One of the most notable characteristics in content and happy people is their ability to acknowledge and often write down things or people or experiences they are grateful for. Having an overwhelming sense of gratitude and graciousness for what you DO have instead of dwelling on and lamenting about what you don’t have, can easily make a difference in your life.
Creating a Vision Board, or sometimes referred to as a Dream Board, is a simple task of creating a place where you keep everything that you want to create in your life. For example, browse through magazines and cut out pictures of words, places and things and glue them on to a big piece of poster board, a cork board or a piece of 8×10 printer paper. Bust out pencils and crayons, paints and glitter and draw, paste, color or staple your dreams and desires onto this one, central holding place for all things you wish to see in your life.
Going through this physical act of creating a vision board is a great first step to getting real about what you want in this life and to starting taking steps toward achieving those things which you seek. You can be anything you want to be. You can have anything you want to have. Repeat these two sentences to yourself every day and see how when you positively think about yourself and your situation, the world begins to work with you and not against you.
How to Create a Vision Board (or Dream Board, or 8×10 plain piece of paper for your Refrigerator or Bathroom Mirror, or Notebook or Cork Board or…)
Set the Mood:
- Surround yourself with items that make you feel joyful, comforted and at peace
i.e. Wear your favorite band t-shirt, turn on your favorite comfort movie or cd, buy yourself fresh flowers or open some windows to let fresh air in, wear obnoxious fuzzy slippers, turn up the heat…you get the idea.
- Light candles, build a fire and have the appropriate lighting to tap into your senses
- Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee or favorite smoothie
What you’ll need:
- Begin with a fresh, clean piece of poster board, cork board, construction paper, 8×10 printer paper or large notebook. Anything that you can pin, staple, tape or glue something to will suffice. If this is something you want to hang up, be sure it’s ready to hang. Perhaps consider leaning the board against a wall or on a dresser.
- Think of a place you’ll want to place this Vision Board so that you see it daily or at least, once per week
- Scissors or exacto knife
- Tape, glue, stick pins, double sided sticky tape, glue dots – your favorite bonding agent
- Flair for decoration purposes (optional): glitter, charms, ribbon, lace, puffy paint, confetti, think ‘craft aisle’
Now you’re ready to assemble all the things you want to welcome into your life. But before you do… admire your board’s clean state; its metaphor for a new beginning, a fresh start, a new outlook on what your life will hold.
Assemble all the things you are most attracted to:
- Round up your favorite magazines and newspapers and articles and journals that you’re okay with cutting up
- Make copies of your favorite magazine and newspaper articles and journal entries if you’re not okay with cutting them up
- Begin cutting out pictures of people, places and things that you wish to attract into your life
- Think “If I could wave a magic wand, this is what I would have in my life” – and then cut it out or draw it or write it down
- Type up your favorite quotations, cut out fancy fonts and words and phrases from magazines and newspapers that articulate or verbalize what makes you feel good
- Compile family photos, charms, movie tickets and any memories that have positive meaning for you
- Accumulate the people, places and things that already bring you contentment and symbolize them in some fashion through use of pictures, drawings, their names or a photo
- Draw your favorite things, use your favorite colors to outline, highlight or in general, decorate these words and phrases and cut outs
Compile and Reflect:
- Set out everything in front of you and notice the different colors, sizes and variety of your desires, wants and wishes
- Reflect on the things in your life you already have that brings you immense joy
- Start arranging your Vision Board in any chaotic or organized fashion you desire
- Perhaps just let your mind grab this and that and begin assembling your board
- Try grouping all your items by color
-Assemble items from red – orange – yellow – green – blue – purple – white – in alignment with the seven main energy centers (chakras) of the body
- Organize by priority or from least to most desired or from what you think you can achieve sooner than later
- Bottom line: it’s your board – design the layout in a fashion that makes sense to you. Make no judgments against you or your board. Just be present.
Decorate and Add Flair:
- If you want to add or draw attention to some main features or really important words or items on your Vision Board, now is the time to decorate, highlight, puffy paint, glitterize, etc…
Start Believing in the Power of Visualization
-If using glue, let the board lie flat and dry completely overnight
- Lastly, place your Vision Board in a hallway or in a room where you will see it every day or at least once per week. Start believing in it.
Each time you see it, take a moment to pause and look at your Vision Board. Pick an item or two and visualize having that feeling, having that experience or being in that situation. Like a personal mantra, make your Vision Board a part of your regular routine and get into the habit of actively engaging in your own pursuit of happiness.
Repeat this process once every other year. Notice how your Vision Boards change, if they do and if things become more or less important to you. Resist judgment on yourself or your Vision Boards of the past. Remain present. And enjoy the journey of How to Create a Vision Board.
Related Article: O Dream Board – Oprah.com
