Every January, we get a fresh start. A clean slate. A blank piece of paper. But what are you going to do with that blank piece of paper? As you consider your resolutions and goals for the new year, why not take them one step further and create a vision board?
A vision board is, quite simply, a visual representation of what you want to achieve in your life. For some of us, vision boards might seem a little too out-there – but they shouldn’t. These boards are an interesting and compelling way to get our creative juices flowing and visualize what we want our futures to be.
If you’re ready to jump in, you might be wondering where to begin. We’ve got you covered with some do’s and don’t’s!
To start, you’ll need some supplies. The basics include: a board of some sort (poster, cork, etc.); glue, tape, or pins; writing utensils; magazines; and scissors. Get a little fancier with stickers, washi tape, markers, or yarn. Or, if you’re more tech-minded, there are plenty of apps and websites where you can make a vision board that’s just as creative.
Ready?
The do’s and don’t’s of vision boards
Do: Feel free to be messy! Break out the paint, markers, crayons, and glitter, if that’s your thing. Your board should be full of words and images that make you happy, inspire you, and drive you forward. If you’d prefer it to be neat and clean, that’s awesome, too! Do you.
Don’t: Follow a template. This is your future, after all. Your vision board doesn’t have to be perfect or similar to anyone else’s – it just has to be true to who you are and what you want.
Do: Ask yourself reflective questions. What do you want out of the upcoming year? Who and what do you value? What do you need to make your dreams a reality? Challenge yourself to think about what truly makes your heart sing.
Don’t: Rush it. Seriously consider the questions above. Ask yourself, what’s the best that could happen?
Do: Embrace the process. Set aside quiet time and a quiet place to work on your vision board – or, if you’re more outgoing, make it a party! Invite some friends, set out supplies, turn up the music, and share your visions. Some people find talking about their vision with others helpful. For others, the quiet is the best place to find clarity on what they want most.
Don’t: Feel embarrassed or silly. No one has to know you’re making a vision board if you don’t want them to. Your thoughts are your thoughts, and you aren’t required to share them. Of course, it might help to share with someone you trust and look to for guidance.
Do: Put your board somewhere you can easily access it throughout the year. You don’t have to display it if you don’t want to, but don’t hide it either! Look at it often, and speak your goals out loud (make them into affirmations).
Don’t: Ignore your board or feel like you can’t continue adding to it. Use it as a roadmap, and make adjustments throughout the year to make your goals a reality.
All of this being said, your vision board is yours, and you can follow these “do’s” as loosely as you’d like. Ultimately, your vision board should help you focus on what you really want and give you some of the energy you need to make it happen.
At Siegfried, one of our guiding values is to more deeply understand ourselves and invest time in our bigger futures – the lives we truly want for ourselves. So, it’s not new for us to imagine how we want our futures to manifest, but I’d venture to say that most of us haven’t laid it all out on a vision board yet.
Maybe today’s the day.
This article was originally posted on January 3, 2019.
