At the beginning of each year there is often a lot of talk about vision boards. If you’re not sure what a vision board is, you might be wondering what the fuss is about. And if you are someone who already uses vision boards, you’ll know what a powerful tool they can be to support you in creating the life you want to live.
So, what is a vision board?
A vision board is simply a visual collage of images and words that depict what you would like to attract into your life. Creating a pictorial representation (physical or digital) of your goals and dreams can help to make your ambitions more tangible and attainable.
Why have a vision board?
Whenever we want to welcome something into our life, we first need to know what it is, and creating a vision board can help us to clarify our deepest desires. Taking time to produce a visual representation of those desires and looking at it regularly is a great way to stay focused on what we want to achieve or attract into our life.
How does it work?
Using a vision board taps into ‘The Law of Attraction’ which states that whatever you focus on you attract more of. The Law of Attraction was first mentioned in Napoleon Hill’s book ‘Think and Grow Rich’ back in 1937. It became more widely known when the film and book ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne was released in 2006. Understanding The Law of Attraction is a very effective way to attract what you want in your life.
“You create everything that happens to you. It is only by acknowledging that you have created everything up until now that you can take charge of creating the future you want” - Jack Canfield - Author, Entrepreneur and Motivational Speaker featured in The Secret
The very act of creating the vision board tells your mind what’s important; you’re teaching your mind what you want to focus on in your life.
Then as you look at your vision board each day, it is programming your unconscious mind to come up with solutions and to see resources and opportunities to help you achieve what you have displayed on your board. You’ll find that ideas come to you and you’ll start attracting people and support aligned with your goals. You might notice that you are unexpectedly doing things that move you closer to your vision.
If this all feels a bit ‘woo woo’ or spiritual and that’s not for you, don’t worry, you don’t even have to believe in The Law of Attraction for this process to work!
Having a vision board and regularly using visualisation opens up your reticular activating system. The reticular activating system (RAS) is bundle of nerves at our brainstem that filters out unnecessary information so only the important things are in our conscious mind. For example, have you ever bought a new car and then you start seeing the exact make and model of that car everywhere you go? That is your RAS in action.
How do you create a vision board?
Step 1 - Identify what you want
Defining your goals is a key part of the process; the clearer you are about exactly what you would like to attract or achieve, the more chance you will have of that showing up in your life. It’s important to take time with this part of the process; I have a set of questions in my Be More RED Vision Board Course that we use to focus on gratitude for what we already have and then Reflect Explore and Decide what we would like to manifest so that we can be absolutely sure we are focusing on the right things.
Step 2 – Find your inspiration
Begin collecting images and words that align with your goals or that represent what you'd like to see in your life as identified in Step 1. These can be from magazines with themes around home, fitness, parenting, fashion, family, nature, etc; alternatively, postcards, wrapping paper, greeting cards or anything else that evokes the feeling you want to create when you look at your vision board. You could also search for images online and print them out, or you may choose to keep all your images online and create a digital vision board. Ideally you want to end up with more images than you will need to create your board.
Step 3 – Prepare to create your board
If you want to create a physical vision board you will need:
- a piece of poster card (or a corkboard and pins)
- scissors
- glue or tape
- optional items such as markers, stickers, sequins, fabric, ribbons or any embellishments you would like to ‘beautify’ your vison board
There are various ways you can create a digital board – apps like Canva work well, or you could put it together in PowerPoint. I love cutting and pasting (one of my favourite activities as a kid!) so I personally like to create a physical board and then photograph it so I have a digital version as well, but you could create it digitally and then print it out if you want a hard copy.
Step 4 – Create your board
Once you’re ready to produce your board, set aside a couple of hours so that you can focus and fully tune in to the vision you are creating. Perhaps play some music and light a candle. I have found it more powerful to do a short meditation before you start to set your intentions of welcoming in the things you are putting on your vision board. But the most important thing is to relax and enjoy the process. I suggest sorting through your images and selecting the ones that most closely align with what you would like to manifest and that generate a feeling of excitement when you look at them. Place them on your board and, once you are happy with the layout, then glue them on to create the finished product. You may like to write on it and add other embellishments that bring it to life for you and that make you feel happy and joyful when you look at it.
How do you use a vision board?
There is no point creating a vision board and then never looking at it, although amazingly the actual process of creating can kick start the manifesting process. But to really get the most from your board, display it in a place where you will see it every day. Then as you look at it, aim to connect with the feelings you would like to be experiencing when you have achieved your dreams. Imagine yourself enjoying the things or experiences on your board and use affirmations to congratulate yourself on achieving them. Be thankful for what you have and for what’s coming into your life and then relax, be open to possibilities and trust that what you have visualised will become your reality.
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Until Friday 15 January I am offering a free place on my Be More RED Vision Board Course for everyone who signs up for The RED Effect Programme (£147) or a Va Va Zoom: Power Up Your Online Presence coaching session (special offer £97).
As part of the Vision Board Course (normally priced at £27), you get a self-paced workbook to download which is filled with powerful questions to help you Reflect Explore and Decide on what you want to manifest in your life, and guidance on how to prepare effectively for our online workshop which will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 24 January (don’t worry if you can’t make the date as the session will be recorded).
To join us for The RED Effect Programme (and get the Vision Board Course for free) click here
To book a one-to-one Va Va Zoom Coaching Session (and get the Vision Board Course for free) click here
Mel Sherwood is a Presentation Skills and Personal Impact Speaker and Founder of The RED Effect™. She works with ambitious business leaders, teams and individuals who want to express themselves with confidence, credibility and charisma. An Australian based in Scotland, Mel is an award-winning speaker, author and coach and combines over 25 years’ experience in business with a background as an actor, presenter and singer.