AS we celebrate the New Year, many people will be looking for ideas to help them achieve their resolutions. Many people believe that the New Year is a time where we can “start over”, learn from our mistakes and do better in certain instances. While I respect these beliefs, I also want to remind you that having a mindset or an idea alone is sometimes not enough to achieve life goals. Thinking about losing weight in the gym is not the same as actively planning and executing a gym routine into your everyday life. I believe this is why having a vision board can be very important, especially for young people.
When a vision board comes to mind, you might flash back to aesthetic boards on Pinterest. While you can make a vision board that looks creative and fun, it’s more than the aesthetic. A vision board can outline the priorities, goals, objectives, and future plans you may have in mind, while also providing a step-by-step process for accomplishing them. You can answer some of the following burning questions that often come up during the New Year: “What kind of life do I envision in the New Year?”, “What versions of myself do I want to take over?” or, “Who do I see myself becoming?”
The vision board should not only allow you to answer these questions, but it should also allow you to find clarity on how to achieve these objectives. You can use the opportunity to list people who are needed in your circle to achieve these goals, the support you’ll need, the resources or network you hope to gain, the social media growth you hope to attain, the skills you need to develop, or the old habits that ought to be changed.
Sometimes, when we lay out our plans and the steps needed to get there, we gain further clarity and insight. For some, visuals are the best way to map out certain concepts and better understand them. As such, a vision board can help bring your imagination to life and give you a glimpse into what your life can actually look like if you work intentionally towards certain goals.
The vision board should not be a silent piece of art sitting on your wall; it should be a constant reminder and a source of motivation. It is also not a one-size-fits-all board. Everyone’s board may look different for the New Year because our priorities and goals are all different. While some of us may want to get married or to graduate with perfect grades, some people’s objective for the New Year is simply to pay their rent and survive. It is not always glamorous; sometimes it’s simply a realistic priority for survival, and that is okay to celebrate too. When we think about the future, there is often a lot of anxiety and uncertainty surrounding it. As such, a vision board can foster hope and confidence as we venture forward into the New Year.
You don’t need fancy ideas or materials to create a vision board. In fact, you can use your mobile device to do it. However, remember it is more than a collage of pictures and ideas. It should be created with intention and a sense of commitment.
Remember that it is never too late to create a vision board, even if you don’t do it in the New Year—you can feel free to create one any time of the year for any specific purpose or goal. You can also strive to create a vision board beyond material goals and wealth. Personally, I want to include topics such as personal boundaries and the values I want to uphold to continue my personal growth as a young adult. The New Year is not a blank page; it’s simply a continuation of unfinished plans and goals we set for ourselves. A vision board is a visual conversation with yourself about the path you can choose to take to reach the destination you want to see yourself in.
I think New Year’s resolutions are also great, but they mostly focus on short-term goals. At the same time, a vision board allows you to think far beyond that. A New Year’s resolution might mean a diet to lose weight, but a vision board can help you live a healthier lifestyle in the long term, with the food you envision yourself eating, the types of groceries you plan to buy, and the number of calories you intend to consume daily. If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of a vision board, then you need to create one. It is meant to challenge you, not impress you. A vision board might not guarantee success and achievement of all the goals you set for yourself. However, it keeps you grounded on the right course to accomplish the things you envision for yourself, and that, by itself, is already powerful.
