The Magic of Vision Boards

Photo Credit: Innovative Results

Have you ever sat down and simply wrote your goals out on paper and maybe added a few icons? Have you ever drawn concepts of things you’d like to have or maybe just used plain ol’ doodling?

Well, guess what? You’ve created a vision board!

Before I knew anything about a vision board, I used to draw pictures in my journals next to the things/concepts/ideas I thought about. Nothing fancy. Just a few roughly drawn stick figures and what not. After learning about The Secret and Law of Attraction a few years ago, I realized I had already created some form of a vision board.

Whether you’ve heard of them or not, I can tell you it’s one of the most simplest things ever to do. If you truly want to obtain all the things you desire in life AND do so by using the K.I.S.S. method – Keep It Simple Silly (or Keep It Simple Stupid depending on who you talk to!), then keep reading because this article and several to come in this series will show you how to unlock the true power of vision boards!

Your thoughts today create your life tomorrow! 

What Is A Vision Board?

Before we continue, let’s get on the same page as to what a vision board is. A vision board is a creative and fun way to think about what you want in life. It has also been called a “Goal Board” or “Dream Board.” Ultimately, it’s a collage of pictures of the goals and dreams you want to attract in your life. 

You can also think of it as a goal setting tool that uses visual cues to focus your energy and subconscious mind (along with conscious action) on that which you desire.

A lot of people underestimate its value and true power because they don’t believe in “new age-y” type stuff or the Law of Attraction. Listen, whether or not you believe in any Universal Laws, just know that your thoughts create your reality and if your thoughts are toxic, so will your life  and vice versa – regardless of what the principle or concept is named.

 Your thoughts not only matter, they create matter! Thought is where everything comes from. 

Do you wonder why other people seem to be successful and get things they want and you don’t? Do you want to create more [INSERT YOUR OWN TERM HERE] in life and achieve more of your goals? Well, one way to do these things is with Vision Boards. I’ve used them myself over the last few years and have reached success with some goals and others I haven’t (yet).

Okay, here’s where you ask me why I haven’t reached ALL of my goals if vision boards work so well. Well, great question Oh Wise One. There are several reasons which will all be answered in the next post, When Vision Boards Don’t Work, so stay tuned so you won’t make the same mistakes I did!

Elements of a Vision Board

First and foremost, your vision board has to be very visual. I mean, come on; it’s a VISION board.

Why? Because your subconscious mind works really well with pictures and images. A clear picture along with a corresponding feeling are what make up the true language of the subconscious mind!

Outside of that, here are elements for creating a vision board.

1. Use words and phrases to supplement your imagery. Above I stated that a corresponding feeling along with an image make up the language our subconscious understands. Every picture, word, and phrase should evoke a positive emotional response. When you see the pictures on your board, I want you to also experience what it FEELS like when you have achieved that goal, whatever it is. Just glancing at your board should make you feel joy, satisfaction, and any other feeling you desire to have once you’ve obtained your goal. Add your favorite affirmations and quotes as well to really hone your intention.
2. It should be personal. You and I could sit down at a table with the same goal in mind and our vision boards would look completely different – and it should! Everything about your board is a representation of YOU – your thoughts, your ideas, the words and imagery you’ve compiled that speaks to you about your goals. This is also the reason I tell people not to study other people’s boards. Vision boards come in all types, sizes and shapes. Just make it YOURS.
3. Be clear on your goals so that you can use the best imagery possible. 

Note: There are a couple different schools of thought with this last one. One side says to know exactly what you want so that you can represent it on your board. For instance, if you want to manifest a blue Chevy SUV with an expanded moon roof and whatever other features that are a must-have for instance, go to Chevy’s website and find that exact picture. In this case, don’t put  a picture of a yellow Ford Focus on your board! 

The other school of thought says you don’t have to know every exact detail of that which you desire to be successful in manifesting your goals with vision boards. For instance, if you don’t care about the type of car and just want a reliable vehicle, you can add imagery that depicts how you feel having that reliable vehicle and what that feeling “looks” like instead. This is when your words and phrases are most helpful. 

Either way, whatever you show on your vision board will become part of your reality! 

Vision Board Tools

Now that you have the concepts, let’s get down to creating the actual board. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Your “board” can be anything you can add images and phrases to. I’ve seen all types of things people have used as a vision board – walls, boxes with a different goal on each side, cork board, whiteboard, poster board, calendars, the top of a desk (under a clear protective cover). Most people start off with poster board but feel free to be creative. Remember, this is supposed to be a simple and easy process!
• Markers, colored pens or other writing utensils to hand write words and phrases
• Scissors to cut out imagery from magazines, etc.
• Tape or glue for pasting
• If you’d rather use a digital board, there are a lot of paid tools out there, but try something free first.
  • Open up your favorite word processing program, paste images from Google for example and use colorful text for your imagery.
  • If you’re good with Photoshop or design tools, create an image and you can even use that as your desktop wallpaper.
  • Though I haven’t used it myself, I hear that Oprah has an online digital board called the O Dream Board and it’s free. 
  • Ooooh, just thought of another one: Use Animoto, a video creation service where you can add images and text and voila! You’ll have a video as a vision board (use the free version). The possibilities are only limited by your mind!

“Make your vision board bold! Make it colorful! Make it attractive to YOU!”

The Final Step for Positive, Powerful Results!

So you’ve learned what a vision board is, its elements, and how to make one. Now what?

Well, it’s not a set and forget thing per se.

You need to look at your vision board on a consistent (daily) basis. Just take 5 minutes out of your day to release your mind of any other thoughts and look at your board. What this does is focus your mind on what you said you want so that your subconscious can start getting to work for you. The more you focus on it, the more you become aware of what some call “coincidences” that start to occur in your life. I call it becoming aware of opportunities.

This is not a hocus pocus magic trick (or maybe it is???). All I know is that I’ve seen people, including myself, manifest goals using vision boards.

Is this the only way to manifest your desires. HECK NAWL! 

It’s simply one way I’ve found that helps people stay on track and really visualize what they want. 

You can truly manifest ANYTHING you want in life if you have the right mindset with intentional action and positive feelings.

Ellen DeGeneres’ Vision Board for Getting on the Cover of O 

Video Link (~2 mins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqsbtOOECXw

Just for fun, watch Ellen as she describes her vision board for getting on the cover of O Magazine.

Over to you…