This month I'm focusing on completing a vision board. It is often used in coaching as a tool to get you focused on what it is that you really want out of your life. This exercise is a nice way to just gather images and words that inspire you and give you hope, happiness and a sense of warmth.
Vision statements are quite common, and companies tend to use them to outline their values and what they aspire to. Vision boards are simply a different approach to the same thing, and in this case more personal and definitely more fun!
If you've never done one before then March is the perfect time to start. You'll be feeling the urge to spring clean so just get to the magazines before you chuck them all out!! The best way to approach it is to gather as many different styles of magazines as possible. They can be the standard Sunday supplements, weekly mags or monthly ones...just try to include variety in them to give yourself a better choice of images and words.
Next, just take time out to go through each magazine, stopping at any word or image that grabs you - and cut it out. At this point you just want to gather as much as possible so you have choice. Don't try to box anything in or put things into neat arrangements, we're free styling!
After you've completed this step, (and it can take a number of cups of tea and some biscuits to get through!) have a look at all the details you've collected.
Is there an emerging pattern?
Have you picked a theme?
Is there something jumping out at you that you never considered before?
Of course there is probably the odd image or two of bags and shoes that grabbed your attention! Put all the images and words cut out together in a way to display what kind of life, person, job, future, health, wealth, home...you want to have. We want to try to outline the essence of what it is you really want out of your life!
It is best to put these images on a board that is a little stiffer than paper - foam board is cheap and a good sturdy platform for your vision board. If you did find a pattern such as a definite career taking shape, then ensure the images are gathered around the same part of the board. If there is a specific word or description of your career vision that can go with it even better!
If you find that your board is centred around relationships and having a partner, try to gather similar images so that there is a common thread and ask yourself what each of the images represent. It could be friendship, fun or love that the picture outlines to you. Maybe put down some of the qualities you'd like to attract in a partner and a picture of how you'd like them to look or be. If you picked out an image or two of a couple but the partner in it is radically different, then pick the one that matches your ideal closer...you want to avoid confusion when attracting what you want!
Most of all have fun with this exercise. It is about letting your creative side run rampant for a change. One thing for sure is that this is a powerful tool. You've probably heard all about the 'Law of Attraction', well this is it in motion. You are creating a clear picture of what you want to attract! With this in mind ensure that you are clear about the image you put on your board - take note of the details in the image! I say this because recently on 'Oprah', Life Coach Martha Beck who had completed her own vision board a number of years ago, found that in 2 of her pictures that detailed a beautiful 4 poster bed she wanted, had dogs in them...and she now has the exact same dogs. Below is a quote from the show by Martha Beck, describing how to approach doing this exercise:
"I get in a really calm place. I go to my core of peace, and I taste what is delicious in the future. It could be something I've never heard of, or it could be just the essence of something. I'm not sure what it is. And then I go through magazines or on the Internet, and I find pictures of things that represent that to me. It could be the actual object or it could be something that has the same feeling."
Don't forget to recognize that when you start to attract the very things on your board and if you find that it isn't 100% exactly as you wanted - CHANGE IT. You have the power to fine tune the details to suit yourself so continue to do this until you find yourself attracting EXACTLY what you want or as close to it as you're happy with. This doesn't mean sitting back and waiting for it to drop into your lap either!! Watch for opportunities that will help you to your goals...when you can see them and act on them great...when you can't and only notice it after the fact, that's cool too. It means you're becoming more aware.
I'm off to finish my board and I have to say I'm surprised at some of the images I picked out! We'll wait and see what happens next!
