I made my first vision board in 2002. Not only did I not finish but also I wasn’t really sure what I wanted out of life exactly. I had some very general ideas, so in hindsight, it probably was a proper representation of where I was in my life at the time. There are things on that were on THAT board that I still want and don’t have and the lack of getting deterred me from creating future boards.
I began to question, in my mind, “was I not focused?” “Was I wrong for having some materialistic wants?” “Where had I gone wrong?” These thoughts probed me to do some research about Vision Boards and how they can be effective in my life. Let’s first recognize that Vision Boarding is an ideology based off of The Law of Attractions.
The Law of Attraction states that you attract that on which you most focus. The obvious corollary to the Law of Attraction is the advice to focus on the things you want more of in your life – that you should spend more time thinking about what you wish to attract into your life than what you don’t like.
Now with that being said, one would think that simply by creating a Vision Board and keeping a positive outlook on life, you’d have it made and in due time, all your dreams will come true. Not true! And here’s why:
Sugar.Honey.Iced.Tea Happens!
Sometime life deals you a hand you just don’t know how to play. Good, bad, ugly, life is often unpredictable. The Universe/ Higher Power has another plan for you that may look nothing like your Vision Board components. My advice: Not only be flexible with your board images, be flexible with your LIFE and be open to the possibility that what’s best for you isn’t always in plain sight.
Don’t Play The Blame Game.
If you don’t reach a certain goal, it’s OK! Evaluate the situation and decide on your next move towards your goal. And for goodness sakes, don’t give up because you fail once or twice. Most attempts result in failures multiple times before a success story occurs (*que in Aaliyah’s, “Try Again”)! Think about potential obstacles as you build your board. Being prepared for those IS a positive action, despite what those Laws of Attraction say.
And Finally…
Be a Doer and Thinker.
Create your board, chant mantras, touch it with Holy Water, pray over it 5 times a day but please, PLEASE, take a proactive stance in your life’s vision. Life can’t happen without a little elbow grease. Go to networking events, read books, spend time with like-minded individuals, attend workshops & seminars (a great site to find some is www.heragenda.com), read about inspiring individuals (my favorite blog is www.inhershoesblog.com), take a class online or at a community center, whatever the road requires, follow it! Just don’t have tunnel vision when creating YOUR Vision Board.
I have recently created a new vision board, after completing my first “Five Year Plan”. It’s very career driven since I’m living my second career as a chef and loving it (THAT wasn’t on my first vision board either). That’s me in the picture above with it. I don’t have any extra space but I will make new ones at time goes on. In the mean time, it’s serving as my point of reference for my life; something to hold me accountable for “doing”. I hope you consider creating a board for yourself, even if it’s based off of one goal. Begin to envision your successful (according to YOUR standards), happy, self and then go out and take a bite out of this world. God Bless and God Speed.
Now, Let’s Get Cookin’
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