Let’s be honest- most vision boards end up as a pretty collage on the fridge (or a Pinterest board you haven’t opened since February). Nice to look at. That’s about it.
So before you grab the scissors and a stack of magazines, start with the free Holistic Life Audit. Get an honest look at where you are RIGHT NOW. Then let’s make a vision board you’ll actually use.
What a Vision Board Is (and What It Isn’t)
A vision board is a collection of pictures, words and (if you’re a person of faith) Scripture that shows where you want your life to go. You keep it where you’ll see it, so you remember what you’re working toward.
What it is NOT: a plan. It doesn’t do the work for you. It reminds you WHY you’re doing the work.
Step 1: Start With an Honest Look at Your Life
A vision board comes AFTER the honest look at your life, not before.
That’s why getting your life together doesn’t start with a planner, a vision board or a brand-new 5 a.m. routine. Look at each area of your life- what’s working, what isn’t, and where you want to be.
Step 2: Pick the Goals Your Board Points To
Your board should point to real goals- not someday-maybe daydreams. Pick the one to three areas that need your attention FIRST.
Never set a goal you actually kept? Start with Goal Setting With a Coach: Goals You Keep.
Step 3: Choose Pictures, Words and Scripture
Choose pictures that show the life YOU want- not someone else’s highlight reel. Add a few words or short affirmations that sound like you.
Making a Christian Vision Board
For people of faith, spend time looking for scriptures that really speak to you and resonate with you. Then fold them into your daily life- and onto your board.
Not sure where to start? Here’s the one I would put on mine:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Or this one:
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
Step 4: Paper or Digital? Pick What Fits How You Operate
Paper or digital- either one works. Go with whatever flows best for how you operate. A poster board in your office, a private Pinterest board, the lock screen on your phone… the best vision board is the one you’ll actually SEE every day.
Step 5: Turn the Pictures Into Small Steps
Vision with no execution is just a wish, not a plan.
So for every picture on your board, ask yourself: what’s ONE small step I can take this week? Small wins help you see early success, stay encouraged and stay motivated to take the next small step toward your big goal.
Vision Board Ideas to Get You Started
☐ A photo of a room in your home the way you want it to look
☐ A word for the year
☐ A verse that speaks to you
☐ A picture of somewhere you want to go
☐ A short affirmation written in your own words
☐ One picture for each area of your life you want to change
When You Need More Than a Board
If you’ve made a vision board before and it ended up in a closet, you’re not alone. Sometimes you need someone to help you turn the pictures into a plan AND hold you to it.
In SPARK, my six-week virtual coaching program, we “create micro, meso and macro goals we revisit weekly (expect HIGH levels of accountability!)” Every SPARK and ICE program starts with a consultation.
This post is part of the Personal Growth series.
So look at your last vision board (or the one you keep MEANING to make)- is it a plan… or just a wish?
