How To Use One To Achieve Your Goals
What does your future look like? Have you ever stopped to think about that? We’ve all been stumped by the ‘Where do see yourself in five years?’ question, and perhaps that’s because we rarely consider what the future holds. Or maybe, more accurately, what we’d like it to hold.
That’s what creating a vision board is all about. It’s about sussing out your goals, fine-tuning the details, and then pinning beautiful inspiring images to a board (or at least it used to be until the internet came along. More on that later.)
Vision boarding is a simple and powerful practice that can keep you connected to your desires. It can lift your spirits when you need it most, and if nothing else, it prevents some motivating décor for your home or office.
Whether you’re a goal-getting pro or a goal-setting novice, getting to grips with this manifestation practice allows you to clearly picture what your future can – and will – look like.
Vision Boards: How do they work?
Quite simply, vision boards work because they provide a reminder of your goals every single day. Provided you haven’t stashed them away, vision boards remind you what you’re working towards. They inspire visualisation, one of the most powerful manifestation practices, and they hone your focus.
Having a vision board is a little like having a colourful list of your priorities in front of you at all times: you’re less likely to be distracted by less important matters.
Add to that, when you look at your vision board you should get a rush of positive feelings that match the vibration of your goals. If you’re a Law Of Attraction aficionado, you’ll know that’s how you need to feel to manifest your desires.
There isn’t much scientific research to support vision boards specifically but there are loads of studies that prove the benefits of visualisation.
Did you know, for example, that the brain can’t decipher whether you’re actually experiencing an event or just picturing it in your head?
Or that athletes who visualise successful outcomes before competing are more likely to outperform those who don’t? Now you do.
Ready to create your very own vision board? Let us show you how…
How to vision board
Choose your style
Before you even think of adding to your vision board, you’re going to need to decide what kind of board you want to create.
Do you want a digital vision board that you can use as your laptop screensaver or phone wallpaper? Or would you prefer an old-school vision board, complete with magazine clippings pinned to a board?
If you’re going for the former, you can use a graphic design app called Canva to create your vision board. This is a handy option if you have a very specific vision in mind for your future because you can find images that really resonate with you online.
If you prefer the idea of pinning pics to a board, simply grab a pair of scissors and dig out all the old magazines you can find. You won’t have the same choice when it comes to imagery, but if you’re the crafty sort, this method may feel more inspiring.
Set your goals
Before you start gathering pics, you’ll need to suss out what it is you actually want. Don’t rush this step. It’s the most important one of the lot and you want to get it right. Start by writing a list.
In her book Manifest: 7 Steps To Living Your Best Life, personal development author Roxie Nafousi says not to let fear and doubt hold you back during this important stage.
She says we can often convince ourselves that our dreams are unachievable so we don’t even bother putting them on the board.
“Your limiting beliefs can prevent you from even visualising what you want from life by telling you that your dreams are simply out of the realm of possibility,” she explains.
Her advice? “Every time you hold yourself back from putting something on your vision board, ask yourself ‘Why am I holding back? What limiting belief is driving that?”
By pinpointing your blocks now, Nafousi says you have an opportunity to work on removing them.
Before you create your vision board, she suggests asking yourself: “If fear and doubt were no object, what would I like to manifest into my life?”
This is your opportunity to dream big, so go on, believe in your goals and don’t hold back. Once you have your goals sussed, it’s time to get them up on that board…
Let energy be your guide
Do you remember how you felt when you experienced your very first crush? Chances are, when you were around this person, you experienced an instant and uncontrollable surge of excited energy. Choosing the photos for your vision board is a little the same.
When you find one that’s right, you’ll know instantly. You might look at a pic and think ‘That’s it! That’s the one’ or find a photo that perfectly represents your ideal future.
Tune into your energy throughout this process and only choose pics that give you that rush of excitement. It’s your energy that determines what you attract in life, so make sure you’re picking images that make you feel instantly high-vibe.
Put your vision board where you’ll see it regularly
You’ve spent hours meticulously crafting a dreamy vision board that gives you a rush of dopamine. There’s no point in hiding it away at the back of the wardrobe or tucking it under the bed.
No, you’ll want to keep your vision board in your eye line as much as possible. The more you see it, the more power it has. It’ll serve as a constant reminder of your goals and provide a prompt to visualise.
Some people like to make their vision board the screensaver on all their devices. Others prefer to place a physical vision board on their desk or near their bed so it’s the first thing they see when they open their eyes. You could even stick some of the pics to your bathroom mirror.
The choice is yours!
Use it as a reminder to visualise
This is where the magic of a vision board really comes into its own. Those powerful images are there for a reason: to spark your imagination and aid your visualisations.
When you spot your vision board, take a few seconds to cast your eyes over it. Soak it all in and feel the energy. Are you suddenly feeling more positive and inspired? Great, you’re on the right track!
Next, if you’ve got time, pick one of the goals on your board and close your eyes. Visualise that goal in as much detail as possible – you might like to use the image on your board as a jumping-off point – and really get into it.
If you’d like to go one further, you can also use your vision board as a reminder to journal. Look at the goals on your board and consider where you’re at with each one. Is there a particular goal on there that’s proving especially hard to manifest? Or is there any area of your life that always feels like a struggle?
Write it down and start working through what might be going on. Consider what limiting beliefs might be interfering with your manifestation and what mindset blocks you need to work through.
Add some affirmations
Perhaps you’ve put some pretty major career goals up on your vision board and you know you’re going to have to ooze confidence in order to achieve them. You could pin an affirmation like “I am calm, confident, and capable” up on your board.
Maybe you see wedding bells in your future. A sticky note reminding you that you’re worthy and deserving of love wouldn’t go amiss.
Adding affirmations to your vision board serves as a reminder to work through your limiting beliefs. It helps to soothe fear and doubt and instil empowering new beliefs that’ll help you see those goals to fruition.
Bonus point: if you really took your time with step one you will have already identified many of the limiting beliefs standing in your way and will know exactly what blocks you need to work through with affirmations.
Put in the work
We’ve touched on this many times before here at Meditation Lighthouse, but you can’t simply visualise your goals and expect everything you’ve ever wanted to fall into your lap. You’ve got to put a little work in too. That means acting when inspiration strikes.
The more you use your vision board, the more inspired you’ll feel. That’s good news because it means your journey from A to B won’t feel like a struggle. You’ll still have to put some effort in, sure, but it’ll feel joyful.
Pretty soon you’ll be replacing those images on your vision board. Not because they no longer fit, but because you’ve achieved them and now you’re ready to put some new shiny goals up there. How’s that for inspiring?
Author - Victoria Stokes
Freelance Writer And Editor - View All Articles
Writer specialising in personal development, wellness, mental health, and women's lifestyle niches. Previously digital and deputy editor of Ireland's biggest women's title STELLAR Magazine and Senior Editor
at Ireland's Wedding Journal.
