A vision board is a concrete tool to give your goals shape, speak to the future, and guide you. Some people believe this activity stimulates the subconscious so you can program your mindset. It helps you bring situations into your life in line with your core goals.
It’s the intricate merging of the will to write and a feeling you must write. Practice your craft in a way that aligns with this vision.
This endeavor is unique to you as you discover your own deeper goals, desires, and creativity. Think of it as a map, no matter how convoluted it becomes, in your journey. It’s a step by step to what you want to achieve.
Reflect on your goals as the writer you are and the author you will be. Think about the biggest goals you can have.
Somethings Things Worth Considering
- Why do you think you need to write?
- The feeling people have when they read your work?
- Is what you stand for clear?
- How do you want to be remembered?
- What do you think people will treasure in your writing?
The Big Five
If you haven’t checked out the Big-Five, do it. It will give you some insight to help you get started. The Big-Five model is the most scientifically sound way of sorting personality. It takes ten minutes or less to do and is free. It will help you consider more things to put on your vision board. https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-test
A Few More Things to Think About After You Take The Big-Five
- What, in your view, is worth writing about, and is there a theme?
- What makes writing valuable to you and worth doing?
- What will you write that you hope people will remember?
- The skills you want to improve.
- Your writing career goals?
- How will people remember you?
Based on what you’ve learned about your core goal to write, the will, and why you write, it’s time to decide what you want. What will be the focus of your board?
It can grow over time. You don’t need to fill it up now. Leave some space for later. Collect images from any source you can lay your hands on. To be honest, I prefer the internet in this part of the project. Google the subject or theme you are after and do an image search. Pinterest is another resource of visual content and is becoming my favorite source for things like this.
Inspire and Affirm Only in Second Person
Put inspirational and affirmative statements on your board. Only, make them in second person statements. Current research has found that statements for you made in the second person have a more positive effect.
So, don’t write, “I can do it.” Instead, write, “You can do it.”
Affirmative and positive statements are sayings you can repeat to yourself as an intonation, your own private mantra.
Positively frame these pronouncements. Stay away from subtle negative thoughts that could creep into your thinking.
Don’t say to yourself, “I won’t stop writing after one week like I always do.” The negative tone of this statement will just beat you up, and you don’t deserve that.
Instead, say something like, “You’re going to have some fun, you get to write today.” Saying something like this before you write each day will make it come true for you.
Words to Dream By
Come up with your own maxims, you’re a creative so you can do it. Also, search online for positive quotes, affirmations, and inspirational content. All should fit well with your theme and goals.
Other Sources of Content for Your Vision Board
- Pictures of people who inspire you
- Quotes that can inspire or affirm you in some way
- Swag that you picked up at a conference
- Make a cover image of your future book
- Images you find moving.
- A snazzy postcard
- A photo of you surrounded by your vision
Assemble Your Vision
You probably already have in mind how to make your vision board. I recommend a physical board. This way you can put it where you can see it. The best place is where you write. The next-best site is where you drink your morning coffee, in my opinion.
This is not to discount having it on your computer, tablet, or phone. I can see the value of carrying your vision as you go about your day. If you end up writing wherever you are, it’s a perfect choice.
Choose the presentation that best fits your needs that you’ll actually use, see it, and reflect on it.
Tell Your Story
Now it’s time to assemble your vision. Take all the items you collected and begin to arrange them on your board. Don’t paste them down yet. Move them around until you have what feels right.
Then, place your board where you can see it daily.
Now, when you look at your vision, don’t just glance at it.
Really, look at it and follow the story it tells. Your vision board should take you on a journey, and the destination is your inspiration.
Do this at least once a day and commit to spending a few minutes studying the contents of your vision board. Focus and tell yourself the story it reveals.
If you’ve incorporated quotes and affirmations, say them out loud, so they stick.
Remember, this is about your journey, not only the result. Think of it as an illustrated process that takes you toward your ultimate goal and the steps you’ll be taking to get there.
A Dream Written Down Becomes…
I read an interesting article about manifestations. A group of university students was divided into two groups. One group was to visualize receiving an “A” at the end of the class. The second group was to visualize the steps to take to receive an “A” for the class.
At the end of the study, the two groups were compared. The findings, the group that visualized the steps and took action, did better than the group that relied on visualization alone.
Greg S. Reid summed this up in a succinct way to easily remember.
A dream written down becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes dreams come true.
My Vision Board
A vision board can have any shape or design that best suits your purpose. As a creative, spend the time to make it yours.
I divided mine into four sections.
- My Springboard. These are things I already have in place that have gotten me to the point in my writing career today. These could be skills, wins, and strengths you want to rely on to carry you to your ultimate destination.
- Acquire. This is for things I feel I need to further refine to get me to where I want to be. I like to put self-study improvements or skill books to read. Finding a mentor could go here. Positive affirmations that support your goals will strengthen this area.
- Current steps. What do you want to accomplish now? I like to blend items from My Springboard and things to Acquire with current goals. Is there a retreat or conference you’re going to? Put it down. Do you plan to enter a writing contest? Put that in this section as well.
- The Future. I made a mock-up of the book I’m writing and pasted it here. That’s my single focus for this board. If you’re wondering where to make your own mock-up visit, Canva. Their free version is versatile and works well enough to accomplish this and much more.
Make your vision board your own. It’s a powerful tool to manifest your vision. Action taken here is something concrete you can do step by step.
When you study the story, your vision, it tells you about the daily decisions you’ll make this day.
Pep Talk
Reframe all you do, your writing, in terms of your purpose and your vision. You’re on Earth to do this one type of work. This is your calling.
I know, heady stuff, but it’s true when you think about it. Who else but writers would pull out of themselves, sacred treasures of their being, and lay them bare on a blank page?
It’s your certainty in a jumbled world. Don’t remain lost to yourself and lost to the answers you will discover.
Be true and authentic. Be good at being you.