The Vision Board: You must name it…to claim it.

 

An Orchid given to me by one of my tutoring students for Valentine’s Day

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Happy Friday.

Let’s visit for a quick second.

Yesterday, as I was walking my canine son around the lake, I realized that I did not write a post dedicated to my Dyslexia Series. For that omission, I so apologize. This is my first week back in town– and I am out of sorts a little bit.

Rest assured, you will find a post for Dyslexia Series on Monday! So come back ready to read.

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I am just so excited to write today.

You know by now – I am all about surrounding our daily lives with Good people, Good food, and beautiful objects that conjure up Good feelings.

Today’s message is about another Good thing to add to your life.

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Does your Gratitude Board remind you daily to be appreciative and thankful? (Post on April 27)

Well, there’s another board I want to share with you.

As I told you in my Gratitude post, many people who are near and dear to me roll their eyes big-time at my boards.

They feel these “props” are silly and pedestrian at best…and voodoo science at worse. Neither is an accurate description.

And some people very close to me have concerns that these boards undermine my religious beliefs and distract my attention away from my core faith.

Again, I would not incorporate these boards in my life if I thought, for one moment, that they are a diversion from my Christianity.

If anything, I sincerely believe that mindfully striving for stated goals and practicing an Attitude of Gratitude daily enhances my faith.

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Do I think these boards are ‘mystical’ charms? NO.

Have ‘magical’ powers? NO. Of course not.

I do believe these handmade masterpieces will remind us to live each day full of purpose and intention.

But please note, both boards will work together.

They are not contradictory.

The Gratitude Board triggers feelings of thanksgiving for the here and now….while the Vision Board allows us to dream and optimistically look forward to the then and there.

The Vision Board, in particular, provides a clear and precise focus on future goals.

These visual reminders will keep our eyes on the prize.

Research shows that if a goal is written down or displayed…the likelihood of it becoming reality increases greatly.

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This is my Vision Book… stuffed with pictures and literature of future projects and goals.  This weekend, I’ll design a beautiful cover.

What did I include in my new Vision Book?

(I had a board years ago, but now I am using a 3 Ring Binder because my new board would have covered a few walls.)

Well, I included my personal and professional hopes and aspirations for my future.

Here are a few examples:

Places I would like to live during ‘retirement’ years.

Blueprints for an efficient, minimalistic house I would like to build, one day.  (I know, in my Downsizing post I told you that I was finished building forever.  I believe – I’m addicted to the creative process.)

The level of yoga I would like to achieve.

The perfect herb garden I would like to grow: Indoor vertical structure underneath a skylight situated next to the kitchen sink! How wonderful is that?

The simplistic, quiet, serene lifestyle I hope to, one day, realize.

The magazines I hope to be published in this year.

The outlandish organizational goals I wish to reach – which feeds into my OCD tendencies (I wrote about in The Tree post on March 27.)

Some listings are realistic… and some are pure dreams.

There are no rules to making a Vision Book/Board.

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Now it’s your turn.

Remember, “You must name it, to claim it.”

We’ve had a lot of conversations…You and Me.

And you know me well enough by now… I want to share everything that has worked well in my life so you can implement it in yours.

Take some time this weekend for yourself and begin piecing together your Vision Board.

You will be grateful you did!