I made my first vision board last year at age 33 and was surprised by how much it impacted my life. Many of the goals I included on my board actually came true - I cleared up my acne, spent more time with friends and family, and even traveled to Chicago for the first time. While some things didn't happen, like making a million dollars or getting into NFTs (thank god), I realized that it was because I didn't really want those things deep down.
The biggest mistake I made with my vision board was including goals that I thought I should have, rather than what I truly wanted. That's why it's so important to take the time to think about your goals and why you want them before creating your vision board.
The images and words you choose should accurately represent your aspirations, which will increase your motivation and set you up for success. Creating a vision board can be a fun and inspiring activity, and it's a great way to stay focused on your goals. Just remember to be honest with yourself and make sure your goals are realistic.
WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE SO HESITANT TO CREATE A VISION BOARD?
Many people hesitate to create vision boards because they are afraid of failure, don't think they have the artistic skills to make a visually appealing one, or just don’t believe in the magic of manifestation. But remember, this exercise is just for you, and there is no judgment.
Your vision board will look great because collages are generally cool, and it's hard to mess them up, even if you're not trying to fit your images into a specific aesthetic. Plus, you'll know what everything means because you made it.
Don't let fear of failure hold you back from setting big or ambitious goals. Remember, vision boards are not fortune tellers, and there's no guarantee that everything will come true. The goal is simply to grow and make progress.
10 PROMPTS YOU CAN USE TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Last year, I noticed that people like myself often didn't achieve all their goals because they didn't take the time to figure out what they really wanted and why they wanted it before selecting their images for their vision board. Trust me, you don't want to make the same mistake!
As the new year approaches, it's natural to start thinking about what you want to achieve in the coming year. But it's not always easy to identify your authentic goals and aspirations. That's where these 10 prompts come in!
These questions will help you dig deep and figure out what you really want, and set you up for success as you work towards your goals. Whether you're looking to improve your career, relationships, health, personal growth, or travel, these prompts will help you clarify your values and break down your goals into smaller, achievable steps. So let's get started!
1. What overall do I want to achieve in the coming year? Pick at least one thing from each category: career, relationships, health, personal growth, and travel.
As the new year approaches, it's natural to start thinking about what you want to achieve. One effective way to do this is to simply start by writing down whatever comes to mind. Don't worry about being realistic or practical at this stage – just let your ideas flow and jot down everything that excites or inspires you.
Once you have a long list of potential goals, you can then go back and narrow it down to what is most important and achievable. This process can help you clarify your values. So go ahead and start brainstorming – you never know what ideas and aspirations might come to mind!
For example, for me:
Career: I want a better balance of fashion, mental health, and art in my work vs. me going on constant tangents and gaps of long-focused content on my Instagram and TikTok. I found a good work-life balance now. If only I could find that with my content.
Relationships: I’m so thankful to have weekly outings with friends and family and a regular group of friends, but I’d like to focus more on time with my partner. It would be nice if we spent less time watching TV and more time just enjoying each other's company.
Health: Aside from going to the doctor, which has been a fear of mine since I’m bigger bodied, I would like to cook more meals at home, move and stretch my body more regularly, and get back into some more community sports and activities.
Personal Growth: Most of my reading has been more about being entertainment than learning. I feel the urge to be more of an academic, diving into subjects like social justice, psychology, and history like I did in college.
Travel: This upcoming summer, I want to plan an epic road trip. I haven't taken one since before the pandemic, and I would love to have the opportunity to see my family in Florida and visit friends along the way.
2. What are my values, and how do I want to align my goals with them?
Your values are the things that are most important to you and guide your decisions and actions. By reflecting on your values, you can ensure that your goals are meaningful and authentic to you, increasing your motivation and commitment to achieving them. Whether it's through journaling, meditation, or discussing with a trusted friend or mentor, there are many ways to get in touch with your values and align them with your goals.
For example, I have these 4 values and goals for each:
Health
Goal: Cook 3 times a week, move my body daily, and join tennis and volleyball
Creativity
Goal: Post at least 2 art apparel pieces and 1 fashion video per week as a content creator.
Family
Goal: Spend quality time with my partner (TV free) every Friday night.
Learning
Goal: Starting an academic book club with friends every month.
3. What are my long-term goals, and how can I break them down into smaller, achievable steps?
Long-term goals can feel overwhelming, but breaking them down into smaller, achievable steps makes them more manageable. For example, to become a successful entrepreneur, you can learn more by networking with other business owners in your desired niche, creating a business plan, and taking small steps toward launching your business.
