Have you ever made a vision board? People think they’re either really cool or completely ridiculous. I believe they can help you remain focused and keep your goals in front of you. I think life can be hard, and you have to keep the big picture in mind or you’ll get lost in the details (and frustrations) of life. I’ve made vision boards from time to time, and I’m also big at writing down my goals. I’ve shared them here and I’ve talked about how being intentional with my goals even helped me to understand God and His love a little better.
I was watching Steve Harvey talk about his latest book (Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life’s Riches) on Oprah recently, and he mentioned that he had vision boards for all the things he wanted to get done. Think about that. He’s done a lot! Right now he’s hosting Family Feud, he has a daytime talk show, a radio show, and he’s a bestselling author. I think he is doing things right, showing the world what’s possible with God, giving gratitude, talking openly and crediting God, and doing work that inspires others to be better. Amen! I get inspired just thinking about the things he said and I definitely have his book on my “TBR” pile.
So I’m at a new phase, where I feel like God is pulling me in a direction and I want to honor it and pay attention. I want to make sure my goals align with the direction God wants me to take. So I made two vision boards, one for my personal life and one for my professional world. I think it’s important when we’re talking about vision boards that we understand what they can and can’t do.
For instance:
Vision Boards Are Good For:
- Making your goals intentional.
- Reminding yourself of where you’d like to be.
- Providing a visual way to express yourself.
Vision Boards Will Not:
- Do the work for you.
- Provide a magic way for you to get everything you want regardless of what you do.
- Guarantee you’ll get exactly what you want. Nothing guarantees that.
My opinion is that a vision board will help direct you. I love the idea of being more intentional and listening to God. So I gathered some pictures I thought showed where I’d like to be in both my professional and personal lives. In some ways, the goal is to continue on the same path, keep growing in my relationships, continue the work I’m doing. In other ways, the goals push me outside my comfort zone.
One reason vision boards work for me is because they help me figure out where God wants me. I can have all the plans in the world, but if it’s not where God thinks I should be it just ain’t gonna work. I’m not going to be fulfilled, I’m not going to do what I came on this earth to do, and each time I head off in the wrong direction, God will nudge me (or push, depending on how stubborn I’ve been) back to where I’m supposed to be. Each time I thought I’ve “failed” in my personal and professional life it’s turned out that God has been putting me back on the right path. (Sometimes I get this concept right away and sometimes it takes a while!)
For the vision boards, I gathered photos that represented where I wanted to be.
Then I glued them on. I grouped them into the different areas that they represented, with faith and God in the middle.
I wanted to put them up so I could see them everyday, but I’m limited on wall space in my office. Very limited. I basically have one wall. Not complaining, just saying. So I start blabbing about not being able to hang my vision boards anywhere and my husband says, “Your door is metal. Why not print them on a magnet sheet?” Huh? My door is metal? I had no idea. I didn’t know I could stick magnets to it. I love when I think I’m babbling and I’m sure he’s going to say something like “What on earth is a vision board?” or “Why would you make something so stupid?” and instead he doesn’t mock me at all but helps me figure it out. Love that. Thank you, honey!
So I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some magnet sheets. Then I realized I could not only print out my vision boards, but some artwork, too. Oh my! This just became my new favorite thing.
