highlight the strongest details.

Step 3: Get ready

Get your poster board, pens, paints, stickers, tape, glue, scrapbook materials … and anything else that is fun, exciting, visual and inspiring. Come on, we all have scrapbook stuff somewhere that we never actually use, or your wife does!

Grab some magazines you love (yes, they still exist), trade magazines, catalogs or log into Pinterest, Google Images, etc.

Put your WORD in the middle of your board, then cruise the magazines or internet and clip any images that are visual representatives of where you are headed this year – what you will manifest. For example, if you want to be a success coach, select photos of successful people. If you want to eat better, select pictures of clean food and vegetables. If you want to be a cosmetologist, get pics of beautiful makeup and great style. Or a new house – fun! Flooring samples, paint colors, furniture, entertaining pics. Calling in more abundance? Get photos of successful people, or pictures of what the money will be spent on.

Now, you are going to fill in with words, colors, people, sayings that inspire you. What encourages you, ignites you, fulfills you? What does your life look like when you manifest your dream?

Manifesting a home? How much is the mortgage payment, HOA fees, interest rate…remember be specific. You cannot get, what you cannot envision.

Step 4: Map it!

Lay out your dream on your board before taping or pasting anything. There is no right or wrong – this is your board.  Make it bright, fun and eclectic, or serious, structured and strategic. Fill it up or leave open spaces. You can allow the empty space to inspire you and as you move through your year, you’ll find new parts to your dream to add to your board.

Step 5: Make it prominent

Make your board visual, put it someplace you will see it daily and often – closet door, office wall, bathroom wall, refrigerator door? Some people like to make their vision board small to keep it at work. It can even be created in a notebook or within the pages of a journal. But you are best to see it first thing in the morning, right before going to bed and as often as possible during the day.

Final Thoughts:

The point of the vision/dream board is to create your reality on paper before you create your reality. The more you can lock your mind onto this reality, the more excited you get about what you are creating, the more likely you’ll be to attract it into your life.

• Be realistic, but don’t be afraid to Dream Big!
• Inspire yourself. Create a goal that makes you excited.
• Identify and trust the process.
• Celebrate the wins. In addition to big goals, identify smaller landmarks to recognize, and plan how you will celebrate. Celebrate each and every win along the way. Keep the good vibes going all year long.

We’re in this with you!! Questions on how to proceed or clarify … ask us, we’d love to help.

Deb Bostwick
Staff Writer

P.S. Oh me? My word for 2018 is Thrive!