Or, to run a marathon, you can find a training plan, increase your mileage gradually, and find a supportive running community. Breaking down long-term goals into smaller steps creates a clear plan and allows you to take small, consistent steps toward achieving your aspirations.
4. What are my strengths, and how can I use them to achieve my goals?
You can’t help but feel more motivated when things come easily to you. So you might as well use this to your advantage when it comes to making your goals a reality. For example, if you're organized, you can use this strength to create a clear plan and stay on track.
Leveraging your strengths can increase your chances of success and make progress toward your aspirations more efficiently and effectively. Reflect on your strengths and consider how you can use them to help achieve your goals.
5. What are my areas for growth, and how can I work on them?
We all have areas where we can improve and grow, and it's important to identify and work on these areas to become the best versions of ourselves. For example, you can practice speaking in front of groups, take a course, or join a club to improve your public speaking skills.
By actively working on your areas for growth, you can make progress toward your aspirations and become more well-rounded and effective.
6. What are my biggest fears, and how can I overcome them?
We all know that our fears hold us back, so shouldn't the focus of your goals for this year be taking steps to overcome them, even if it’s just a small change? By facing and overcoming our fears, we can become more confident and, therefore, capable of achieving our goals even more.
For example, to overcome a fear of posting on social media, you can start small, post anonymously, seek support from a friend, or even just visualizing yourself posting confidently can make a huge difference.
To overcome a fear of failure, you can reframe your mindset, focus on the learning and growth opportunities that come with failure, and find supportive people who can encourage and motivate you.
7. Who are the important people in my life, and how can I strengthen my relationships with them?
The people in our lives can impact our happiness and success, and it's important to prioritize and nurture our relationships with them.
For example, to strengthen a relationship with your partner, make more time for quality conversations and shared experiences. To strengthen relationships with friends, reach out more and make more time for them. By strengthening your relationships, you can build a supportive network of people who care about you and your well-being.
8. How do I want to prioritize my time, and what habits do I want to develop to support my goals?
By prioritizing your time and developing supportive habits, you can make progress toward a balanced and fulfilling life. If you want to prioritize work or a new business, you can start by setting boundaries and creating a daily schedule while prioritizing self-care.
9. What resources do I need to achieve my goals, and how can I acquire them?
Thanks to the internet, there are an abundant amount of videos, articles, and podcasts that are niche specific to help you with your goals. For example, if you want to learn a new creative skill, take an online class or visit your local public library for free resources.
By identifying the resources you need and finding ways to acquire them, you can increase your chances of success with your 2023 goals.
10. How can I stay motivated and accountable as I work towards my goals?
The key to staying motivated is accountability. For example, perhaps you find it helpful to track your progress using an app and to really take the time to celebrate even your smallest wins.
Or, maybe you find it helpful to have an accountability partner or join a community of people who are working towards similar goals. You can work on this by finding a friend or mentor who can check in with you and offer support or by joining an online group or in-person meetup where you can share your progress and get feedback and encouragement.
4 STEPS TO CREATING YOUR VISION BOARD, WHETHER IT’S DIGITALLY OR ON CLASSIC POSTER BOARD
- Gather supplies: You'll need a large piece of poster board or foam core, scissors, glue or tape, and a collection of magazines or printouts of images that represent your goals. Alternatively, you can create a digital vision board using Photoshop or Canva.
- Reflect on your goals: Take some time to think about what you want to achieve in the coming year with our 10 prompts. Write down a list of your goals in different areas of your life, such as career, relationships, health, personal growth, and travel.
- Find images: Flip through magazines or search online for images representing your goals. For example, if your goal is to travel more, you might include images of airplanes, exotic locations, or maps. If your goal is to move your body more, you might include images of people running, lifting weights, or doing yoga. Cut out or print out the images that resonate with you the most. Alternatively, you can create your own graphics using tools like Photoshop or Canva.
- Arrange the images: Lay out your images on the poster board or foam core and arrange them in a visually appealing way. You can also add words or phrases that inspire you or represent your goals. If you're making a digital vision board, drag and drop your images into a new document and arrange them as desired.
- Display your vision board: Hang your physical vision board in a place where you'll see it daily, such as on the wall in your bedroom or office. If you're making a digital vision board, you can display it on your computer desktop or upload it to the cloud to access it from anywhere.
Remember, your vision board is a personal reflection of your goals and aspirations. There is no right or wrong way to do it. They've made a huge difference in my own life, and I think they can do the same for you. You're golden as long as you reflect on what you truly want and choose images and words that accurately represent your aspirations. So why wait?
Get creative and start making your vision board for the new year. Trust me, you won't regret it!