Weekend Project…THIS Weekend!
Most of us are visual learners, so we are going to spend some time talking about vision boards. In the past I have mentioned using vision boards as part of a plan to achieve our goals and stay on task. Today, I am going to backtrack a little, and talk about how to make one…THIS WEEKEND!
Why?
Do you ever feel that you need to keep pushing yourself to stay focused on your goals? A vision board can be very effective to have daily reminders of what you want to accomplish. Using a vision board is one way to consistently work toward bringing your dreams to life.
What is a Vision Board?
A vision board is a craft project. I know what you are thinking, “I hate crafts!” Do it anyway. It is a collage that includes pictures and words that reflect your life goals. It can be very broad, addressing your life in general, or it can be about one or more specific areas you choose.
A vision board shows what you’re truly seeking in life; what you really want. So, before starting to make your board, sit down with your single piece of paper, and ask yourself what your goals are. “What do I want my life to be like?”
Prep Day: Preparing to Construct Your Vision Board (Friday or Saturday)
Ok, we are committed to completing this.
1. Gather supplies. You’ll need:
- Use a large square or rectangle of poster board or foam core board as the base of your vision board. I use regular poster board. The advantages are, I think lightweight, easy to handle, no new holes in the walls.
- colored ink markers
- magazines with plenty of words in headlines and pictures
- scissors
- glue
- time
2. Think about what you’ll include in your board. Choose the life area(s) you want to address: all aspects, such as prosperity, relationships, family, sports, health, school / education, jobs, and careers or just 1-2 of your most-sought-after goals.
You will want to use pictures and words about the things you desire most, the place(s) you want to live or visit, and anything else representative of the lifestyle you seek.
3. Set aside time by making an appointment with yourself. Plan time to start work on your vision board. Schedule a date and time to make your board when you’ll be uninterrupted. Allow yourself a couple of hours. You might not complete it in one sitting. That’s okay. It’ll take some time to browse through magazines and select images to clip and use.
Vision Board Day! (Saturday or Sunday)
Let’s do this!
1. What are your most important goals? Set a timer for 20 minutes and clarify to yourself what you want in life. Right this moment, what’s important to you? What do you want to pursue? It’s okay if you’re not sure. But give yourself time to think about it. When you can emotionally connect with your goals, you’re more likely to achieve them.
2. Find the pictures you want to use. What picture reflects the goal you want to pursue? Remember this has to make sense to you. Choose pictures that “speak” to you, or resonate with you. Browse through magazines and clip images that reflect your goals and dreams.
Then, without gluing anything down, arrange and re-arrange the pictures on the poster board until you are pleased with the way it looks. Leave a space somewhere on the poster board to place a favorite picture of you. I placed mine in the center of the board.
Once you have a pleasing arrangement, glue it all into place.
3. Include words to express goals and desires. Write words that connect you with the pictures. Express your thoughts and emotions using the markers. Be bold. Dream big!
You might choose to clip words from magazines (larger print is best) and glue them on your vision board. You can use clipart from the computer. But do NOT get distracted. This is NOT the time to check in on your FaceBook or Twitter account. This is a time that you have set aside specifically to devote to your goals and dreams!!
4. Glue on a picture of yourself that you like and voila, you’ve just created your first vision board!
5. Recognize that this is a process. You might start out making your vision board about your career and discover you’re really more interested in
deepening friendships or making money from a new job that you’ve never tried. That’s okay; switch gears on this board or even construct another board later.
6. Display your vision board. Hang it in your study, bedroom, closet or anyplace that you’ll see it every day. Stop and look at it, touch it, and say out loud, “I’m working for/on that!” Let yourself get really excited about the
prospect of achieving your goals.
Making a vision board keeps you oriented toward your life desires. Make a new board later as you accomplish your current goals, adding new ones. Keep yourself motivated and moving in a forward trajectory so that you can attain your goals and dreams by making your own vision board.
Please let me know how this works for you.
photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23889619@N04/3240109779/
[…] 8. Make a vision board. Cut out pictures that signify your goals and display them where you will see them regularly. On the inside cover of your schedule book, or on the refrigerator or your bathroom mirror. Watch movies with subject matter or settings related to your goals. Keep your endeavors alive in your daily life. Keep the images fresh in your mind and in your vision. We talk about how to do this here. […]