A Lil’ Creative Exercise

In this post I want to give you a (small) fun challenge…we have 9 days left in the first month of 2016. Forget the resolutions stuff – have you thought about what you want to create this year? Is your vision in place? Have you created your vision board? If not, why not? I challenge you to create one!

First, what is a vision board?

It is a tool used to help you clarify and maintain focus on a specific objective or intention. It is a literal poster board (or digital file) displaying images and words and phrases that you choose to represent what you want to be, do or have at this time in life.

Why make one?

Ever feel distracted? Ugh – like daily? Right. We are constantly bombarded by interruptions and distractions. Using a vision board helps:

1) Identify and clarify your vision. As you search for images, pictures and words you identify what you like and dislike. Certain ones will resonate more deeply – you will be drawn to them, and this process is clarifying, bringing what at first may have seemed vague into sharper focus.

2) Organize your thoughts. Even for the unorganized the process of creating a vision board will bring seemingly disparate thoughts and ideas into order, again adding focus.

3) Hold your attention on your intentions. You can use the visual reminder throughout your day to maintain focus on what it is you wish to do, be or have. Mine hangs in my office and I photographed it to have on my cell phone and placed the photo on my desktop. The board represents a story – our own, unique individual story, and there are few things in life more powerful than story.

4) Initiate the planning process. Quietly yet powerfully by creating your vision of what you want you begin the process of making your plan. The wheels crank into motion for ideas and the ways you will achieve them – the dreaded “how.” One thing is for sure – when you are clear on the what and your why, the how shows up!

There is no right or wrong way to create a vision board. You can have one board representing a holistic life approach, or several smaller boards for example one for work, one for health, one for a household remodel project, etc., Making this a kid / family affair is a great way to spend a cold, wintry day.

Here are a couple key tips to make your vision board really work for you.

• Post images on your board that not only clarify what you want but also how you want to feel. We have a tendency to compartmentalize life into tasks, without thinking about the heart piece and our why.
• Vision boarding can be done anytime- some people create one a year, some every six months and some every month.
• Look at your vision board often. Famous author Jack Canfield suggests you look at your vision board every evening before going to bed and when you first wake up of a morning. Do not, repeat, do not, make your board and then set it aside to never be looked at again.
• Rest in the inspiration it provides. One friend told me she felt so peaceful when she looked at her board.
• Talk through your board – read aloud the words and phrases or talk about why you selected the images you did.

Now go get out your magazines, scissors and glue and start searching! I’d love to know what you think about making your own vision board…leave me a note below.