How To Make A Vision Board To Clarify Your Goals

Who knew how much fun a pile of magazines, glue, scissors and a bunch of small business owners could be?! Every year I think I’ll make a Vision Board and I don’t.
Why?
Because in some ways it feels like a waste of “time”, which when you are self-employed is a precious commodity.
How often do we give ourselves permission to sit and cut up magazines?
But in reality, a Vision Board is more than just cutting and sticking.

Vision Board 2024

What is a Vision Board?

Jo from Jo’s Healing Cabin helps to facilitate my annual Vision Board Workshop says;

“A Vision Board is a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of your dreams, goals, and things that make you happy. It can also be called a dream board, treasure map, or vision map. Creating a Vision Board can be a useful tool to help you manifest your goals and can serve as a source of motivation as you work towards achieving your dreams. Our minds respond strongly to visual stimulation, so by representing your goals with pictures and images, you will strengthen and stimulate your emotions.”

I prefer the word “vision” as it feels like you are setting up the future whereas “dream” feels a bit like well unicorns 😉 The physical process of making a Vision Board helps you to clarify your ideas, thoughts, feelings, goals, and aspirations for the year ahead. Getting all of these out of your brain and keeping them somewhere you can visually see them as inspiration or motivation.

It’s not rocket science but Jo and I both believe that you shouldn’t overthink your Vision board but instead start by flicking through the magazines and seeing what you are being drawn towards.

In 2019 had a preconceived idea about what images I would use, I had taken with me a photocopy of a painting we bought in Corfu last summer and a Thank MOO card as much of the beginning of 2019 was guided by the closing of Charlie Moo’s.  Once I started to collate all the images I’d cut out I realised they were all pastel colours blues, greens and pinks without even noticing my eye was drawn to these.

Vision Board 2019

What Do You Need To Make A Vision Board?

Literally, anything goes! Remember this Vision Board is for you! No-one else! I like to make mine in a collage fashion but if you prefer a more rigid structure then go ahead!

• A3 sheet of card or if you prefer your current goal setting notebook.
• Magazines and lots of them.
• Motivational quotes, words, images.
• Images of your family/home/pets.
• Glue Stick.
• Stickers, washi tape.
• Scissors.
• Space to cut, stick, collate and if you can add some friends.

If you like the sound of creating a Vision Board but not the cutting and sticking part look at creating your Vision Board online.

Vision Board Inside A Notebook 2024  

Planning And Setting Goals Using Your Vision Board

“Energy flows where attention goes.”

The more you focus on something, the more likely you’ll attract it into your life, The Law of Attraction, makes a Vision Board the perfect tool to do this.

For example, my Vision Board for 2019 contained words and phrases “clear out the clutter”, and “time for relaxation” to encourage me to work towards my main goals of decluttering my home office and changing it from a part office/part stock room into somewhere I can relax. I also found numerous words around books, reading, and bestsellers as I really want to get my second book, “Networking A Successful Small Business” out there.

You can’t plan and set goals without thinking about money and it was funny listening to everyone asking “has anyone found any money images or words”. We all wanted to add this, Vicki used lots of images and words associated with money and fanned them around a magnet to show she’s a “money magnet”. Kate used “making money” as her keyword and I used “financially fabulous”.  We are all in business for many, many different reasons and money is one of them. It’s not particularly British to talk about cash, yet all the positive words and affirmations didn’t make it feel vulgar at all.

Once home I added family photos and stickers using my HP Sproket and bullet journal collection until I felt that it was “finished”. I liked to have my images overlapping as if they build into one big goal but you can have lots of blank space around it’s really up to you.

Say NO to negativity

Nurture your passion

Celebrate your strengths

I strive for joy, not perfection

Try not to compare yourself to others

Vision Board 2022

A couple of perfect quotes for me include;

It’s so important for women to support other women

Do more of what makes you happy

I want to encourage women to be the best they can be

Creating A Vision Board Whilst Networking

Turning the process of creating your vision board into a networking event meant conversation naturally flowed. We talked about VA’s, business growth, closing down businesses and rebranding.  The atmosphere was relaxed and informal and it became a learning experience too.

Samantha, Dorset Hill Jewellery “I found that the time flew, I never even got a coffee (unheard of!). I’m loving that I didn’t overthink it, the images are all just what drew my eye immediately. My Vision Board is on my bench right now, a little curled as the fires on!”

Vision Board Workshop 2023

Dorset Hill Jewellery Vision Board

Vision Board 2023

“This activity has helped me to focus on some specific areas of my life and gives me something visual to help me focus on and work towards my goals.  It was also great to see everyone and have a catch up with other small business owners.” Grainne, Times To Treasure

Creating A Vision Board with Children

Of course, once I started tinkering with mine at home Megan obviously wanted to make one. Unlike me, she had very definite ideas about what she wanted to put on hers. I wasn’t surprised by her desire to find words and images inspired by dancing, especially ballet. We love the ballet. The music, the performance, the soft beat of pointe shoes on the ground, it’s truly a magical experience.  Megan also filled her Vision Board with food and cute pictures of animals! I love her style!

Are you planning to create a Vision Board?
Where do you hang yours so you can see it every day, in your office? In your bedroom?
Do you add to it throughout the year?
I’m always gathering quotes and images collecting for future Vision Boards.

This post complies with my Disclosure Policy.