Recently, a small but intimate group of entrepreneurs gathered for my Love Your Business, Love Your Life Vision-Board Workshop. For one entire day, they gave themselves the gift of time.
Time to think.
Time to dream.
Time to imagine what was possible for their business – and what that could mean for their lives.
Their decision – to set aside sacred time to be intentional about what they want – has already begun the transformation that I know they are about to experience.
And once they began creating their Vision Boards, they really began to get excited. I could hear it in their voices as the day went on.
Because when you get really clear on what you want – and can literally see it – big things happen. The Universe rearranges itself to help you manifest that desire.
Have you ever made a vision board?
Although there can be much more to the process, here are the basic steps.
FIRST, GATHER.
A Journal, Notebook or Sketchbook: You’ll need a place where you can daydream on paper.
Poster Board: Some people use the full sized poster boards. Others like smaller sizes. White is fine. So is black. Or hot pink. Choose a color that works for you.
Scissors & Glue: A good pair of scissors cuts easily and cleanly. You can buy craft glue that won’t make your photos soggy, but simple glue sticks work, too.
Decorations: You may enjoy adding decorative Items like glitter, sequins, or stickers. Use markers to add your own words or symbols.
Music: Gentle background music can help quiet the clutter in your mind, so that deeper desires and images rise to the surface.
Magazines: You need a collection of magazines that you can tear to shreds. :) Ideally you’ll want an assortment of different kinds, everything from Car & Driver to National Geographic to Oprah to Cooking Light. The more variety, the better.
NEXT, EXPLORE.
There are many ways to go about this process – all at once, or over a period of time. At whatever pace works for you, here are the basic steps.
ONE: Collect images.
Go through the magazines.Tear out pages with anything that appeals to you. It might be an image (a sharp looking assistant, a pile of money, a beaming customer).
It might be words or phrases.
(My fave? “Miracles don’t happen overnight. Sometimes they take an entire weekend.”)
Don’t stop to think about why a particular image appeals to you. Just grab it.
One note of caution: resist the temptation to lean too heavily on words. Your brain recognizes images at a deep level. Give it plenty to dream about. :)
TWO: Go inward.
Before putting your Board together, take some time to turn inside. Put on some of that background music. Pick up a pen. Think about who you want to be in your business, how you want to show up. Think about what you want to do, what you want to have.
Allow your mind to wander. No judgment! No criticism or self censorship. If, in your heart of hearts, you want a villa in Northern Italy, then write that down.
If you dream of teaching thousands how to live their best life, write that down.
If you long for peace, calm, or clarity, put that down.
If you want to be crazy, ridiculously over-the-top, wealthy, put that down, too.
THREE: Sort, toss and trim.
Now, go back through your stash. Throw out anything that no longer speaks to you.
Take what’s left, and trim it up.
Play with the images you have left, arranging them on your board. What seems to fit where? What goes together? What tells a story? What lifts your spirits just to look at it?
And what needs to be right at the center of it all? For extra oomph, place your own picture in the middle.
THEN, CREATE.
Once everything is arranged in a way that feels right, glue it all down. Then, if you’d like, throw in a few decorative touches for fun.
FINALLY, DISPLAY.
Hang it where you will see it everyday (like the back of your office door, or in a closet). Engage with it. Study it. Enjoy it. Allow yourself to feel the good feelings it brings up for you. Imagine each image being a part of your business as if it were already true.
Now – notice what comes. Be willing to follow threads of opportunities and ideas even when you can’t always tell where they lead.
Without even knowing it, you’re on your way to manifesting your dreams.
Photo Credits: Wendy Pitts Reeves, Shelby Shankland