How To Make a Vision Board That Really Works - Guide & Vision Board Ideas
Have you heard all of the stories about the famous people who make vision boards? If so, then you've probably wondered "What is a vision board?" Perhaps you even want to know how to make a vision board that really works.
The good news is that vision board goals are for everyone, not just the rich and famous. In fact, your dream board could be a major factor in your quest to become rich and famous yourself.
Don't worry. Vision board ideas come in all shapes and sizes. Plus, they don't have to be about making a lot of money or getting your picture on the cover of a magazine. A dream vision board is all about making your strongest desires come true.
What Is a Vision Board?
Before you can begin creating a vision board, you'll need to know what vision boards are. You can think of these creative expressions as being a powerful, tactile goal-setting tool.
Think about the things that you really want from life. Do these things seem rather vague and undefined? A dream board can change that. On the other hand, maybe you know exactly what you want, but you never seem to realize your dream. A vision board can fix that too.
Frequently, vision boards are constructed on poster paper using images cut from magazines. These images represent things that are meaningful to you and the things that you want to achieve in life. Your vision board is extremely personal, and it will look different for everyone.
You may make a vision board with just a single goal in mind. Other vision boards blend several goals together. The choice is really up to you.
On your vision board, you could envision goals such as:
- Getting a raise
- Getting a new job
- Going back to school
- Enjoying better relationships with family and friends
- Decluttering your house
- Running your first marathon
- Losing those 10 stubborn pounds
- Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly
- Building up your self-esteem
- Overcoming shyness
As you can see, there is no shortage of vision board ideas.
Additionally, there isn't a single vision board template that you have to follow. Lots of people use poster paper as the background, but there are many other people out there with quite different and creative ideas. Your vision board could be contained within a planner, be taped to a wall or consist of pushpins and a corkboard. The possibilities are endless.
Do Vision Boards Work?
When you take the time to use them, they do. In fact, some people find that even when they have forgotten about their vision board for a while, they still work. The magic is in getting really clear about what you want from life and the steps you need to take to get there. Subconsciously, that vision board is still in the back of your mind.
As an example, take a closer look at Oprah Winfrey's vision board experience in 2008. Oprah is fantastically successful as well as being a big believer in the Law of Attraction. Moreover, she was a staunch support of Barrack Obama's presidential campaign from the beginning. She created a vision board about the success she envisioned for Obama in the election. She even included the dress she planned to wear to the inauguration. Eventually, Oprah's vision came true.
Consider another example, this one from John Assaraf. You may have heard of John through his involvement in The Secret movie. As an entrepreneur and brain science expert, he also is a supporter of the Law of Attraction principles. One dream board that John Assaraf once created represented his ideal home. He put away the dream board, and forgot about it for five years, then stumbled across it. To his surprise, the house he had recently purchased was just like the one on the old vision board.
These Law of Attraction vision board examples are just the tip of the iceberg. You don't have to follow the principles of the Law of Attraction in order to have vision boards work for you, but it could be a nice supplement to your practice.
How to Make a Vision Board
While it may be tempting to hit the ground running with your goal board ideas, it's rarely advisable to sit down with scissors and some magazines at the beginning of the project. Instead, it's vital for you to get clear, or at least clearer, about what you want from life.
Try doing some brainstorming or journaling exercises first. Give yourself a loose structure so that the process is focused but not so restrictive that you have difficulty coming up with ideas.
For instance, think about breaking up your brainstorming or journaling into different subject areas that often are included in vision board practice. Common themes include finances, relationships, career, love, travel, spirituality, health, giving back and education. Not all of these will apply to your unique situation, but these categories are broad enough to have interest to most people.
For each category, ask yourself some essential questions:
- What do I value?
- What do I need?
- What do I want?
- How do I want to feel when I achieve these things?
Use any technique that you like for this part of the process. Some people prefer bullet journaling. Others may create a mind map. Don't feel like you have to rush this process. The clearer you are about your goals and how you will feel when you achieve them, the more powerful your vision board will be.
Start Looking for Images
This is one of the most fun parts of the "how to make a vision board" process. You'll find all sorts of pictures that may represent your goals. However, choose with care. If you aren't particularly motivated by material possessions, then including photos of sports cars and mansions may not be for you.
Instead of putting the emphasis on the things you'll have, focus on how you will feel when you have achieved your goal. This will make your vision board far more tangible, real and useful.
When you look back at your dream board in the coming weeks and months, chances are good that you will be far more motivated by those positive feelings than you will be by the material things that you can purchase.
Of course, if finally becoming a homeowner is one of your top priorities, it's perfectly fine to include a picture of a beautiful home on your dream board. Remember, when you're answering the question "what is a dream board?" it's all about you.
Add Affirmations
If you want it to be, your vision board can be made up of nothing but images. However, most people who have experienced success with a vision board swear by adding some affirmations to their work. It could be a single word, a phrase or even a short paragraph. Some people use a well-known inspirational quote, a Bible verse or a poem. Regardless, these powerful words remind you of your goals and why you want to achieve them.
These affirmations also can be cut out from magazines, but this is your chance to get even more creative. Use calligraphy, colorful pens or anything else you can think of to make an eye-catching and meaningful display.
Your affirmations could be virtually anything. Here are a few popular vision board examples of affirmations:
- I am worthy of love
- I can do it
- I forgive myself for not being perfect
- I learn from my mistakes
- I believe in, trust and have confidence in my abilities
- Following my heart keeps me happy and safe
- I have an inner strength to draw from
- I look for the good in every situation
Use Your Vision Board
Put your dream board in a prominent place so that you can see it often. Some people love having their vision board in the planner that they carry with them everywhere. This makes it possible to refer to it whenever they need a lift or a bit of direction.
