There are a few essential steps if you want to make a vision board that works. In fact, a lot of conversations about vision boards leave out the parts that are truly essential. So, if you want to learn how to make a vision board that works, that doesn’t leave out the most important steps, this is the post for you.
But, before we dig into the exact steps for making a vision board that works, let me tell you how I came to make my first vision board.
I created my first vision board well over ten years ago when I was in the process of healing my emotional eating issues.
At the time, vision boards, or even living with purpose were unfamiliar concepts.
I didn’t really understand the point of creating a vision board and quite frankly, was just sort of following along with the program. I thought it could be fun and had paid my hard-earned money to be there, so, I just went with it.
We were instructed to cut and paste images of things that inspired us onto a piece of poster board.
So, we all sat around in a circle, chatting and cutting from magazines for about an hour.
I wasn’t being too picky about the images, I was just going with what felt right.
When I got home, I was kind of embarrassed that I had tiptoed so far into the land of the woo (lol, if only that version of me could see me now), so, I promptly stuffed my new vision board into the far corners of a closet.
A couple of years later, I had just started my business and was feeling a major urge to de-clutter the closet in what is now my home office. Shoved back in the corner, I found the vision board and I was shocked at what I saw.
Every single image that I had cut and pasted on that board was real in my actual life. I had made a vision board that works!
At that moment, I realized how powerful it is to create your vision, take action that is aligned with that vision, and heal the blocks to making it all real.
But, since my vision board had been hidden in the closet, I also knew this:
It’s not the vision board that works. What works is your devotion to making your vision a reality.
Because here is the Truth:
Vision is merely a dream without action. ~ Joel Barker
As I look back on the first vision board, I can see that that was how it went down for me. I got clear on what I wanted, I healed the places that were out of integrity with that vision, and I took consistent action. This is the real secret!
How To Make A Vision Board That Works
Use these steps as a guide for creating a vision board that works.
1. Figure out what you REALLY want.
What do you want? Like, what do you REALLY want?
What do you need?
What do you value?
How do you want to feel when those things are your reality?
(When thinking of the feelings, be sure to choose single emotion words like free, open, joy, etc.)
If you want a vision board that works, the absolute BEST thing that you can do for yourself is to get clear about what you actually want. If you pursue shit that you think you should want or what you’ve been conditioned to work, not only will your vision board be useless, but your life will also really SUCK. Satisfaction comes when we are living in integrity with what really matters to us.
Set an intention for your vision board based on what you really want.
If you aren’t sure what you want in life, I made something for you. click here.
2. Gather your supplies.
The exact vision board supplies you’ll need will depend on exactly what kind of vision board you are making. But, in general, you will need the following:
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- something to attach images to, such as mixed media paper, poster board, or corkboard.
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- something to affix the images such as glue, clips, or pins
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- markers, pens, paint
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- colorful or plain paper for adding personal flair
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- magazines/books that can be cut up
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- scissors
What kind of vision board do you want to make and what supplies will you need?
3. Create Sacred Space.
Find a space that you feel comfortable in and that is large enough to spread out all of your supplies. A large table or the floor will work.
You don’t need to be precious about the space but it does need to feel safe and supportive.
What else do you need to create some sacred space to make your vision board in?
4. Find your images + words.
At this step, you are going to find images and words that resonate with your intention but don’t attach anything yet. You just want to focus on what captures your attention and what feels right based on the intention you set.
If you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, get creative, and make your own. You can print things from the web, draw, or even just write things on colorful paper.
What images and words seem to resonate most with your intention?
5. Find the ones that resonate and then, paste them to the page.
In this step, you are going to go through the images and words that you chose and see which ones actually invoke the FEELING of what you REALLY want (If you aren’t sure what you want in life, I made something for you. click here).
For example, let’s say that your intention is to love yourself more and the feeling “under” that intention is wellbeing.
As you go through the magazines, you find images of people working out at the gym, smoothies, and airbrushed models. But, when you look at those pictures, you actually feel like you aren’t good enough or like you won’t ever get there. Those feelings are the opposite of your desired feeling of wellbeing, which means that those AREN’T the images to put on your vision board!
You want to select images that actually conjure your desired feelings.
Perhaps that is images of a beautiful field of flowers, the ocean, or a lovely cottage in the woods.
Once you find the images that conjure your desired feelings, then, and only then should you affix them to your vision board.
How does looking at your board feel?
Does it feel like the feelings “under” your intention?
6. Decide if seeing your vision board will help OR if you should put it away like I did.
Each person is unique. And you’ll need to know what works best for you.
For me, personally, I work best when I set an intention and then trust that its a done deal. Then, I just focus on taking consistent action AND healing the shit that comes up along the way.
But, for others, you will feel more aligned when you look at your vision board regularly.
You’ll need to experiment to figure this part out. The best way to know is to notice how you feel, in relation to your intention, and, most importantly, your results!
Would you prefer to see your vision board often, do you prefer to pull it out at select times, or do you prefer to look at it each day?
With that in mind, where is the best place to put your vision board?
7. Write a “make it real” list.
Make a list of the things you could start doing to live in alignment with your intention RIGHT NOW.
Don’t wait to feel how you want to feel. Put your vision board into action.
You don’t have to wait for external things to change in order to create success. You can start changing NOW.
So, think about the things that you can change and/or control RIGHT NOW. The things that are in your control are YOUR:
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- thoughts
- feelings
- emotions
- choices
- actions.
You cannot control anything outside of you, including other people. So, if you come up with things other than your own internal state or actions, look at the above list of things you can actually control and make a new list.
Start putting your aligned actions into practice right away.
What aligned actions can you start taking right now, to make your intentions your reality?
8. Notice + Heal Resistance
This is where the rubber meets the road and it’s the part that hardly anyone talks about when talking about creating a vision board that works.
As you begin taking action and making your vision real, you will start to notice blocks in the form of stories, limiting beliefs, unhealed emotional wounds, habits, and shadows, unconscious patterns that are in the way.
Healing that resistance, coupled with your aligned actions, is HOW you create a life that is filled with your heartfelt dreams and desires. There is no way around that.
What blocks do you notice as you start putting visions into action? What do you need to do to heal those blocks?
9. Repeat.
Continue to check-in and ask yourself how things are going. Make adjustments and keep fine-tuning. Trust the process and remember, you wouldn’t be able to dream it if it weren’t a possibility.
As you move closer to your vision, what adjustments need to be made?
Ultimately, making a vision board that works is about get really clear about what you want, start taking steps towards that vision, and heal the blocks that show up along the way. It’s really as simple (but perhaps not always easy!) as that.