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How to Create a Vision Board That Positions You for Success

In other words, how to harness the power of visualization for personal growth and success.

Christmas might have been yesterday, but the new year begins in less than a week. Can you believe it?! I sure can’t.

A new year brings a wave of optimism and a fresh start. It’s the perfect opportunity to set your goals and plot a course for the future. 

What better way to visualize your dreams and aspirations than with a killer vision board? 

A vision board is a powerful tool that can help you manifest your desires and create the life of your dreams. Or in simpler terms, it can help you get to where you want to go when it comes to doing more of the things that you love.

In this article, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to build a killer vision board that helps you live on YOUR terms. Because you deserve it!

What’s the Purpose of a Vision Board?

A vision board is designed to capture your goals, dreams, and aspirations for the future. Ideally, it inspires you and drive as you work toward your goals.

You can capture as much or as little of your goals as you like. You can even pick a theme or highlight a few things of focus.

For instance, if your goals for the new year are focused on making a career shift, you might have a career-focused vision board. If on the other hand, you’re more focused on travel, then you might have a vision board for your travels or leisurely activities.

Get creative, pick a style that works for you, and run with it!

How to Create the Perfect Vision Board

I’m going to start by saying that there isn’t a wrong way to create a vision board, but there is a right and wrong way for you.

Wait, what? A little confusing, perhaps? Don’t worry, I got you. Let me break it down.

Vision boards are a highly individualized tool. So what works for you, might not work for someone else, and vice versa.

Your vision board should be just that… YOURS. I’m going to give you some tools and ideas to get you started, but what matters more than following a script is this…

Your vision board should be EXACTLY what YOU need NOW to help you achieve your goals.

So read the upcoming guidelines, but take what works for you and drop anything else. There is no X + Y = Z magic formula for a perfect vision board. It doesn’t exist, but there is a RIGHT one for you.

On that same note, what is right for you now may not be right for you a year from now… Or even tomorrow, for that matter. So build something that works for you today, but don’t be afraid to make changes when it’s no longer serving you.

I couldn’t tell you the number of times my vision board has changed… But what it does do is inspire me and support the efforts I’m making toward my goals. And that’s exactly what I need it to do for me.

What will your vision board do for you?

Guidelines: 7 Elements of a Kickass Vision Board

What elements does a kickass vision board harness? Here are some guidelines for building a vision board designed to help you live the life of your dreams:

1. Clear, realistic goals that are specific and intentional (or SMART)

Define your goals clearly and with specificity. What do you want to achieve in 2024? Write down your goals and intentions as affirmations or phrases that resonate with you.

Your goals should be clear, concise, and achievable. Don’t try to cram too much into your vision board; be intentional about what you choose to feature.

The more specific you can be, the better! When you have a goal that has a clear finish line, you’re far more likely to achieve it. For instance, rather than saying you want to pick up running, try saying something like, “I’d like to run 2 miles at least 3 days a week, and run a 5K in March.”

Your vision board should feature the goals that matter most to you in the here and now. Don’t be afraid to change it if your goals change!

2. Visual Representation

Gather images, pictures, and symbols that represent your goals and what you want to achieve. Look through magazines, newspapers, or online sources for inspiration. The more vivid and evocative the images, the more powerful your vision board will be.

For example, if you want to travel the world, use images of different destinations that you want to visit.

You can use a mix of images, quotes, and phrases that visually represent your goals. Ideally, your visual material will evoke positive emotions and inspire you to take action.

3. Emotional Connection

Add items that evoke positive emotions and feelings of excitement, joy, and fulfillment. When you connect with your vision board on an emotional level, it becomes more potent.

Your vision board should be a mental reminder of things that make you feel happy, excited, and inspired. It should be featured in a place where you can look at it frequently for inspiration.

4. Balance and Harmony

Arrange the images and affirmations on your vision board in a balanced and visually appealing way that reflects your style. Create a layout that is pleasing and enhances the overall impact.

