Crafting Your Future: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Vision Board
Posted on August 07, 2024 by Annie Dietz, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
There is a science behind creating a vision board and 76% of entrepreneurs believe they work and use them in their goal setting!
A recent article from Forbes.com states that one in five entrepreneurs uses vision boards when starting their business and of the small business owners, 82% say that they have reached over half of their goals since creating their vision. Setting clear goals is crucial when embarking on a journey towards personal development and success.
Some people poo-poo vision boards and the concept of manifestation, but the stats are clear. The Motivation Clinic, a site out of the United Kingdom, explains the science behind vision boards. They share the following from Neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart:
“Looking at images on a vision board primes the brain to grasp opportunities that may otherwise gone unnoticed. That’s because the brain has a process called ‘value-tagging’ which imprints important things onto your subconscious and filters out unnecessary information.”
So not only is there science to back the value of creating a vision board, it is also a fun and creative exercise that can make setting goals feel less like a huge hurdle. A vision board is a tangible representation of your dreams & aspirations and posting it somewhere that you see it daily, even just in your peripheral view, does indeed imprint on your brain and can affect your actions in a positive fashion.
Whether you have never made a vision board or you are looking for new ideas in creating your next board, below are suggestions to guide you through the process.
Step 1: Reflect on Your Goals
Begin by reflecting on your short and long-term goals. Consider various aspects of your life, including career, relationships, health, and personal development. You can choose to focus on just one area of your life, such as work or family, try to keep it to no more than four or five areas. When you determine what they are, here is the secret to success: Dream Big into the Future. This is your vision and anything is possible. Set your sites high and then take the important extra step to actually feel the positive feelings you will have in achieving your goals. This is the special sauce that helps your brain put your visions into action and will help you to more easily manifest your dreams into real life.
Pro Tip: As an added resource, if you search YouTube for Annie Dietz and the title, Welcome to Your®Evolution, you can find the guided visualization that I created to get you out of new years resolution thinking and into revolutionary thinking that can change your perspective.
Step 2: Gather Materials
Collect materials for your vision board, such as a poster board, magazines, scissors, glue, markers, and photos that resonate with your goals. Some people suggest not using existing photos of yourself as the mind sees that as the past and we are looking toward the future.
Pro Tip: Choose magazines you wouldn’t typically be drawn to, we find inspiration in the darnedest of places. Going outside of your norm is a great way to shake things up and let your subconscious pick up on something that you don’t know you desire.
Step 3: Select Inspiring Images and Words
Flip through magazines and select images, words, and phrases that resonate with your goals.
Pro Tip: As you look for images, pay attention to any visceral reactions you have to an image. We’re seeking out positive feelings here, so once you have 5-10 images that you like, lay them out, look at them from different perspectives, ask yourself what other feelings they evoke for you.
Step 4: Arrange and Glue
Arrange your chosen elements on the board in a way that feels meaningful to you. Once satisfied with the layout, glue the images and words onto the board.
Pro Tip: Wait to start gluing until it feels right. You can also layer images and words to create what is meaningful to you.
There are so many benefits to creating a vision board, including:
Clarity: Visualizing your goals enhances clarity and helps you define what you truly want.
Motivation: Daily exposure to your vision board motivates and reminds your subconscious of your aspirations.
Focus: It directs your focus towards your goals, preventing distractions from derailing your progress.
Positive Mindset: The positive imagery promotes an optimistic mindset, reinforcing the belief that your goals are achievable.
Manifestation: The act of creating a vision board is a form of manifestation, channeling your energy towards your desired outcomes.
