Creating a Vision for Your Life

A few weeks ago in this column I suggested making a vision board to help you stick to your intentions. A couple of people asked me to explain more about a vision board and what it can do for you.

My first experience with a vision board was in 2008. I had pictures of whales and happy environmentalists along with the logo of my current organization — for which I had interviewed but hadn’t yet received an offer. I had pictures of babies and happy families. I even had a small picture of a silver Honda CRV, a stand in for the blue Toyota RAV-4 I liked even more. 

Within a month of making the vision board I had been offered my job, which I still love. Later that year, I got pregnant at 39 years old and had a healthy baby girl in 2009. And, we bought an almost new, silver CRV from some friends who were moving out of the country.  

Do I give all the credit to the vision board? Not really. But the process of sitting down and really figuring out what I wanted in my life gave me the clarity to know what to pursue and to recognize the opportunities that came to me. I also found that acknowledging my intentions and getting some support from the universe helps a lot.

Knowing what you really want in your life is so important. 

Dr. Stephen Covey, author of “First Things First” and “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” talks about fitting in the “big rocks” of life. He explains that if you fill a jar with pebbles and sand (symbolizing the never-ending, but less important things in life) you won’t be able to fit in the big rocks (symbolizing the really important things in your life). 

To be really satisfied with your life and accomplishments, it helps to know what your “big rocks” are and make time for them before the pebbles and sand fill your life. 

It can be really fun to create a life vision. 

You might start by imagining your perfect life. If you didn’t have to work, what would you do with your days? 

If you had as much money as you wanted, what would you do with it? 

Would you support any particular causes? Travel the world? Raise alpacas? This exercise is just for you so be honest about what makes you happy. 

Take some time to really see yourself living this new life. Now think about coming to the end of this outrageously fulfilling life. What will want your legacy to be? What will have mattered most to you?

Think of these things that matter most to you as your “big rocks.” Now let’s create a vision board to help remember them and to enlist some back-up from the universe.

There are lots of ways to create a vision board. 

You can do it online for free at sites where you can share it digitally. 

I like to do it the old-fashioned way, though — cutting up magazines and gluing them on a piece of poster board. It can fun to do with a group of supportive friends or family.  

You can share magazines and talk about what the images that catch your attention. 

In addition to images you can also add words or phrases, print anything you want from a computer, or draw and paint whatever moves you. Anything goes, just as long as it inspires you. Be sure to keep it around where you can see it. I have mine up in my home office and I keep a photo of it in my journal. 

The last step is a critical one — be ready to receive! 

I hope you enjoy imagining what you life can be and then making it happen.