“Write it down on real paper, with a real pencil. And watch [things] get real.” ~Erykah Badu
I am a huge believer in the power of vision boards/vision statements. When I started to become more proactive about my life, I found that this was a great tool for helping me to identify what I wanted from life, and how I wanted to feel about life. If you don’t know what a vision board/vision statement is, have no fear. If you do a Google search you will be inundated with results. So many people across the world use this tool to help visualize and affirm what they want out of life. It is not hard to see why these are so popular—they really do work. Check out my YouTube video for this week where I do a deeper dive into this topic! https://youtu.be/fhvYq3JtBC0
Wikipedia has a pretty good definition of vision boards. They say, “A dream board or vision board is a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of one’s dreams and desires, designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation, and to use the law of attraction to attain goals.” Beyond the mystique of this working is also the science. The author Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul) said, “Your brain will work tirelessly to achieve the statements you give your subconscious mind. And when those statements are the affirmations and images of your goals, you are destined to achieve them!”
My most cognizant memories of vision boards came from two places. The first was from, Breena, the lovely wife of my former therapist Alfonso. She showed me her vision board once on a visit to the office. She had lovely pictures, and motivational words pasted on a large board. But most inspiring was when she explained which of the things had actually manifested in her life. I was intrigued, and since this was all in efforts to make my life more proactive than reactive, I set about making a vision board for myself.
I noticed however, that the pictures on the vision board still felt like someone else’s vision. I wanted to imagine the things for myself, and so I utilized what I had been learning to create a vision statement for myself. A vision statement is distinct from a vision board in that I used words to write down what I wanted. While doing this I came across a similar vision board/statement from the great science and fantasy writer Octavia Butler. In 1988, she had written “I will be a best selling author…” and “my books will be read by millions of people.” She wrote this on the back of her journal, with a few other things. Time has shown us that this worked for her. I am a true believer in the vision board/vision statement, and I have a few tips to help you create one as well.
Before you begin:
1) Gather any supplies that you might need! (Paper, pens, markers, magazine pictures)
2) Choose a time and space where you will not be disturbed.
3) Set an intention or say a prayer or a blessing over your vision board.
4) The most important thing to remember though is to make it fun! This is your dream, your vision; you should be a judgment free zone for yourself. You should be a safe space for your own dreams, goals, and inner child.
Celestial Goodness’s suggestions for creating a vision board/or statement.
1) Biggest tip! (I always put the phrase, “THIS OR BETTER” at the top of my vision statement/vision board. This is a conscious statement that impacts the subconscious mind to say to the divine, “I know we are co-creating together. If you see this universe, better than I do, please give me the best!” My example of this is that if you want a Red Ford Focus (nothing wrong with this), but the divine wants to give you a Blue Range Rover with all the fixings, that is the better. You won’t care then if it is red or blue.
2) Break down the different categories of your life, and your desires for those areas.
Ex. Wealth, Health, Spirituality, Love, Purpose, Travel.
3) Write down the things that you desire for the different categories, or use pictures that match the vision that you have in your mind.
4) Infuse your personal touch and energy into the project.
5) Put the vision board/statement in a place where you can see it frequently. I put mine on my dresser mirror, and I have another hanging in my room. I also took a picture and put it on my phone so that I can look at it when I am not at home.
6) When you think of the things you desire, try your best to feel good about them. Don’t worry about how they will happen or when they will happen. For example, I wrote CUBA on my 2017 vision statement, and did not worry about how I would get there. I also wrote DIVINE RIGHT LIFE PARTNER and traits that I desire in a romantic partner. I continued living my life and having fun, and at the end of 2017, I met my partner. In the middle of 2018 we took a cruise together to Cuba.
7) Don’t sit around and wait. Get up, enjoy your life, get involved in things that you enjoy, and allow the doors to open to the desires of your heart. There is a saying that when we ask the divine to move a mountain for us that we will get a shovel to start digging.
8) Be in the flow. Whenever you feel resistance (anxiety, overwhelming fear) about manifesting your desires, understand that is counter to what you want. Soothe yourself by using your affirmations and reminding yourself of the good things about what you want and your own worthiness to have them.
9) Know that you are worthy.
10) Prepare yourself to get what you asked for! Clear space in your life for the things that you asked for. If you want a new car, then you have to get rid of the old car taking up space in your garage. The same goes for people, things, and situations! Let go of what no longer serves you to allow what will serve your highest good to come in!
11) Give and receive love and good energy. There is a flow to the universe. When you give, you shall also receive. You don’t do things to receive, but you know that you will always be taken care of.
12) Release “poverty mindset.” When you see birds on the trees or in the grass, they don’t seem to care whether they have enough for tomorrow or not. They intuitively know that their needs will be taken care of! You are the same. The divine energy (whatever is your spiritual or religious practice) that created you did so with the idea of your care in mind. You are always provided for! Release the energy that there is not enough!
13) Receive graciously and with gratitude. Gratitude is the gift that keeps on giving. When we can be thankful for what we have, we allow the energy of appreciation to bring us more things to be thankful for! J
14) Love. Love yourself and love one another.
I hope that these tips are helpful for your and that you vision unfolds in the most beautiful and wondrous ways. Please do reach out and let me know if something has been working for you! May the stars shine brightly over your week! Thank you!
Celestial Goodness 