Vision boards.  New-agey, ooie gooie stuff, right?  Silly stuff, right?  But maybe not?  A vision board is a tool to help manifest one’s dreams and goals. The practice of creating a vision board has been around for centuries and has been used by everyone, from artists to business executives. Do you find yourself wondering, what is the purpose of a vision board?

The basics of a vision board are created when you first identify what you want to achieve by brainstorming your long-term and short-term goals. Once you know your goals, then you start collecting images and quotes, and affirmations that represent your goals. Usually pulled from magazines, but now you can also collect digital images. Once you have enough you start arranging them on a board or piece of paper. The key is to create a visually appealing representation of your goals that you will be motivated to look at every day. Some people choose to display their vision board in a place where they will see it often, such as on their fridge or in their office. Others keep them private, only looking at them when they need a reminder of their goals.

But let’s look at the purpose of a vision board: 1. Vision boards are a visual representation of your goals. 2. By looking at your goals each day, you are reminded to make decisions to move you closer to your goal. 3. Your vision board will help you to make decisions.

Vision Boards are a Visual Representation of Your Goals

A vision board is a visual representation of your goals. It can be a physical board that you display in your home or office, or it can be a digital board that you keep on your computer or phone. Either way, a vision board is a way to keep your goals front and center so that you can see them every day and be reminded of what you are working towards.

As a kid, did you ever go through the Sears catalog and pick out what you wanted?  I did, all of the time.  I would cut out the pictures of those things that I wanted and put them in scrapbooks.  But once I was done, I closed the book and didn’t open it again until I wanted to create a new page.  So I forgot about what I “wanted.”  Guess I didn’t really want it as much as I thought I did.

But I do remember that first time I really wanted a cute coat with a hood.  I saw it at the mall, and I wanted it because it looked fashionable, not practical.  My parents had already bought me a practical coat—you know, the one that would actually keep me warm in winter.  My cute coat wasn’t practical.  Its hood didn’t have a drawstring to keep it close to my head, so in a high wind, it was useless.  But it was cute, and I wanted it.  I found a picture that looked like my coat, and I put it in my mirror so I would see the picture every day.

And that was my first attempt at a vision board, even though I didn’t know what I was doing.  All I knew was that I wanted that coat. I figured that if I kept it in front of me that I would remind myself to save my money for it.

Looking at Your Goals Each Day Reminds You to Make Decisions to Move You Closer to Your Goals

When it comes to achieving your goals, it is important to have a clear and concise plan. This is where a vision board comes in. A vision board is a tool that can be used to help you visualize your goals and what you want to achieve in your life. This can be a powerful tool to help you stay on track and focused on your goals.

One of the benefits of a vision board is that it can help to keep you motivated. By looking at your goals each day, you are reminded of what you are working towards. This can help to keep you focused and on track. It can also be a reminder to make decisions that will help you move closer to your goals. When you put your goals and desires out into the universe, you are more likely to achieve them. This is because you are putting your intentions out there and taking action toward your goals. A vision board can be a helpful tool in achieving your goals. It can help to keep you motivated and focused on your goals.

And that’s how it worked for me.  A dollar here, a dollar there, slowly saving money for a jacket that cost $50.00—a big deal back in 1974.  At Christmas, I received money, just enough that, combined with my savings, would buy the coat. My parents were surprised when I used all of my money to buy the coat–they were sure that I’d gotten over it and would use the money to buy other things.  But I didn’t.  I’d been fueling my desire every day when I looked at that picture stuck in my mirror.  I bought it and happily wore the hell out of it! (And I froze in it, too!)

Your Vision Board will Help You Make Decisions

Creating a vision board can be a helpful way to make decisions, as it allows you to see your goals in front of you. It can remind you of what you are working towards and help to keep you focused. When you are faced with a decision, you can ask yourself whether it is in line with your goals and if it will help you to achieve them. If you find yourself struggling to make a decision, or feeling stuck, looking at your vision board can help to give you some perspective. It can be a reminder of what is important to you and what you are working towards. Sometimes, all you need is a little reminder of your goals to help you to make the right decision.

And that is why a vision board, (dream board, goal board…..) is so important.  It wasn’t just the goal of having the coat. If I didn’t have the picture of that special coat, I might have spent the money on something else.  Vision Boards aren’t ooie-gooie, magical unicorns.  They’re a visual representation of your goals.  By looking at your goals each day, you are reminded to make decisions to move you closer to your goal.  Do you buy that cute bag, or save for a new house?  Will you call one more client or leave early to avoid traffic?   Do I get up early to write before work, or do I sleep in and forget about writing?  Your vision board will help you to make that decision.

Additional Reading:
Create a Portable Vision Board

Is There Ever a Wrong Time to Start a Vision Board?