How to turn your dreams into reality with a vision board
When it comes to wellbeing, creating a vision board might feel like an alternative step too far for some of us. However, without realising it, there’s a strong chance you’ve already made one. Take a look at your smartphone, tablet or PC; we’d bet our bottom dollar you’ve got a wallpaper picture of you with friends, your children or a snap from a memorable holiday.
You’ll have done that to provide an emotional pick-me-up. You could be having a bad day, but a mere glimpse of a shot of an awe-inspiring landscape, and you’re transported to a happier time and place.
That’s precisely why vision boards are so effective and popular: we create them because they help us feel better, providing inspiration, a trip down memory lane or a reminder in the grand scheme of things, life can be sweet.
If you want to up the ante in the vision board stakes, Pinterest is an obvious place to start, while there are apps such as Hay House, Wishboard and VisuaLife for creating vision boards on the move.
And remember, just as with your smartphone wallpaper, it’s advisable to focus on things that make you feel good, rather than material items you simply long to have. After all, if you don’t quite earn enough (yet!) to buy that Ferrari in cash, you risk making yourself feel bad. A photo of that life- affirming day in the park with the family, however, and everyone wins.
HOW TO CREATE A BOARD FOR YOU
TURNING THOSE DREAMS AND BIG-PICTURE IDEAS INTO REALITY
- Focus on how you want to feel and the experiences you want to have. Think creatively abut different areas of your life.
- Apps are great, but the best thing about creating a physical board is that you can put it in a place you look at daily.
- Creating a board is also an excellent way to tap into your creative side – have a go at drawing thing you aspire to. What’s more, it’s an opportunity to dig out motivational quotes that light your fire.
USING YOUR VISION BOARD
Oprah Winfrey used a vision board to help define how she wanted her life to look
Slip inside the eye of your mind – What you focus on grows, so take time daily to look at your vision board to help your subconscious mind act on the images. Images related to, say, a new job will inspire you to search
Open your mind – Nobody ever made a vision board focusing on feelings of kindness, compassion and happiness and regretted it. So you could include pictures of inspirational figures, like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King or your mum (genuinely!), or something more meditation-themed to promote calm.
Relationships – Single? It’s a good idea to list all the qualities of a relationship you’re looking for – rather than a checklist of the perfect mate. That photo of Ryan Reynolds isn’t going to cosmically convince him to leave Blake Lively