Reviewing your vision board on a regular basis such as daily, weekly or monthly lets you make a plan for the next steps that you need to complete to achieve your goal. You'll also be able to see the progress you've made. Make your vision board an active part of your life. This is the best way to ensure that this process works for you.
Additionally, take some time periodically to list all of the steps that you still need to take to achieve the goals that are reflected on your vision board. Cross off or put a checkmark next to the ones you have accomplished. This is a wonderful exercise for keeping you motivated and on track.
Vision Board Examples
Dream board examples are plentiful. Here is one that uses a framed piece of corkboard, some pins and assorted ephemera and photos. It really is a work of art.
This vision board artist displays her creation in a highly visible place. Accordingly, it works as a beautiful accent piece and as a functional reminder of the things she wants from life.
A dream vision board can be as cluttered or as regimented as you like. Here's one that demonstrates a good balance between the use of images and words. It's formatted like a collage.
This one makes a lot of use of white space for a clean and streamlined look:
Here is one that is both fun and colorful:
As a contrast, here is one that is virtually all images:
Your vision board truly can be whatever you want it to be.
Vision board examples don't have to be actual boards. Keep in mind that you can use a paper journal or planner as well. Here is a sample of what one journalist did:
Vision Board Ideas for Students
If you think that vision boards are only for adults, then you're in for a surprise. It's never too early to know what you want from life. Plus, kids have a great time working on these incredibly creative projects.
Knowing how to make a dream board may be especially critical for kids who are in the difficult ages from middle school through high school. Defining vision board goals can be immensely valuable for seeing that the growing up years are just one small part of life and that there is a brighter future for tomorrow.
Kids should love to dream, and they should be encouraged to do so with abandon. While they are having their important academic experiences, they also are learning the value of failure and success. They'll discover that countless opportunities are available to them that they may not have later in life. Creating a vision board will help them define from an early age what they want to achieve.
The brother and sister that made this vision board are pretty young, but they look like they enjoyed the experience.
Look at the things that are most important to them. Love and cuddling with their parents are central to the board, so you know that these things are central to their experience. They also have a passion for travel and trying new things. This is one of those goal board ideas to which we all should aspire.
Here is an example that's great for older kids. It's really focused on planning for a brighter, healthier future.
Vision board ideas for students are unlimited. This one is especially appealing thanks to the use of original artwork. Someday, this will be an important keepsake for the student or his parents.
The Benefits of Using the Clever Fox Planner for Your Vision Board
Dream board ideas come in all shapes and sizes. If you're wondering how to make a vision board in a journal, then it helps to start with the right journal. The Clever Fox Planner is purposefully designed to help you reach your goals. It does so through several different layouts and prompts that you won't find in any other planner.
In fact, this planner features a two-page layout specifically designed for you to make a vision board. Completely cover it with images that you paste in or create your vision board entirely out of words. Don't forget that you could also use a combination of these elements.
What if your dreams are bigger than two pages? You're in luck because the Clever Fox Planner also includes over 60 additional dot-grid pages in the back. Use a new page to create a vision board for every facet of your life from finances to spirituality.
The beautiful part about keeping your vision board in this planner is that you can take it with you wherever you go. This makes it incredibly easy to look back at your vision board whenever you have a quiet moment. Running low on motivation? Just open your planner, and you'll re-discover all of the motivation that you need.
Combining a Vision Board with a Planner Just Makes Sense
Here's another reason why it's sensible for you to use your planner as your vision board. This planner also is equipped with tons of layouts and prompts that are designed to get you dreaming and setting goals. There is plenty of room for brainstorming and journaling about whatever your heart desires. Accordingly, you can start planning your vision board and creating it without missing a beat.
For instance, this planner has a two-page layout where you can define your goals. It provides you with several life areas like health, business/career, family & friends, significant other & romance, finance, personal development, fun & recreation and spiritual. As you can see, these categories probably cover just about every aspect of your life. Before you actually start your vision board, it makes sense to list out your goals on this spread.
Other helpful layouts in the planner include "My Focus" and "My Mind Map." Once again, these are perfect pages to complete before you begin your vision board. This will help you to clarify your goals so that you can be more precise when you start placing images on your dream board.
On the daily and weekly pages that are included in the Clever Fox Planner, you can track your progress toward meeting the goals that you defined on your vision board. Keep detailed notes about every step you take, and make time to reflect on what's working and what isn't. Then, refer back to the vision board to get even better ideas about what to do next.
The Benefits of Using the Clever Fox Planner as Your Vision Board
Remember that this planner is designed with layouts and prompts that help you to discover and follow the passions in your life. Perhaps the main benefit of using this planner is that you'll be able to clearly define each step that you need to take to reach your goal. Plus, because you take the planner everywhere you go, you'll always be on the lookout for more opportunities to make your dreams a reality.
With the Clever Fox Planner, your dreams are more realistically within reach than ever before. That's because your vision for the future will have unparalleled clarity and because you'll know how to get to there from here.
Make Dream Board Ideas Your Own
With just one vision board sample, it becomes clear how this practice can be a powerful method for goal setting. The answer to the question "what is a dream board" may be more complicated and involved than you expected, but that's as it should be. Anything that involves reflection and assessment of your life and goals deserves due time and consideration. Creating a vision board is no exception.
Keep in mind that there is no single vision board template. It can take virtually any format that you choose. However, the essence remains the same. The more you put into it, the better the chances are that it will work for you.
