Getting unstuck - with the help of a vision board.
The what -
Create a Vision Board that demonstrates your wildest dreams and biggest ambitions or just simply anything you would really like more of in your life. These things should be influenced only by you, and the things that you would genuinely enjoy doing or achieving. Don't worry about it being artistic. You can use words, photos, post it notes, whatever works for you.
Keep your Vision Board somewhere where you can see it every day, such as your bedroom, office, or workspace. Refer to it throughout the day as a reminder of your goals and aspirations. Continue to update it as you make progress and remember to congratulate yourself each time you take another step towards achieving something on your vision board.
The why -
We all have many dreams and things we would like to achieve, so why don't we all achieve them? Well my own experience is that we are often very capable of achieving incredible things that can transform our lives. The thing that usually stops us is our own perception of our capabilities.
But I don't know what I want!? Or where I left my car keys...
It can also be really daunting to work out what you actually want to achieve or what you would like your life to be like. When this is the issue, we feel stuck. We know our life isn't fulfilling us but we don't know how to fix it when knowing 'what we want' feels like such a huge question to answer. So here's some tips to start -
If you're feeling stuck in life or possibly quite down, the easiest way to decide what you want to achieve may be to look at what's making you feel stuck or unhappy. List them all and then look at what the opposites of these things would be as a starting point.
Or maybe you actually have lots of ideas but they are all a bit muddled and in bits and pieces, rather than a complete plan. That's completely fine. We almost never know all the answers to how to do something, especially when we start something new.
Today's job is not to know the 'how', that will come later. Today is just about dreaming, exploring, letting your imagination run wild to understand 'what' you want to achieve.
Start to build the list of the 'what' and then find a way to display it. I started my vision board this way and now it sits by my desk at home. I see it every day and every day it takes me a step further in achieving my goals because it reminds me of them and focuses my mind.
Sometimes the 'how' of achieving one of my goals comes to me at the most random of times and for some things, I still haven't worked out all the 'how' of it yet; but I know I will because my vision board keeps me focused on achieving those goals. You can also change it and add to it, as goals do of course change throughout our lives.
No need to go all Van Gogh
You don't need to make your board a work of art or spend lots of time or money on it. My vision board was created using a piece of cardboard. I covered it in some pretty wrapping paper I found in a cupboard, took screen shots on my phone of things relevant to my goals and printed them to stick them on the board. Good old Pritt stick never lets you down! And Voila - Vision board complete!
Seeing my vision board also gives me a super positive boost every morning when I sit down at my desk. It reminds me that there is so much more to my life and adventures still to be had, that are far more exciting than just the day job to pay the bills. So far I am someway to achieving nearly half the things on the board and I only made it a few weeks ago!! Honestly, if you had told me a few weeks ago that I would have achieved so much already, I wouldn't have believed you. Frankly when I started, I had no idea what I even wanted to achieve! So seriously - it works!
Top tips for your vision board -
It doesn't need to be fancy or artistic.
It should only contain goals you really want to achieve, not what anyone else thinks you should do.
This is about your wildest dreams and the seemingly impossible - putting it on your board already gives you the first step to it actually happening!
If it doesn't bring you joy or fill you with passion, it doesn't deserve to be on the board.
Be specific - do you just want a holiday or do you want a holiday to somewhere particular? If you want a career change, what field do you want to change to? Make sure your board is clear on your vision.
Display your board somewhere you will see it all the time - if that means putting it in your wardrobe, your bathroom or by the sofa - then put it there!
Once your board is complete and displayed just be sure to look at each day at first. I promise some of the 'how's will start to come to you. Some will take longer and that's ok, this isn't a race, it's a wonderful, scenic journey to be enjoyed.
When a 'how' to achieve one of these things come to your mind, be ready to jot it down. Keep a notebook nearby or make a note in your phone or email inbox.
Once you have a few of the 'how's' together, start your plan. You can do this in many ways;
Write a to do list or set yourself the task of doing just one thing each day or week towards something on your vision board. Or how about trying my personal method? Post-it notes! I jot down all the 'how's' and things I will need to do to achieve these visions, one on each post-it note. Then I stick them all on a wall/table/board and move them around until I get some kind of order and I can start to see a plan emerge.
Extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people like you and me, but only if we open ourselves up enough to let them.” - Mike Gayle
Ordinary people achieve extraordinary things every day and vision boards are a method that's been a part of that process for many high achievers. A vision board can also be about simply getting 'unstuck' or to a better place in your life or well-being.
My vision board includes;
Writing a blog - Ooo look you're reading it!
Having a holiday with a couple of my closest friends - booked for later this year, thanks very much :)
Getting some exercise in my life that I don't completely hate - swimming is now my de-stress time every week, check!
Plus there are many other things from my board i'm working on at the moment and totally positive I will achieve. Because it's on my board and I believe in the power of the board!
(Little secret - the power is actually all in you but the vision board really helps to bring it out)
So whatever you feel you need in your life and brings you excitement, that's what a vision board is all about. So get cracking, enjoy the process and see what wonderful things you can achieve!
The who -
This feather was inspired by the many wonderful motivational books i've read (you can find some I would highly recommend here). So many of them endorse vision boards that eventually I decided to give it a go. I guess I also owe a thank you to the cardboard box I couldn't fit in my recycling bin that week too.
Plus some well-known people have been open about their use of vision boards to achieve their dreams. Including Beyonce, Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. So hey, if it worked for these ladies, I recon it's worth investing a bit of old cardboard and half a Pritt stick to give it a try!
Lou @ Feathered Paths Xx
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