Have you ever heard of a vision board? You were probably asked to make one in high school. If you don’t know, a vision board is a collage of printed or cutout images that portray your dreams and goals in life.
People left and right have been creating vision boards and displaying them in their homes for inspiration and motivation to achieve their dreams. Some even believe that it uses the law of attraction — make your goals tangible, focus on them, and they will come into your life.
How do vision boards work?
Many people think that vision boards don’t work. Well, of course, cutting out photos of your dream home and sticking them on a piece of cardboard will not magically make them happen. But it has a more subtle effect on your mind, perspective, and behavior.
The Reticular Activating System
Your mind is more powerful than you think. In our brains, there is a tiny portion that scientists call the RAS or the Reticular Activating System. It’s made up of a bundle of neurons that filter our thoughts, and essentially, send messages to the brain. Studies have shown that if you focus on something, the RAS filters them out and presents to us the things that we find essential.
Try it for yourself. Focus on a particular color for a minute or two. Then look around your environment. Chances are, you’ll start noticing that color more and see even the tiniest objects of that color. That is how the RAS works. We set our intent, which is, in this case, seeing a particular color. Our RAS tells our brain that, and we start noticing the things that we pay more attention to.
Hence, the effectiveness of a vision board. When you create a tangible object that highlights your dreams, your mind starts to focus on them. You’re bringing them to the light, which will program your brain to change your perspective and behavior so that you can achieve whatever it is you set your mind to.
How to create a vision board
Step 1: Gather your tools.
To create a vision board, you’ll need the following materials;
- Poster board
- A ton of old magazines
- Scissors
- Glue
Step 2: Go through your magazines
Now, you want to go through the magazines you have and look for images, words, and letters that reflect your dreams and aspirations. Tear off the pages that interest you, such as land for sale, interior designs, a dog, a family, or whatever else you might fathom. Stack them in a corner. Don’t glue them to the poster board just yet. Immerse yourself in looking at representations of your goals.
Step 3: Cut out your images and decide on your layout
Once you’re satisfied with the images you have, start cutting them out according to how you want to layout them on your board. Lay all the pictures and determine how you want to put them together. You can stick them at random or separate the photos by categories. It’s up to you how you want your board to look.
Step 4: Glue the cutouts onto the board
After you’ve decided on a layout (or just to wing it), you can start gluing the photos together on your poster board. You can add some scrapbook finds and decorative pieces, too, while you’re at it.
Step 5: Display your vision board
And you’re all set! All that’s left to do is to display your vision board where it is always visible to you. You must see your vision board often so that you are reminded to work towards achieving all the goals you pasted on it.
