The art of visualization works. I’ve seen it happen time and time again in my own life.
I think people get hung up on the idea of visualization when they over-think it or worry they’re doing it wrong. In reality, visualization is a simple, mindful practice to help to clarify our intention.
If you want something, visualize yourself already having it. Create a vision board with images to inspire your visualization. Clear your mind and focus on how you’ll feel when you get what you want. Imagine it until it because almost real.
Eventually, if you listen to your intuition and allow your subconscious to guide you, your goals will become a reality. If it sounds too good to be true, let’s further explore the art of visualization.
Why Visualization Works
Visualization is a real technique used by professionals and athletes for years. A standard part of sports training includes visualization.
Athletes imagine themselves going through the motions, hitting the ball, kicking the goal, getting a hole in one, and their body aligns to make it happen. In fact, visualization is so powerful that researchers found it almost has the same effect as physical practice.
Even us non-athletes can use visualization in our lives to bring about more of what we want. When we create a space for our desires, we prioritize them. When we envision the life we want, we align ourselves to make it happen.
A vision board is just that—a tool you create to remind you and guide you through the visioning process. On your vision board, you’ll put images of everything you want most in the world.
Then you’ll spend time visualizing yourself getting what you want. Like an athlete pictures themselves scoring the goal, you’ll picture yourself accomplishing your own goals. As you see it happen, your path becomes clear.
The universe provides us with the path we need to take to get what we desire. Visualization gives us the map to follow. Once the “how” is ingrained in our mind, we take the steps almost automatically. The Law of Attraction may feel like magic, but it’s actually a way of shifting our mindset and readying us to achieve our goals.
A vision board is an essential part of the art of visualization. Here’s how to create the tool to bring you the life you want to live.
The Art of Visualization: Creating a Vision Board
1. Write Down Your Outcomes
Before you create your vision board, spend time journaling, or making a list of the outcomes you want to achieve.
Some people like to do a vision board for a set period (a year, five years, etc.), while others create a general board for all their goals. Some people like to create a vision board for different areas like work, travel, or family. Others prefer to put it all on one board. There’s no right or wrong method.
As you write down what you want, think of your ideal life:
- What would it look like?
- How would it feel?
- What would your career look like?
- What would you enjoy doing?
- How would your relationships look?
- What type of home would you have?
- What goals would you want to achieve?
- How will you bring a sense of meaning and purpose to your life?
Now, as you sketch out the answers to these questions, write as though you’ve already accomplished the milestones. How does your life look and feel as you visualize achieving all your goals?
You may want to spend time journaling on your ideal life. Describe all aspects of your life—your relationships with friends and family, your career, your home, your health, your mindset. Write it like it’s already happened.
2. Find Images for Your Outcomes
Now that you have a clear idea of your ideal life and the goals you want to achieve, it’s time to find images to represent those accomplishments.
Choose clear, specific images. Choose images to evoke the feeling of achieving this outcome or pictures of the outcome itself. For example, if “feel more relaxed” is your goal, you may choose photos of a person who looks relaxed, or of relaxing imagery (a forest, a stream, a Zen garden, etc.).
Useful resources for images are:
- Google image
- Magazines
You may want to use word art on your vision board too. Choose words to evoke a certain feeling or goal you wish to achieve. Print and cut out the images. You could also draw pictures if you like. You could include other items to represent your goals like a feather, a postcard, even a check!
Actor Jim Carrey wrote himself a $10,000,000 check when he started acting. He wanted to become successful enough so he could cash the check someday. He carried it with him in his wallet until he finally achieved his goal. That’s the art of visualization!
3. Arrange Your Vision Board
Once you’ve assembled your images and the items you want to put on your vision board, it’s time to assemble your vision board.
There’s no rule or method you need to use to arrange the images on your board. You may want to group them by category. You may wish to lay them out on your board randomly. Do it in whatever way makes sense to you.
I find it’s best to lay the images out first before you start to glue them to your board. This process allows you to change the arrangement and move items around. It’s all about evoking the right feelings and creating a board you feel positive about.
Once you like how your board looks and it feels right to you, start gluing down the images.
4. Keep Your Vision Board Visible
When you’ve completed your vision board, you’re going to want to hang it in a prominent spot. It’s essential to practice visualization often and regularly.
Hang the board in your office, bedroom, or another spot you visit frequently. Choose a place you won’t brush past (like a cluttered bulletin board or a pile of paperwork). Take a picture of it and set it as the background of your phone.
As often as possible, meditate on the images of the vision board. Envision yourself already achieving all the items on the board. Think as though you already have all you want.
It’s also important to visualize positively. For example, rather than saying, “I’m never sick,” you want to say, “I’m always healthy.” If you’re picturing yourself avoiding something negative, it trips up your visualization and sends the wrong message to your subconscious (and the universe).
Imagine what it feels like to achieve all your goals. How does your life feel? What are your emotions? Paint as vivid a picture in your mind as possible.
5. Use the Art of Visualization to Guide Your Path
Your vision board becomes like a map for your subconscious. If you’re practicing visualization regularly, you’re tapping into your intuition. You’ll receive signals to tell you where to go or what to do.
Always think of what you would do if you already had what you wanted. If there’s a job you want, imagine what you wear to the office, what your work week looks like, what your clients look like, and who are they?
Once you’ve visualized, it’s time to follow the path. You know the direction now, all you need to do is align your actions with the life you want.
It’s crucial to practice visualization and review your path regularly. Add to your board as needed or revisit the board creation process each year. It’s very satisfying to look back at your board and realize how many items you’ve accomplished.
When you journal in the morning, you may want to reflect on your vision board regularly. What are you seeing come to fruition? What goals are you still working toward?
6. Stay Open to the Possibilities You Manifest
Now, I’ve found that possibilities aren’t always clear to us. We may look at a goal and think, “I have no idea how this will happen.”
It’s important not to let doubt sabotage your journey. Sometimes, the path isn’t obvious. The universe may present us with a conversation, an unexpected encounter, or an invitation.
Be open to the possibilities in front of you. If you’re aligning your life to your vision, you’ll encounter the situations to put you where you want to be.
It’s also important you don’t fear asking for what you want when the opportunity arises. So often, we’re afraid to reach out and get what we want even though it’s in front of us.
Asking may mean making farfetched or outlandish requests. Keep putting them out there. Who cares if someone thinks you’re weird or off-the-wall?!
If there’s an expert in your field, reach out to her and ask her to mentor you. If you want to live in a specific area, network with people who live there. Ask if they know of any opportunities. You’ll never get what you want if you don’t ask.
When you hit a roadblock, choose a different path or approach. Trust your intuition and listen to your gut; it’s steering you in the right direction. Roadblocks are often a sign we need to take a detour. They don’t mean what we want isn’t going to happen.
Each day, move toward aligning your life with your vision. When you act, ask yourself, “does this action get me closer to the life I want?” This question works whether you’re trying to lose weight, land a dream job, enjoy a loving relationship, or buy a new house. Take action to move you closer to your vision.
View your vision board and think about what you want. Keep directing your life toward the visual you’ve created.
Like an athlete (or a great visionary), you’ll quickly notice how automatic your path becomes. As soon as you’ve pictured yourself with the life you want, you’ll start to see how the universe lines up to provide you with your desired outcomes. This is because you’ve clarified your path; you know exactly where you should go.
The art of visualization works. Believe you can live your ideal life, and you’ll discover the way to make it happen.
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