Do Vision Boards Work?

I always love when my clients ask me if vision boards work.

The answer is yes and no.

Here’s the good news, vision boards work if you put the effort in, and if you tie your actions to the vision you’ve created.

Here’s the bad news, vision boards don’t magically manifest wonderfulness in your life.

I’m really hoping you already knew all of that…but I never like to assume.

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we…

What is a Vision Board

I am guessing most of you who are obsessed with intentional living and personal development like I am, already know what a vision board is, but just in case…

A vision board is simply a visual representation of your goals and dreams.

I use them to help my clients visualize what they really want to accomplish in life. The problem is, we often think that a vision board is just pretty pictures. And yes, most vision boards do have some amazing and inspiring images, the effectiveness of a vision board isn’t really tied to the quality or beauty of the images, but the emotional and mental attachment we create with them.

Creating a powerful vision board requires you to know what you’re trying to accomplish in why, but more about that in a few minutes.

Why Do I Recommend Them

I love vision boards because it gives me a practical tool to help my clients dig into what they want to accomplish and because it gives them a tangible product to remind them of what they want to accomplish.

Images motivate and inspire us. After all a picture is worth a thousand words. And sometimes when we are thinking about the future it helps to have a visual connection with what we are trying to accomplish.

Let me be clear I DO NOT believe in manifesting or the “see it and it will come” type of mentality or teaching. But I do believe in the power of visualizing success.

Professional athletes have used visualization for years to help improve performance. This involves tapping into all of your senses and really imagine yourself in the situation. For athletes this involves the game or the race. For the rest of us, visualization can be a powerful tool to help us imagine what life will look like and more importantly FEEL like if we reach our goals.

Creating a visual connection often creates an emotional connection. When we can tie our vision to emotions, and more importantly to our bigger vision of WHY, we create momentum that is hard to stop.

Once we have the visualization, it’s easier to determine what steps we need to take to move forward.

If you’ve ever thought about creating a vision board, but felt like they were a little too woohoo, or simply weren’t quite sure how to get started, let me help.

Here are 5 steps for creating your own powerful vision board.

5 Steps for Creating Your Own Vision Board

1. Decide on your What

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many times I start vision board workshops and my clients start cutting out images they like, but that don’t really necessarily align to what they want to accomplish in life. Don’t get me wrong, I love looking at a gorgeous Bungalow in Bali too, but it doesn’t necessarily align with my goals for the year…beautiful yes…on my list of things to accomplish this year…no.

So before you start selecting images you think you’d like to inspire you on a daily or weekly basis, slow down a tad and think about what you want to accomplish this year.

I love thinking about my goals in terms of my key domains, faith, health, relationships, fitness, career/calling, and fun.

Once I know what I’d like to improve in these areas I can get really clear on what I want the next year to look like.

Brainstorming a bunch of ideas of what you want to accomplish is a great starting place for vision board creation. I start with as many ideas in each domain as I can think of.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down as many things that come to mind. Try not to “edit” your idea yet. Think of this as the free form writing time you used to have to do in English class…no ideas are bad ideas…there is a reason they popped into your head.

2. Know Your WHY

Once you have your list, it’s time to start whittling down your goals.

To do this, it’s really important to ask yourself WHY each idea or goal is important to you

Simon Sinek has an amazing TedTalk called Start With Why, the idea is that no one cares what you are doing until they know why you are doing it, although his talk is focused on marketing, it’s the same in life planning.

We often have ideas of what we should be doing, those things probably showed up when you did your brainstorming exercise. But often, these ideas aren’t really tied to the things that are important to us, instead they are things someone else told us we should want or that we think we SHOULD want. (Have I mentioned how much I don’t like SHOULD???)

So as you look at the list you wrote down, ask yourself Why are those things important to me? Do they make me feel accomplished, improve my relationships, move my health forward, my faith?

There are no wrong answers here, but making sure you have a solid WHY behind your “what” will allow you to connect to it on a deep level.

Once you are connected you’re invested. Once you’re invested you’ll take action. And in case you missed it earlier, it’s the action step that will make your vision board powerful.

3. Select Images & Quotes that Inspire

This is the step that most of us think about when we are making vision boards. Now is the time to select images and quotes that inspire you.

Don’t worry about what you think your board should look like, pick images that make you smile, increase your heart rate, or give you a slightly uncomfortable feeling…those are the ones that will help you stay motivated.

This past year I selected an image that had a woman speaking at a conference…it sort of terrifies me, but it is also a vision I have for my business

Including images that stretch you is good. It gives you something to work towards.

Make sure you also pick images that have the vibe you are going for, ones that inspire and excite you.

If you like bold colors, pick bold images. If you like more muted colors, pick those. I’m inspired by all things Farmhouse, so I picked images that had a lot of natural elements because that style visually motivates me.

I find images on Pinterest, in free stock photo websites like Unsplash and Pixaby, and of course in magazines. In our digital world, there is no shortage of images that inspire…so get creative and get digging.

Some clients like all images on their boards or walls, others like to add quotes or words that inspire them. Pick which one works for you.

Design something you’ll enjoy looking at, but don't get so PERFECTIONIST on me that you’re afraid to get started (you know who you are!)

The idea is to create something that will create an emotional and visual connection to your future…and don’t worry your future is going to look pretty awesome!

4. Post it somewhere you see it regularly

Put your vision board somewhere you’ll see it on a consistent basis. I keep mine in my home office where I work on my business. This is the place I go to feel grounded, encouraged, and excited about what I’m building with my business.

Since a lot of my goals are designed around this domain right now, it make sense. I know some women who like to post their board in their bathrooms because they see them each morning. It doesn’t really matter where you put it, just make sure you have an opportunity to reflect on the images every so often.

When you are looking at your board take a few minutes to FEEL the emotion tied to the images. If you did the deep work of figuring out your why, there should be a fairly significant emotional connection to most of your images.

Imagine what your life will look like and feel like when you achieve the goals or embody the quotes you picked. Get excited.

5. Take Action!

Okay my friends, now is the tough time.

This is the ONE and honestly only step that will determine if your vision board works.

Take action towards the vision you have for your life. Creating a vision board is powerful and motivating, but if you don’t take action it will just be the board you created that’s taking up space on your walls…yep that was harsh…I know.

But I know you are going to take one or two steps every day that move you closer to your goals…

If one of your goals was to complete a half marathon (maybe that’s just me), then make sure you schedule a run or two this week.

If one of your goals was to get out of debt, decide on a way to save $20 or $30 this week, then put that many towards the debt.

If one of your goals was to go on an amazing family vacation, start a list of place you might like to go and do that research!

Your actions don’t need to be crazy or grand, just consistent. Consistent action lead to success. Every time…I promise you’re going to get really tired of me saying that, but as your visual coach/drill instructor, that’s my job.

What’s one step you’re taking this week to move you toward your goals?

If you’d like to join me for my next Vision Board Workshop designed to inspire you and encourage you to reach ALL your dreams, just click the link below to save your seat.

YES! Save my seat for the next Vision Board Workshop

I offer in-person options in Colorado Springs and Denver and online options for my out-of-state friends. I’d love for you to join me.