Designing a Vision Board  

Have you ever wondered why you never seem to get what you really want in life? Are you the type of person that goes with the flow and simply allows life to happen to you? Would you like to shape your life the way you would like it to be, instead of allowing others or circumstances to dictate how things end up? One of the things I have learned over the years is that when I really want something, I tend to focus on that thing and put a lot of energy into making it happen. Sometimes I set goals. Other times I just have it in the forefront of my mind and think about it regularly. When I do this, guess what? It comes about!! After reading The Secret and other similar books, I now know that what I have been doing is a basic principal in life: What we focus on, expands and is drawn to us.  

We are creative beings. We constantly create our world. It starts in our mind with some thoughts and ideas, then moves to the physical world when those thoughts and ideas become reality. Let me give you an example. Many years ago I wanted to take my kids to Canada for Christmas. I was on a small income, and as a single parent with 2 young children, it seemed next to impossible to save the money needed to fly to my homeland. My first tip is: nothing is impossible! In fact, we have very limited thoughts about how something will be accomplished, but the universe has numerous miraculous ways and means to bring about the physical. So, in January, I started to plan the trip to Canada. I told the kids we would have to cut back on things because we were saving for our trip. Every time they asked for “things” that they really didn’t need, I’d say, “No. We’re saving for our trip to Canada.” The three of us became so focused on it, it grew and grew until we were talking about it all the time. “When we go to Canada, can we go skiing?” “What will we do with the dog when we’re in Canada?” “It’s only 7 months til we leave on our trip.” On and on. Of course we spent Christmas with my family in Canada and had a wonderful time. I won’t go into the detail of how it all happened because that isn’t important. What is important is the focus we put on it. 

My second tip is: focus on what you want! No matter how big or small! Then simply add an enthusiastic belief that you can have it! Emotion is energy in motion and it seems to me that we have been given emotions to help us create what we want in life. It’s no good saying, “Ya, it would be good if I could buy a new car.” Put some enthusiasm into it. “I want that car so badly, man, I can feel myself driving it!” Want it so much that you create it in your mind. You see the picture of you driving it, polishing it, taking your girlfriend for a ride in it, whatever. Just make it real in your mind. This brings me to my third tip: design a vision board! 

How do you design a vision board? Here are a few steps to make it easy: 

1.      Decide what it is you want in your life right now. If you’re not sure, go to the worksheets on Values and Assessing What You Want and do some preliminary writing about this. It’s important to know what it is you want your life to look like.  

2.      Make a list of the things you want. What is it that you value? What makes you happy and fulfilled? For example, the list I made for my vision board was: living more simply, letting go, freedom, meditation, enlightenment, peace, yoga, books, health and well-being, family, travel (Bali, Vietnam and Santo,) Permaculture, aid work. 

3.      Start collecting pictures, words and photos that represent the things on your list. Look through old magazines or the newspaper (especially for words) or go to the travel agency and ask for some brochures (if you want to travel). I found some of my pictures on the internet. 

4.      Buy a large piece of construction paper from your newsagency. Choose a colour that you love. 

5.      Set aside an hour or two for this next stage. Start by cutting pictures and laying them out on the paper and shuffle them around until it looks good, then glue things in place. 

6.      Find a good place in your home for your vision board. I have mine next to my bed so it’s the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning and the last thing at night. You might prefer to have it in your office (above your desk) or in the kitchen (on the fridge). When you look at it each day, just affirm that it is all happening as the pictures dictate. 

7.      Take a photo of your vision board and keep a record of the way things materialise. 

8.   Watch this U Tube Video everyday  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZaozxQl6t0&NR=1

Barb’s Vision Board Nov 2009 

 UPDATE!!! It is now April 2010 and I am happy to report that virtually everything on my vision board has come into reality! The next few months will be taken up with more of the things I visualised (going to Canada to be with family, going to Bali again and to the jungles of Borneo) I will create a new vision board when I return sometime in September. So, it does work!!! Try it yourself and see!