I have decided to create a vision board to help me focus my energy this year on the things I truly want in life.

We’ve all heard about the power of positive thinking. I am a believer that positive thoughts can lead to positive events in a person’s life. I believe that this happens because the person begins to focus their energy on positive changes and as a consequence, begins to see positive results. When you focus your energy on getting out of debt you begin to suddenly see all the opportunities to achieve this goal. That said, I do not think that focusing your thoughts on a monetary windfall will magically result in winning the lottery!

So what is a vision board? A vision board is simply a collage of images and words that help us focus our thinking around what we want in life. This could be a new career, a different home or even that dream vacation. Maybe your vision board would be full of images and words that reflect a healthier lifestyle. Every person’s goals and dreams are different so no two boards will be alike.

To make your vision board you will need the following items; a board, magazines (preferably a diverse selection), scissors and rubber cement or double-sided tape. I started my vision board with a framed, white ribbon board that I received for Christmas. You can use poster board or matte board for this as well, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy.

Once you are ready start looking through the magazines for any images or text that match your chosen theme. After you have found a few images begin arranging them on your board. Continue searching the magazines for images until your board is full. At this point you may find some of your images just don’t feel right, go ahead and toss them to the side. Once you have your board arranged the way you like it glue the images down. You can even write or paint on your board. It is your board, make it how you want it!

Once your vision board is complete you will want to put it in a place you will see it everyday. I am hanging mine in my bathroom.

What if you aren’t sure about a theme? What if you don’t know what you really want? No problem! Just start cutting out the images that resonate with you. Think of it as your inner-self guiding you toward the things you need in your life. It may not make sense today but in time it will. Christine Kane, the president and founder of Uplevel You™, states the following, “Some women at my retreats had NO idea what their board was about, and it wasn’t until two months later that they understood.”

My board is full of images that depict a slower, more rural lifestyle. Pictures of fruits and vegetables, a greenhouse and even wind turbines symbolize the homestead we are trying to build. I’ve also included images of beaches and forests because I want to vacation and enjoy more leisure time with my family. Another, more specific item on my vision board is a check written for the balance of my student loan. This is to help me focus on eliminating this debt from our lives!! My board is not complete yet, I’m still looking for a few more images of ponds or creeks because I want our future property to have natural water on it.

For additional information on creating a vision board you can read the following articles:

Vision Boards: A Quick Story

How to Make a Vision Board

What items will you include on your vision board?