Include a variety of goals, both short-term and long-term. This will help you stay motivated and focused on achieving your dreams over time.

5. Affirmative Language

Use positive and empowering language to reinforce your goals and intentions. Write affirmations that are concise, and clear. Use present tense, as if you have already achieved your goals.

6. Continuous Review and Flexibility

Place your vision board in a prominent spot where you’ll see it regularly. Take time to review it often and visualize yourself achieving your goals.

Be open to adapting it as your goals and priorities evolve. Reaffirm your goals as often as you need to stay on track and motivated.

7. Personalization

Your vision board is a reflection of your unique dreams and aspirations. Make it personal by incorporating elements that represent your interests, passions, personality, and values.

Make it unique to you. Choose images and words that resonate with your personality and reflect your aspirations. Use colors, fonts, and imagery that resonate with you on a deep and personal level.

Example Vision Boards for Inspiration

Looking for some ideas to help inspire you? Reflect on a few of these ideas:

Example 1: Inspiring Empowerment

This vision board is simple, yet fun. This particular board throws out a lot of the guidelines above and does its own thing, but it serves a purpose.

The purpose of this vision board is to be a helpful reminder about being yourself, living your truth, and living your best life. There isn’t much in terms of specific goals, instead, it’s more focused on motivation.

This might be the vision board for you if you’re more creative and intrinsically motivated, preferring instead to follow loose concepts and uplifting notes for motivation as you work toward building the life of your dreams.

Example 2: The Flowchart Vision Board

This vision board is detailed, specific, intentional, and focused on achieving one or two goals at a time.

I would consider this less creative and inspired, but more process-driven. If you’re tech-savvy and process-driven, this might be the board of your dreams!

Example Summary

The vision boards above are two extreme and unique boards, and they each serve their purpose, though they take incredibly different approaches. 

I suspect that your vision board might be something else entirely, though I hope these examples serve as inspiration, even if only to show you that a vision board really can be just about anything that helps you achieve your goals.

Additional Tips as You Create Your Vision Board

• Find a quiet, distraction-free space to work
• Allow yourself enough time to create it
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors, fonts, and images
• Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process!

Creating a vision board is a powerful exercise in self-discovery and goal setting, allowing you to actively visualize your dreams. By regularly reviewing it, you’ll be reinforcing your goals and aligning your actions with your aspirations.

So, what are you waiting for? 

Grab your poster board, whiteboard, scissors, pictures, and/or glue, and start crafting your vision board for a remarkable new year. Remember, the more vivid and detailed it is, the more impactful it will be in helping you achieve your goals.

Conclusion

Creating a vision board is a great way to kickstart the new year with a positive and focused mindset. By following these tips, you can create something that will help you achieve your goals and dreams.

Remember, a vision board isn’t just a collection of images and phrases; it’s a powerful tool that can help transform your dreams and goals into reality. Start living life on your terms with a tool that will help you get there.

By creating a vision board that resonates with your deepest desires and regularly reviewing it, you are slowly building the pathway forward to doing more of the things you love. As you take consistent action toward your goals, you will begin seeing remarkable results.

Remember, the most important thing is to believe in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals. With a little hard work and dedication, you can make anything happen!

So, what are you waiting for? Create something that will propel you toward your dreams and aspirations in the new year.

Have questions or want to learn more? Leave a comment below!

All the best to you for a successful and Happy New Year!

Now that you’ve learned how to create a killer vision board, you might be wondering how else you can FIRE Your Career. Check out the posts page for more ways you can FIRE Your Career and achieve financial freedom.

FIRE Your Career: Achieve Financial Freedom Through Your Career & Spend MORE Time Doing What You Love.

Resources I Frequently Recommend:

ClickUp (my recommended goal-tracking and project-management tool)

Strengths Finder (book to help you uncover your innate strengths, includes a free personality quiz)

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing (a great intro to investing book)

Others: 16 Books I Recommend to FIRE Your Career