How To Create A Vision Board

 

How to Create A Vision Board

 

A Vision Board is a visual representation of what you would like to manifest in your life; like a personal treasure map.  Creating a vision board is just one of many different ways to take a proactive step in creating an intentional life – one where your dreams are defined and pursued. Creating a vision board is an incredibly empowering project and, like all intentional efforts where we listen to our heart’s desires and then FOCUS our energies over time, has amazing powers to manifest those dreams into your life.

Why create a vision board?

Because it’s like owning your own pair of ruby slippers – a vehicle for attaining your heart’s desires.

Like all good things in life, I learned the process from a friend, Shari Dickson. She’s been creating vision boards since 1995. She’s a a talented artist; too. Check out her work HERE.  Shari will be partnering with yoga teacher Darlene Feinzig to host a Vision Board Workshop & Yoga/Meditation here in South Florida at the Yoga One Studio in Hollywood, Florida on January 26th to coincide with the energetic momentum of the first new moon of 2013. If you are local and would like to participate in an amazing creative afternoon of visualizing your dreams call (954) 929-YOGA (9642) to register.

Read on for how to create your own vision board in seven steps.

As you work through the process, remember that there is value in the process itself; not just your finished board. It doesn’t have to be perfect. A good approach is to try to be curiously non-judgemental of your work as it unfolds. Follow the guidelines as much or as little as makes you happy; and, most all, have fun with it!

 

Step One: Gather images and include a headshot of yourself.

You can cut out pictures, images, words, phrases, quotes, or even poems. Make sure you have a picture of yourself to place on your board. This is important because it grounds the vision to YOU. You can take pictures with your camera and print them out. Gather images from magazines or print out images from the internet. You can even draw something yourself. Assembling enough material may take some time. Don’t rush yourself. On the other hand, don’t put so much pressure on yourself to get the perfect images, either. There is magic at work here and you will find yourself surprised at how easily you find the perfect thing. These are visual representations of your dreams both big and small — from large career ambitions to wanting a new blender. Visuals that speak to your dreams, make you really happy, or make you think, “Yes, that’s ME,” or ,”That’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” or “That’s what I’ve always wanted,” are what you are looking for.

 

 

“When making your personal treasure map, think fun. Think delight. Think seven years old. This is not an intellectual exercise in existentialism. This is a wish list for the universe. Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic selves. We must learn to respect them. We must learn to listen.”

–from Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach

Step Two: Do some gratitude journaling.

Like all intentional efforts; vision boarding requires an honest assessment of where you are and where you would like to go. Take a little bit of time to reflect on the past year. Ask yourself,

“What really made me happy?”

Focusing on gratitude before you assemble your vision board focuses your desires on the important things in life that you already know make you happy and ensure that you don’t leave those elements out of your future vision.  This exercise hones your desires and primes the creative pump for assembling your vision board.

 

 

Step Three: Assemble the following supplies:

1. Poster board or framed canvas – 16″ x 18″ or larger works well.
2. Your images
3. An acrylic sealer to adhere your images to your board. Shari recommends Minwax Water-based Polycrylic in Satin finish. Brushes clean up with water.
   Available on Amazon or Home Depot. Mod-Podge is not recommended because it is sticky and can wrinkle the very thin magazine paper.
4. Acrylic paints in primary colors plus black and white for tinting your primary colors.
5. Two paint brushes – 1″ wide brush works well.
6. A jar with water
7. Paper towels
8. Newspaper
9. Paper plates to hold and mix your paint colors on.

 

Cover a  large work surface with newspaper and assemble your supplies.

Step Four: Divide your board into nine sections following the image map below. Paint each section a color that is meaningful to you.

Shari incorporates Bagua Mapping into her vision board technique. A Bagua Map is a way of dividing the space on your board to correspond to all the different components of your life. It is a tool often used in modern forms of feng shui.

Using the map below as a guide, divide your board into nine squares as shown. Color your squares, using your paints, the colors that each area represents to you. For example, the financial/abundance Bagua square, located at the top left hand corner, I painted a light green color. You can blend your colors at the edges, or not. The technique is up to you. When you’re finished, clean up your paints and paint brush while you’re letting your board dry (about 15-20 minutes) before moving to the next step.

 

Step Five: Lay out your images on the board.

Use your Bagua Map to help you place your images into their corresponding Bagua square on your board.

Remember to place your headshot somewhere on the board.

 

 

Step Six: Adhere your images, one square at a time.

Start by painting one square using a good amount of acrylic sealer. Place images onto the sealer base coat. Next, paint the sealer over the top of the images. Be careful not to over-brush the images or they can get smeared or tear. But use enough to firmly adhere the images to your board. Repeat for each square.

Want to go over the top?

Use glitter, stamps, rhinestones, or attach small objects using a hot glue gun. Cut out individual letters and create your own words. This is all about creative expression so go for it! The Bagua map is meant as a guide; incorporate whatever elements you would like to. It’s your vision and your, life, Big Girl – dream BIG.

 

 

Step Seven: Hang or place your vision board in a prominent place where you will be sure to see it every day.

Mine hangs next to my desk where I write. Another powerful place is on the bedside table. Seeing your vision board daily throughout the year serves to recall and focus your energies and sparks small actions daily to bring them to fruition.

 

Vision boarding is placing the laws of attraction into action.

 

You will be amazed at the end of 2013 how that happens for you. Some dreams may take years to come together, some might show up for you the week after you finish this project. Your board is uniquely personal and powerful, and I hope you have as much fun with it as I have had.

 

Share your vision boarding experience with a comment.