Tag Archives: vision for your life

How to Create a Vision Board

Learn the steps to create a Vision Board

How to Create a Vision Board

Now that you’ve learned to set SMART Goals and how to take some action steps to achieve those goals, it’s a good idea to create a vision board.  A vision board is simply a visualization tool to keep you focused on your life goals and dreams.  It’s a vision for your life in the form of a collection or collage of pictures of your goals and dreams to be displayed somewhere where you will see it often.

Proverbs 29:18 says that “where there is no vision, the people perish”.  We have to have that vision in front of us to make it happen.

What do you have in mind?

You have to see something before you can have something.  For example, you can’t go to a builder and ask him to build your dream home without having something in mind.  It’s been said that you become what you behold.  The Bible describes one example of this in 2 Corinthians 3:18–that we will reflect like a mirror what we are looking at—just as when we look to God, He transforms us into His likeness.

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) 

Vision manifested

There is an amazing, transformational force in what we set our heart (spirit), mind (soul), and eyes (body) on.  Many modern theorists and success coaches refer to this transformation as the “Law of Attraction”.  The Law of Attraction basically states that you will attract into your life whatever you think about–that your mental perspective will attract external circumstances.  This is not a new concept. The Bible encouraged focusing on the positive long before the Law of Attraction theories.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV)

Our minds see in images or pictures

Writing your goals out is an important step in order to achieve them.  A vision board just takes it to the next level.  Our minds see things in images or pictures as opposed to words.  If I were to say the word “bear”, you would probably picture a visual image of a bear in your mind instead of the word “B-E-A-R” spelled out.  The idea behind a vision board is to surround yourself with pictures of your visions and dreams so they will eventually become a reality for you.  When they are in a place where you can visualize and see them often, they will constantly be in the front of your mind.  You will have a visual reminder of your intentions, and your dreams, goals, and vision can become a reality!

Visualization brought into reality

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Reasons for Writing Goals Down

Why should we be writing goals down? Well, there are numerous reasons and benefits to writing goals down, and I’m going to share some of them with you (along with a few resources and studies to back them up so you’ll know I’m not just blowing smoke!).

Reasons for Writing Goals Down

At the start of each year, many people start thinking about some goals that they would like to accomplish. It might be specific resolutions or things related to a yearly word or theme. However, those goals often get forgotten or written off a few months into the new year. So what’s the point?  Why should we be writing goals down?  Well, there are numerous reasons and benefits to writing goals down, and I’m going to share some of them with you (along with a few resources and studies to back them up so you’ll know I’m not just making it up).

A to-do list for life

First, it’s important to set and write goals out because they become our “to-do” list for life.  I don’t know about you, but I’m a “to-do” list fanatic (read more about the importance of to-do lists here.)  Thus, I thrive on to-do lists (post-it notes, phone reminders, calendar notes, etc.).  I LOVE crossing stuff off of lists. Goals are no different.  The feeling of achieving a goal and crossing it off of a list is amazing!

Accountability and focus

It’s also important that we are writing goals down because they give us something concrete to look at, and they serve as a form of accountability.  There’s something about writing something down that makes you feel like “ok, now I HAVE to do it”.  Writing goals down brings them into sharper focus.  Having to write our goals out forces us to clarify them and focus on what it is that we really want.

A road map and grocery list analogy

Writing goals down is kind of like taking a road map on a trip or making a grocery list before going to the store.  It helps us to have a focused plan.  We can determine how to get there and have a clear direction.  It can also save us some stress and help us to be more efficient (saving time and money).

I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m directionally challenged.  Therefore I NEED a map (well, now it’s GPS guidance) to get me places…because if I don’t have a map I may end up in Montana instead of Florida if I’m driving to Disneyworld.  And the grocery store?  Don’t even get me started!  I actually have an app on my phone that keeps my grocery list, and it’s even ordered by aisle and has prices I’ve entered for each item so I can stay on budget.  I might be a little compulsive, but at least it’s an app now—I used to do an Excel spreadsheet for my grocery list.  Don’t judge me. 🙂

Without my list, I’m all over the store, thus wasting time.  I buy things I don’t need, thus wasting money, or I forget things I do need, thus wasting time AND money by having to make a second trip back to the store.  So, much like my grocery list, if I don’t write down my goals I could be wasting precious time, money, and energy going off in all sorts of wrong directions.

Research backs the effectiveness of goal-writing

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