Living the Dream

Are you "living the dream"? I'm talking about your dream. It is special. It is awesome. But sometimes it's HARD to make the dream into reality. But what if there was a way to increase the chances of your dreams becoming reality with a simple visual aid?

I recently read a quote that seemed pretty powerful to me... "Where your attention goes, your energy flows" (Christine Kane). I took it upon myself to test the validity of that statement and created a little thing called a vision board. Take a look...

Thanks to my son Landon for helping
display my board!

It's so simple, it's crazy that I haven't done this before now! It's not a new thing, but it's new to me. A vision board is just a visual of quotes and pictures that represent what you want to be, have, or attain. It inspires you to keep your focus on what you value and are striving to become = your dreams. Essentially, you are visualizing these priorities every time you look at the images on your board.  Visualization has long been recognized as a effective way to help people reach their goals by imagining what the end result will look like and having faith and determination to work out the process involved in getting there.

You don't have to have a special reason to make a vision board. And there's no wrong way to do it!  It can be about acquiring, traveling, developing, or achieving. It can be about deepening your calling. It can be about anything that you feel is a worthy endeavor to living an enriched life. Evoking emotion with images is also an effective tool to connecting with what brings you joy, so don't be afraid to experience all the feels during this project!

Since you are unique, any vision board you create will be unique as well. My vision board is about continuing to develop a few key aspects of my person and how I want to feel about my life.  My relationships, my faith, my home, and my professional mission are all represented because these are things that make me happy.  I've included things that motivate and inspire me. Even the "material" things I found pictures of are connected to how I want to develop a peaceful home atmosphere and trips I want to take with my family. My focus is really on intangibles that are hugely meaningful to me. My time frame for achieving the goals on this vision board is a year, but there's no set time period. It's completely flexible- you decide!

Have I piqued your interest? Here's a bonus- the whole process was a blast! It's like dreaming and decorating all at once. It's getting in touch with what makes you tick and taking ownership of your journey on the way.  Here's a breakdown of the steps so you can go for it, too...

1) Get a bulletin board. Mine measures 24" x 36" and came from a garage sale, but you can get them from Wal-Mart for less than $10. I covered it with scrapbook paper for a background, but you don't have to.

I grabbed my glue gun and  went all out with some burlap and bling on the frame because that's how I roll. If it's something I'm looking at all the time it might as well be pretty, right?!

2) Print off your favorite quotes, inspiring messages, scriptures, photos, or ideas- just whatever represents your hopes and dreams. Cut out photos from magazines, even.  I also put a peacock feather (go figure) because that is a special symbol to me. Remember, there's no right or wrong to what inspires you, and so whatever you get good vibes from is fair game! Then mount those puppies with pins or staples to your board.

3) Display your vision board in a prominent place where you will see it and pause to reflect (even for a brief time) on a daily basis. Mine is on the wall right beside my closet so I see it every morning when I get ready for the day and every night when I prepare for bed. It's the opposite of "out of sight, out of mind". The thoughts that this board has you envisioning need to be at the forefront of your mind, so sticking it in the corner of a room you rarely visit doesn't do you much good.

This digital version is on my
phone thanks to Hay House.

Speaking of keeping it close, there are apps available for making digital vision boards. That way your dream visuals are conveniently stored on your phone which could be a great option if glue guns, bulletin boards, and crafting aren't your thing. I created the very simple one pictured here using the Hay House app.  Isn't technology awesome?!

And here's a little twist I added to the vision board hanging in my room (probably because I'm a teacher and I  like to chart progress in detail!) that has already served as a fantastic encouragement to me. I left some space on my board so there would be room to post things that show how I'm attaining my vision as the year progresses. Even baby steps help keep me motivated to take action and stay committed to my dreams.

For example, someone recently sent me a card with a personal message inside thanking me for inspiring them to discover a new way to reach their students. This is worth more than gold to me because one of my aspirations is to inspire other teachers to impact their students in creative and meaningful ways. So that card is now posted right next to my inspiration quote to remind me that this vision board is more than lofty ambitions. It illustrates the foundation of my purpose in life to glorify God and where I find my joy. These are successes to be celebrated. Not only CAN I do it, but I AM doing it! I bet if you take a careful look, you'll recognize the ways your dreams are becoming reality as well!

Deciding on and creating a vision board has to go down as one of the most empowering things I've done. There are some really good resources out there to jump start your own creative process. Check out the links below for more information or do a Pinterest search for vision boards.

<<How To Create a Powerful Vision Board>> from Acorns and Lemonade Blog

<<Top Vision Board Apps: Making a Digital Vision Board>> from Make a Vision Board

Take action to adapt, execute, and enjoy because you deserve to be "living the dream"!