Create Your Own Vision Board
It’s that time again. Time for this overachieving 40-something to set an unrealistic goal she will never meet and to make a fantastic New Year’s resolution she will never keep.
Ready.
Set.
Forget it.
Instead, I am giving a shout out to all who have said “no more” to resolutions. Is there room in your camp for me? I am done setting myself up for failure and weary of the pressure that New Year’s resolutions can bring. Beginning today, I want change in my life to happen organically without subjecting undue stress to this already overtaxed Type A frame. I wholeheartedly believe that self-reflection and desire for change is healthy, but could there be a more soft line approach to the whole self improvement thing? Could there be a way of going about it that does not insist my future take a certain form or meet a set schedule?
Back in 2009, vision boards began growing in popularity. I have a number of friends who swear by them, saying that their vision boards have helped them realize many of their hopes, dreams, and desires—all without setting goals and deadlines. The process simply involves tearing out pages of magazines, cutting out pictures and words, and slapping them onto poster board. Sounds like what I used to do in third grade—more fun than work!
With my interest piqued, I decided to give the vision board thing a go and invited a few ladies to join in the fun. It turned out to be one memorable party. Being in the company of women, young and old, and seeing them piece together their wishes and desires was an experience like no other. Not only did it feed my spirit, it instilled in me a deep love and respect for who these women were, where they had come from, and where they wanted to go. It reassured me that in every life there are times of struggle, moments of victory, a desire to love and be loved, and the quest to live a meaningful life.
So what is a vision board? Simply put, it is a visualization tool that activates the universal law of attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality. It is a visual collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life.
When setting out to create my first vision board, I was a little lost. I needed a set of instructions for how to approach the task. The perfectionist in me had to do it right. However, going through the process I learned that there is no right or wrong when it comes to a vision board. Like life and the person I am destined to become, it just evolved. It was perfect—a reflection of my inner yearnings and deeply personal.
I went about it by visualizing the life I wanted. Then, as if it were my reality, I reached deep within to identify the emotions I would feel living that life. Liberated, peaceful, compassionate, just to name a few. Then I leafed through a pile of old magazines and collected pictures and words that represented those emotions.
My second vision board was created in the company of a couple of good friends during a recent girls’ weekend. We lounged in our jammies and talked about what we had accomplished in the past year and what we wanted out of life and out of ourselves. That time together, sharing and digging deep, made the weekend unforgettable.
Though a vision board is a very personal thing, there is enjoyment to be had in creating them in the company of friends. Want to host a vision board party? Here are a few tips on how to go about it.
Host a Vision Board Party
1. Set a date and send out invitations. In the invitations, ask your friends to gather a pile of old magazines to bring with them.
2. Prepare for the party. Set out the magazines, sturdy poster board, multiple pairs of scissors, glue sticks, and a tray or two of appetizers.
3. Let the cutting commence! Leaf through magazines and clip away. Encourage your friends to let their minds flow, collecting words, images, and phrases that resonate deep within—whether they make sense or not.
4. Create a collage. Arrange and adhere the clippings to the poster board. If everyone is game, have each one talk a little about his or her board.
5. Reflect on your board. Display your vision board in a room in your home where you spend a lot of time. This may be your office, bedroom, or even the bathroom! Look at it every day to keep fresh in your mind the life that you want, the person you want to become, and the dreams you want to come true.
I am certain that a vision board party will leave you feeling inspired, renewed, and recharged. You may be surprised by what a stack of magazines, a couple of glue sticks, and the company of some amazing friends will do for you in the coming year. So forgo the resolutions, do away with the unachievable goals, and simply visualize and allow the refining of “you” to be done in its perfect time.
Suggested reading:
The Vision Board by Joyce Schwarz
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alexa Croft is a leading blogger in the allergen-free arena. Her blog, Lexie’s Kitchen (www.lexieskitchen.com),is a foodie’s delight and support for those following modified diets. She recently published Everyday Classics: Essential Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Egg-Free Recipes and lives with her husband, boys, and wicked-smart Border Collie in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
