Do you have goals in mind for the new year and actually want to stick with them this time around? Vision boards are a wonderful tool that can help us feel hopeful and excited about life. It is a collage of photos, motivational quotes, words of affirmation… basically, a visual representation of your goals.
You can create a board during any time of the year, but I usually like to do them at the end of the year in December or the very beginning of January. Creating my board around this timeframe helps me to feel accomplished, and gives me things to look forward to. & Here’s the good news, anyone can create a vision board! If you are someone who says things like, “I am not very creative.” I would have to disagree. lol I believe that we are all born with the innate ability to use our imagination. As we grow up, experience life, and face difficulties, some of us lose track of that creative side that came so naturally when we were kids. But it is still there. Vision boards are an excellent way to tap back into that creativity.
Keep reading below as I walk you through the steps to creating your very own vision board!
1. Brainstorm & dream
Before you even begin gathering your materials. Spend some time thinking about what you would like to achieve for the upcoming year. I encourage you to include God in your plans. Pray and talk to Him about the desires of your heart. Pray that He will guide you on the right path and bless you according to His will.
Next, choose 3-5 things you want to accomplish. (You can absolutely choose more if you’d like!). Write the goals down in a notebook, journal, or in your cellphone (Somewhere you’ll be able to access it). Take your time with this step and don’t rush the process. If you can only come up with two goals, that is okay too! Your board will still look amazing. Also, don’t be afraid to dream BIG. The thought “This probably isn’t going to happen” may cross your mind… but write that dream down anyway.
2. Actionable steps
Now with your goals in mind, it is important that you think about some actionable steps.
Actionable steps are tasks you can do along the way that are do-able and manageable. These actionable steps are to help provide you with a breakdown or guideline of how you will reach your goals.
For example, if you have a goal of paying off credit card debt… an actionable step for that may be to set aside a specific amount from each pay check to put towards your credit card payments. Or perhaps, the goal is to get a better paying job. Actionable steps may be to update your resume and cover letter, research companies/positions you are interested in, and apply for the job(s). Other actionable steps may be attending networking events, getting an internship, or gaining more experience in your field.
Many times, many of us don’t reach our goals because we do not have a solid plan. But this year, we are doing things more efficiently so that we can elevate, and see the results we’ve been longing for! Again, don’t rush this step. Think carefully about the steps you can take to begin moving in the direction of each goal. *Save your action steps notes for you to read as often as necessary.*
3. Gather materials
Now that you have a plan and specific goals in mind, here is the fun part! Gather the materials you will need to create your vision board. Start by getting a poster board, large construction paper, cork-board, or any background material of your choosing. I recommend picking something that is thick/sturdy. The dollar store (or $1.25 store I should say lol) is a great place to buy your materials! The board will serve as the base and where you will put all of your photos. You will also need scissors, glue or clear tape. Feel free to use any other materials you’d like: markers, paint, stickers, glitter glue, ribbon. Make it YOURS. Next, pictures!
4. Photos
Now with your goals in mind, begin choosing your inspirational photos to add to the board. Gather old magazines, or print photos from the internet. To give you some extra inspiration on how to arrange your photos, you can use Pinterest or google images. Some free sites to find beautiful stock images for your board are:
Get creative. Add quotes, words, plain colors, whatever resonates with you most! Cut the photos out to the size you want.
5. Putting it together
Before you glue or tape anything down, I recommend first placing the photos and quotes where you want them on the board. That way you can move things around until you are satisfied with how it looks. Once everything looks good to you, then you can start taping or gluing the pictures down. Remember to have fun with this! It does not have to be perfect, just make sure that it is something YOU like because you will be the one looking at it the most. All done!
Faith & works
When you’ve completed your vision board, I encourage you to put it somewhere you will be able to see it every single day. This way, you will be able to visualize the exciting things in store for your future, and feel inspired. Most importantly, try to be positive about the things you’ve included on your board. Trust God, have faith that things will work out the way they’re meant to, AND do the work it takes to reach your goals.
Lastly, I want to remind you that it is okay if time goes by and things aren’t going as planned. Life happens, and sometimes things throw us off a bit. That is okay. Be patient with yourself this new year because the fact that you are trying is an accomplishment within itself. Wishing you well and a beautiful vision board!
Leave a Reply