WHAT THE HECK IS A VISION BOARD...

and why do I need one??

I'm a baby boomer, which makes me old school.  Baby boomers know what it is to set goals and being a boomer I'm used to keeping track of my goals the old fashioned way...writing them down on a pad or maybe in a journal but nevertheless, writing them down somewhere.  But, the modern method of tracking goals is by way of using vision boards.  Trying to stay abreast of current topics, my interest in vision boards was peaked.  Oprah wrote about them in her magazine, surely that alone would peak someone's interest.  I started reading different articles and searching the Internet for information on vision boards.  I even participated in a Friday evening workshop facilitated by a member of my church.  (Thank you, Renae.)

One cannot get to someplace one has not first thought about, imagined or dreamed about.  Instead of writing one's goals down on paper, vision boards are a depiction of one's goals in pictures.  The idea behind this is that when you surround yourself with images of who you want to become, what you want to have, where you want to live, or where you want to vacation, your life changes to match those images and those desires.

Vision boards are easy and fun to make.  Simply assemble your tools:  magazines, printed material, arts and craft items such as glitter and feathers, glue, scissors and your poster board.  Make it even more fun by hosting a vision board making, wine and cheese tasting evening with a group of friends.  (The wine can help to relax your inhibitions and allow you to think even more outside the box when it comes to the possibility of the life you can envision for yourself.)  Peruse your material, cutting out pictures which reflect your goals.  After you have enough materials, assemble your pictures and make a collage of your goals onto your board.  There is no right or wrong way to make your board, but I personally favor keeping the center of your board open for a picture of yourself.  This makes your board even more personal and relatable.  You can see the board with all of your goals and then a BIG, beautiful picture of yourself right in the center of the life you are trying to create.

Then place your vision board in a place where you will see it on a regular basis.  Your vision board should be strategically placed in a location that gives you maximum exposure to it.  Looking at it every day will keep your goals or your life map in your face.  This will help you focus and keeps your plan in front of you.  You won't be able to lose track and forget what you are supposed to be working on.  Even though there are objectives which are supposed to be important to us and on which we need to work, we can get too busy with the mundane things to remember what the big things are.

I made a vision board earlier this year.  I placed mine in my family room because I spend the majority of my waking hours there.  I can't help but see my goals wherever I sit.  Subconsciously, this keeps me focused and constantly thinking about where I am and where I am trying to go.  (If you fear criticism or justification of your vision board from others, then place it in a private location so it can only be seen by yourself.)  I have already accomplished one of the goals on my vision board which I may not have if I had not had that item looking back at me every time I walked into my family room.  Again, you may not want to display your vision board so prominently.  That is entirely up to you.  I just need to have my goals in my face so that I will not lose focus.

One goal down...on to my next life changing goal!

Peace

Michele