There are so many things in this life that create sparks within us if we are open enough to the messages they send. Whether it be music, art, fashion, reading, etc. there are bits and pieces of people’s souls looking to connect with someone else’s in what we choose to create, as well as what we choose not to.
I think in the society we are all accustomed to, we know just how powerful an image can be. Social media enables us to see so much of the world that we might have never known about without it, but even to that advancement, it can take a wicked shape. Despite this, images have always been the best way to capture our reality, to preserve the good that surfaces around us, and expand our imaginations to new heights.
Dreams. Images are not just a reflection of reality, but can be the dream of the creator. We see this in art, in fashion, even in our own mind as we read books. So today I would like to talk about an avenue for the power of images to change our life, which is through vision boards.
I do not believe that the scientific community is very focused on the effectiveness of this method, but many believe that the creation of vision boards can enhance creativity, communication, and ones openness to new opportunities and perceived abundance in their lives. I am one of those people that believes this.
For a few years, I have made a vision board for every year, in addition to filling out this simple self check in. If I remember correctly, I believe that I saw Jen Atkin do this one year, and I adopted her version and added some of my own. The check in goes as follows, and you simply fill in the blank.
- I want to quit…
- I want to learn...
- I want to try…
- I want to have…
- I want to start…
- I want to continue to…
- I want to be…
This, at least for me, was a great way for me to check in with myself. Not only to compare to the previous years intentions, but to see how my desires had shifted as I accomplished all that I wanted to.
I did my best to dig deep and set intentions based on the insecurities I wanted to overcome, the dreams I had that might’ve felt a big at that time, but were still important to me, and also rewarding the person I was in that very moment.
From there, I could see clearly what I hoped my year would entail. Down the the very smallest details you can create a vision board, and in so many ways I think it’s important to not limit yourself in anyway when creating a vision board for yourself. If you have to start small, then do so, the comfort and ease will come!
Back to the point, these images that I created for myself would be stationed on all my device screens, and I’d make versions to fit as many devices as I wanted to see it on. I would then be forced to see these images at almost every moment of everyday, and remind myself of my hopes and dreams for that year, of what I knew I could accomplish, and what I patiently waited for the opportunity for. Color themes would emerge, energies would be unveiled, and slowly I saw those images become my reality, whether or not I was always aware of it. That is why I do frequent check in’s with myself to see its progress, and what I need to focus on more.
There are a million how to’s for creating vision boards, and some individuals that I see are truly so amazingly creative with these things, but I found Canva to be the best place for me to put everything together. Pinterest is your best friend in this case (or really for anything), and I simply make a board and go to town adding as many photos as I want that catch my eye. Then, I easily upload them to Canva and begin arranging. I have yet to add any writing or other details to mine, I tend to stick to the photos and let them speak for themselves.
But if that is a little high-tech for you. Grab old magazines, newspapers, anything with a printed image and do some good old cutting and pasting to a board. We have all done it this way at one point or another, and it’s equally as effective so long as it sits where you’ll see it everyday.
I’ll include some of my previous years vision boards at the end of this post for you to look at! As I got more used to it, the images on my board would start to take a more metaphorical approach to my dreams, encompassing a theme or something of that nature, rather than hoping the literal images coming true.
Aside from being a relaxing task, I learned so much about myself in the years I’ve been doing this. I saw what I yearned for, no matter how superficial some might see them. More importantly, I saw what was important to me and embodied what that image represented. Whether it be a romantic relationship, a thriving garden, better makeup skills, more opportunities to dance, or even traveling, I opened myself up to those opportunities by not just envisioning that it was already mine, but acting as if I already had it.
Suddenly, I had opportunities to travel, more money in my bank account thanks to a job I wasn’t even looking for, or started dancing as a part of my morning routine. These dreams trickled down from wherever in the universe they come from, and found their ways into my life. Every year, without fail, I look back on the year before and see all the dreams that came true for me, almost to the very image. But if they didn’t quite make it to my reality yet, I simply knew I had more to prepare for, and stayed steady in my pursuit of it.
Vision boards are not an end-all, be-all. We very much have to work hard to achieve our dreams, but I urge us to explore the power of images in our daily lives. You might not be ready or have the means to create a vision board just yet, and that’s fine! Start by taking the time to observe around you as you go about your day. Want love? Where do you see it around you, acknowledge it. Want more time spent creating? Where do you see it around you, acknowledge it. Save those images in your mind and let it fuel you to make it happen. Not just to create the reality we dream of, but also to know ourselves deeper, and connect with other more.
You never know who you might be inspiring simply by living.
A Series of Observations 