What’s Your Vision?

(c) Tasra Dawson

At the beginning of January, I always like to set goals and create a vision for my life in the new year. I don’t set resolutions because they are too easily broken or forgotten. My goals are clear, specific, and I attach a specific set of actions and dates for when I plan to put them into practice. Of course, as with all things, they don’t always go as planned. But, more often than not, the mere act of writing them down where I can see them and revise them throughout the year helps them stay ever present in my mind.

This year, I took it to a higher level by creating a visual representation of my goals after I wrote them down. So now I have the words and deadlines, but also a picture that my mind can focus on. This is a strategy that I used when I was teaching junior high as well. I would have my students think about what they wanted to learn, improve upon, or get out of our time together. Then they would create a collage out of photos, pictures, and words. We assembled the collage on an 81/2 x 11 sheet of colored cardstock and I would then have them insert the completed collage into the front of their binder so they would constantly be reminded of their focus.

Creating a vision board or something similar is an idea that was mentioned on Oprah last week as well when she was talking about the new movie, The Secret. Their philosophy behind the vision board is similar to mine in that it helps remind you of where you want to go.
You can see my vision board in the photo. It’s not quite complete because I need to revise the “home” photos. Although I’d love to have a big, beautiful home, after putting up those photos, I realized that having a home like that isn’t really my goal. So I’m going to change those photos to a few photos of a friend of mine at an orphanage in Africa. I want my work and income to be able to help others who don’t even have a home or money to go to school. But you can see that the board is a collage of plans (travel, vacation, writing), goals (career, speaking, photography, family), and dreams (trip to Paris, Oprah magazine feature).

You can’t see it clearly in the photo, but at the very center of my layout is a picture of black lava in Hawaii with white rocks spelling out, “All things are possible with God.” In my layout and in my life, this is the center and source of everything. As I am blessed with abundance and success, I am able to give back and generously support those in need.

Give it a try…it’s just one more way to create the life and layouts you’ve always wanted!

So why not give it a try if you haven’t created one already. It can be any size, but here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Use pictures, images, and words that evoke a positive response and feeling.
2. The more realistic and detailed your images, the easier it is to be inspired when looking at your board.
3. Keep it in front of you, either on the wall, in a binder, at your desk or somewhere close at hand.
4. Feel free to revise and update your vision as things change.
5. Be sure to keep your board balanced by including images from various aspects of your life, i.e. Work, family, friends, travel, etc.
6. Dream big and aim high. If you’d like your book to be a NY Times Bestseller, then create a mock review and bestseller list.

You can see my vision board in the photo. It’s not quite complete because I need to revise the “home” photos. Although I’d love to have a big, beautiful home, after putting up those photos, I realized that having a home like that isn’t really my goal. So I’m going to change those photos to a few photos of a friend of mine at an orphanage in Africa. I want my work and income to be able to help others who don’t even have a home or money to go to school. But you can see that the board is a collage of plans (travel, vacation, writing), goals (career, speaking, photography, family), and dreams (trip to Paris, Oprah magazine feature).

You can’t see it clearly in the photo, but at the very center of my layout is a picture of black lava in Hawaii with white rocks spelling out, “All things are possible with God.” In my layout and in my life, this is the center and source of everything. As I am blessed with abundance and success, I am able to give back and generously support those in need.

Give it a try…it’s just one more way to create the life and layouts you’ve always wanted!