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Old Dreams, New Vision:
How to Focus Your Energy by Creating a Vision Board
By Tracey Ferdinand
You may have read about vision boards in Black Enterprise magazine’s August issue or heard about it from the Law of Attraction phenomenon that swept the nation a few years ago. Either way, if you have not already done so, now is the best time to create your own vision board. Dust off those old dreams and goals and put them on display by following these three steps to help turn your dreams into reality.
Map your vision
Before you grab scissors and glitter, sit down and carve out some time (at least three hours) to write down all of your dreams, desires and goals. Be very specific and realistic about what you can and cannot accomplish. If you are 30 years old with the dream of becoming the next Dominique Dawes, you might want to tweak that dream by coaching other young women instead. The more realistic you are in assessing your goals, the more motivated you will be as you work towards them.
When assessing your goals, ask yourself these following five questions: What goals do I want to accomplish? When do I want to accomplish these goals? How will I accomplish these goals? Who will help me or offer mentorship and support? Why do I want to accomplish these goals? The “why” question is crucial to helping you commit your time, energy and creativity to getting it done. If you cannot answer any of these questions, do you know where to find the answers? In other words, what kind of research will generate the answers you need? Finally, divide your goals into three categories: short term, mid range and long term, so you can track your progress and measure your success.
Flip with focus
Create a list of images to use on your vision board after mapping out your vision plan. That is right; this exercise is as precise as your written vision plan. You should not half- heartedly flip through magazines and cut out whatever images grab your fancy. You want to flip with focus! If you see an image that speaks your vision but is not on the list, add it to your board anyway. The exercise works best, however, when you begin with purpose and focus. It is just like grocery shopping. Often, when you go to the store without a pre-planned list, you end up getting a cart full of junk food. If the menu and list are pre-planned for the week, however, you will know exactly what you need and you will not be distracted by junk. Flipping with focus means utilizing child-like enthusiasm with adult-like preparation.
Make a list of phrases that have the power to inspire you everyday. The phrases should speak to a fear or challenge preventing you from accomplishing your goals by offering a solution or action plan to tackle that challenge head on. For example, let us say one of your biggest challenges is feeling discouraged because your goals seem insurmountable. Include a quote reminding you to take it one day and one decision at a time, such as “Daily decisions determine my destiny.”
Pay attention while creating
After a half hour of searching through magazines, do you notice there are certain images you are willing to give up looking for? If you lack the energy to look for the image in a magazine, will you lack the energy to complete the tasks needed to move you closer to your actual vision? This exercise helps you understand if you are truly dedicated and committed to that vision rather than holding on to something that simply looks good on paper.
Materials you will need
· Cork board (This is not a static board. It will grow and change as each picture becomes a reality, so mounting pictures with pins enables you to rearrange your vision board as you see fit
· White poster board
· Stack of magazines (Make sure they are not all one kind so you have a variety of images to choose from.
· Straight pins
· Packing tape
Directions
Cut and tape the poster board onto the cork board then put your name on the board. Whether it is at the top in bright fancy calligraphy or written within a mini mock Ph.D. certificate you have printed out, putting your name on the board signifies that you are ready to claim the highest vision of yourself. Organize the quotes and pictures so that they are not only visually appealing but also motivate you to get started on your vision today!
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