How To Make A Vision Board & How it Works

For success with manifestation, you have to set your intention, believe that it will become a reality, then take active steps towards making that abstract idea come to fruition. No matter what your goals are—to learn how to relax, to be more patient, to improve your relationship, to travel more, to find a job you adore, or to simply be kinder to yourself—a vision board is a great tool to have during your journey. Some of the world’s most influential thought leaders—Deepak Chopra, Gabrielle Bernstein, and Oprah, for starters—all agree: It’s wholly possible to turn your dreams into reality. It’s called manifestation. Well, that and hard work.

What exactly is a vision board?

Put simply: It’s a visual representation of your goals. These typically poster-sized visuals, contain all kinds of images and text that represent something you’re trying to accomplish.

The idea of a vision board is that it is a visual representation of what we want to achieve. We can use it to show our end goal and where we see ourselves being in the future. Not only this, but a vision board will also help you show the process of how you envisage getting to these end goals.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Vision Board?

Some distinct advantages of vision boards are:

• You can motivate yourself further.
• Vision boards can reduce stress as they provide focus on goals.
• They’re creative and fun.
• They help you to reassess your life, goals, and more.
• It’s a reminder of where you want to be in life.

Some cons to vision boards are:

• Unless you’re in the room with the vision board, you won’t see it and feel inspired or focused.
• Having it on your phone can lead to you being more distracted than it being effective. It’s easy for someone to open up their vision board, get inspired, and then immediately click on a social media app afterward.
• Vision boards take a lot of time to set up and not everyone has the patience for it. It can also be frustrating if you’re looking for a specific phrase or picture to use.
• Extra steps to making a vision board fancier can remove its practicality. Some can see it as procrastination from one’s goals or visions.

The pros surely surpasses the cons both in numbers and benefits. So lets dive deeper into the topic.

What do you need to Make a Vision Board

Making a vision board is simple. You’ll need a few materials, as well as a working space to do it. Here is what you’ll need:

A Board

Naturally, this is the first thing you’ll need. This board can take on any shape. Whether it’s a physical board, a cork or poster board, or even a virtual board is up to you.

Craft Items

If you’re not going digital, you’ll need items that allow you to place things on your board. This includes scissors, pins, glue-sticks, tape, etc.

For the more artistic people, you can also get markers and stickers to add some flare to your vision board, too.

Images

You can use magazines if want to cut out images or quotes. For those going digital, you can simply find relevant images online to copy and paste.

Time

You’ll be at this for about an hour or two, so make sure you have space where you can do this with no interruptions.

When it comes to the work environment, any will do. However, it’s smart if you mitigate distractions so set up some calm and relaxing music while working.

When Do Vision Boards Work?

With a vision board, you will be able to see what it is that you want in the future and identify how you can get there. When you can see it, there, in front of you, then you are going to want to get there, and you are going to feel much more motivated to work towards these goals. Not only this, but the process of making a vision board is more fun than you may realize. This means that you can look forward to doing it rather than ignoring those goals and stopping yourself from achieving what you want in the future.

Using a vision board means following some key steps that’ll allow you to manifest from it. Once you’ve created the vision board, you can:

1. Understand the steps to manifest. These steps are ask, believe, and finally receive.
2. Visualize your ask. Getting back to asking, you’ll have an easier time asking by visualizing. Your vision board should make it clear that you’ll be able to ask for exactly what you’d like.
3. Instil belief through goals. The third step is to instill belief in yourself. Merely thinking about it won’t help you to achieve your vision. You’ll need to be setting goals and using the vision board to reinforce that belief.
4. Be present in your life. Many people fail at this step because they’re worried about the past or the future. This step is to remind yourself to keep working at it so that one day you’ll be ready to receive it. Furthermore, this step will help you to realize what you’ve received already and what you can use as you grow.
5. Appreciate the now. Lastly is showing appreciation for things right now. Working towards goals is tough but there is satisfaction at the end when completing it. There is more appreciation to be had when you take the time to appreciate what you have right now, even if it’s little.

How To Make A Vision Board

Make it your own process!

Though this a completely personal task and everyone can do it differently, here are some ideas and steps.

Do a status check & review :

First, sit down with journal and reflect on the past year. Check this out if you are missing on this step.

This initial step is chance to consider where I am now, what is working in life, and what isn’t. I like to look back over the past year, what has happened, what goals I have achieved, what lessons I have learned, and what I’m grateful for. This step really sets the stage for everything else.

Set goals and prioritize :

Next sit down with paper and pen and think about goals for the coming year.

This initial step is big brain dump and includes everything from the big goals and dreams (write a book, learn how to meditate, take the family on vacation), to the little wish list type of stuff (get a new vacuum cleaner), intentions (be more mindful, connect with my family better), and words for the year (clarity, joy, peace).

