How to Make a Vision Board

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I often get asked how to make a vision board, so today I am going to share my personal vision boarding process. I really don’t think there is a right or wrong way to make one, but this is what works for me. Of course, you can make it at any time during the year, but I love the idea of starting a new calendar year with a fresh vision board. In all honesty, I have yet to make mine this year because the timing hasn’t felt right. I’ve got a big board, lots of photos and magazines, but a somewhat misty vision. After being gone from home for two and a half weeks, there’s a lot of emotional dust that needs to settle before I can be clear on what I want this year. But I can tell it’s almost time…

Okay, so you want to make a vision board? Here’s what you’ll need:

A couple of hours of free time (you might be quick and do this in 30 minutes or less, but it takes me a while…)
A large piece of paper, poster board, or cardboard
Pens, pencils, markers, paint, glitter
Magazines, photos, your imagination
Glue, tape

Basically, go back to being a kid and get out as many art supplies as you can find! Then what?

Spend ten minutes getting your “meditative” brain on. In other words, rather than wracking your brain trying to decide exactly what you want to happen this year, spend ten minutes just being in your body and letting your monkey brain float around. You can try: meditation, yoga, dancing, or listening to music. Sometimes I like to grab some crayons and a piece of paper and just let the colors flow on the paper, without regard to what I’m actually drawing. The act of letting go of the outcome seems to open me up to my own creative process.
Once you’re feeling the introspective juices flowing, you’re ready to start your vision board. No TV in the background please, but certainly put on some of your favorite music if you want! This is the fun part. Tear out pictures from magazine, cut photos, write down words or phrases that come to mind. Just make a big pile of everything that’s coming to you, and don’t judge or question why something feels right. If you like a photo, but don’t know what it represents, put it on there anyway. If you cut something out, but then it doesn’t feel right when you place it on the board, let it go. Your vision board can be all pictures, all words, it can be something you draw yourself or just photos you’ve cut out. It can be literal or metaphorical. It just has to speak to you in some way.

So what’s the point in doing a vision board?

Once you’ve got all the images you want, turn your board into a beautiful collage. This is like a visual mantra for you this year. I put my board up on my bedroom wall where I can see it when I’m meditating or doing yoga. Of course, the idea is to manifest all of the visions on your board. The cool thing is that you never know exactly how that will happen. I like to keep past vision boards on a separate wall, where I can look at them and be reminded of where I’ve been and where I’m going.
Why do I make vision boards? Because they allow me to clear my mind of all the clutter and simply focus on where I’m going. When I look at my vision board, it reminds me what I’m working on, mentally, emotionally, and physically. And it is that rather than any magical power of the board that makes vision boards work. And I do believe they work.

Which is why I still need to make my vision board, and why you should make one too.

xo,

Iris