After the first brain dump, review the thoughts and notes and figure out what are your priorities  and either circle them or create a new list.

What are the things I really, really want to happen above all else? Those are definitely going on my vision board. A lot of the other things will end up on my board, too, but I want to make sure the biggies get their place.

Find images and words for the vision board:

Now it’s time to search for and cut out images and words that embody your goals and/or just speak to you.

I love this step!

I go through a stack of magazines (generally from the free stack at the public library or bought for a quarter each from Goodwill). Then I clip everything I like—colors, words, interesting images. But, I am also on a hunt for images and words that relate to my goals.

In fact, I cut out way more than I need or will ultimately use!

Also, if there’s a goal or intention that I can’t find a good image for, I hop on the computer and do an image search.
My finished goal boards include a mix of magazine images, pictures that I print from the internet, and words.

Create a Basic Structure for the Vision Board :

A nice framework and some general life categories to keep your goals and vision board well rounded. 

After dividing the poster board into life areas, I often write my goals and intentions for each area directly on the poster board. It will get covered over later with collage images so I don’t worry about how it looks or if I’m just thinking on paper and later change my mind about some of my priorities or whatever.

This part helps me round out my goals. For example if my initial brain dump focused on finances and health, I am now reminded to consider relationships, skills, etc. In addition, this part helps me to focus when I’m assembling my vision board.

And I like how the layer of intention and goals are a part of the finished vision board, even if you can’t see this layer ultimately. It makes me feel like it’s adding another layer of intention to the magic of the vision board!

Assemble the Vision Board :

Now it’s time to arrange your images and words on your poster board.

So, with your poster board in front of you, and your pile of images at hand, go through the images and decide what belongs on the poster board and place it roughly in the section it will go. Trim backgrounds away or crop images as you go if you like. Then continue through the pile of clippings.


Some images will go on the poster board, some will go in a “later” pile to be used in a future collage, and some will just be recycled.

Once you have all of your goals and dreams represented on the board, stand back and take a look at it. How does it look? 

If you’re happy with the board, proceed to the next step. Otherwise continue to arrange, add images or words, and trim around others until you’re satisfied.

Glue Everything Together :

Once you’re satisfied with the arrangement, begin to glue everything down. Working with one image or word at a time, turn it over, apply a layer of glue with a glue stick, then stick it to the poster board. Rub over it with your hands to smooth it out as much as possible.

Tip: Save scrap paper and cut up magazines to use as gluing surfaces.

Embellish! :

This is another optional step but is a creative way to finish up your vision board. Add your own words, doodles, or sketches over and around the collaged images with Sharpie markers or glue on fun collage items such as sequins, glitter, lace, ribbon, or whatever else you desire.

Display Your Board :

Once your vision board is complete, hang it on the wall where you will see it regularly. Think–your office, bedroom, or living room. It’s important to create a vision board, but equally important to see it regularly.

You can frame it first, or simply tape it to the wall.

Also, take a photo of the vision board. You might use this digital version as wallpaper on your computer or phone.

Use Your Vision Board as a Road MapMaking the vision board is just the beginning! Now it’s time to use it as a guide and road map into your new future.

There are so many ways you can do this such as:

– Create an action plan for your goals (and then take action!)
– Review your board as you create it whether it’s your to-do list for the day or week
– Journal about the goals depicted on the board
– Practice visioning exercises (closing your eyes and imagining the achievement of your goal)
– Get support in the areas you know you would benefit from it.

A List of Vision Board Tools

In case you are interested doing your work online, there are several tools that are at your disposal. Consider using some of these tools:

• Canva – to help you develop beautiful vision boards or to make images pop more.
• PicMonkey – An alternative to Canva with a template to create vision boards.
• DreamItAlive – A program that lets you select aspects of your life you want to enhance and to help you visualize it through photos and wise quotes.
• Desygner – Another design site that provides tools for professional-looking vision boards.
• Pinterest – A site to generate tonnes of vision board ideas.

How Often Does Your Vision Board Need to Be Updated?

This depends on you more than the vision board itself. Obviously, if you created a vision board listing off this year’s goals, it’ll need to be updated every year.

But also people change and therefore our goals might change too. If you look at your vision board and feel like those goals aren’t the right fit or don’t inspire you as much, you can update it to reflect something new.

End Notes

Vision boards are a large mental exercise that demand deep self-reflection and plenty of emotion. If your heart isn’t it, then it’s likely that a vision board isn’t going to help you much.

It often happens that vision boards slowly devolve into collages and mere artwork. Instead, take this advice to heart and work to develop your own mindset. Once it’s stronger, you’ll find that a vision board can be a very helpful tool for you to achieve your goals.

I guide people in this journey of finding their true self. You can write to me apurvalalranjan@mail.com