7 Steps to Help Achieve Your Vision Board Goals

By now the average person has made a decision to commit to a set of goals, resolutions or strategic steps which they feel will give them the best leverage to achieving success.  Vision Boards encourage participants to cut and paste a visual representation of who they want to become, what they want to attain or where they want to go by the end of the year.

I prefer to create my vision board during the last quarter of the previous year and have a 3-month head start in accomplishing my goals.  Vision Boards and Goal Posters are only as effective as the working plan to accomplish the indicated goals. To have a vision board but no plan to execute upon is like having a nicely created collage.

Here are Seven proven steps that will help make the vision a reality:

1. Understand the “Why” behind your vision.  Why are you willing to set a goal? Who will benefit? How will it impact your life or the lives of your loved ones? Your “Why” should be big enough that when you want to quit it serves as a reminder of why you can’t.  It should be so big that you’re willing to commit daily to the remaining 6 steps in order to achieve the goal. If you don’t have a strong “Why”, when times get difficult and moments of failure arise, you will walk away rather than stay and fight to finish.
2. Document your tasks with a planner or journal. The Vision Board is only the outcome that you are working towards.  You will need a documented game plan of the steps that will hold you accountable to what you visualize. Investing in a good planner can be the one tool that propels your success.  The expectation is for planning and documenting tasks daily. Journaling can be incorporated into your planner or used separately.  I recommend a Gratitude Journal with daily recordings of why you are grateful. The more grateful we are the more great things we open ourselves to receive.
3. Quantify your vision board with the data necessary to achieve the goal.  For example, if you have a goal to lose weight you should record your current measurements and photos as well as the measurements you want to achieve.  Create the plan for any dietary changes, scheduled times for meals, exercise schedule, and frequency. It may be  beneficial to track calories, water intake, and periodic weigh-ins. The idea here is to document where you currently are, and the results that you desire.  Create the game plan on paper for achieving the final numbers you want to achieve. Goals need a date, otherwise, they become endless and failed dreams.
4. Keep your vision board where you can see it daily. If you work from home than your workspace is a great place to hang your board.  However, the bedroom is also a great place so that you can see it more frequently.  I go a step further and make my board the screen saver on my phone and computers.  The more you see the vision and begin imagining that it will become your new reality, the more likely you will do the work. Pay attention to “progress” as you review the board multiple times during the day and recommit as needed.
5. Believe in your ability to achieve your goals. Making a Vision Board is probably the easiest step in goal setting. The more challenging process is changing your belief system so that you can actually bring the goal into fruition.  Your mindset will have the greatest impact on whether you win or fail. Our beliefs begin with how we think, so we have the power to change our belief system by changing our thoughts.  Reading personal development, listening to motivational speeches, meditating and prayer are all excellent ways to shift how you think. Believing in your process and ability requires daily renewal and focus. It’s okay to follow the path of someone who has achieved what you want.  There is no reason to re-invent the process, simply use a path that has been proven.
6. Align your speech with your vision. If the words you speak contradict the visualization that you’ve created then you have restricted your potential for success.  For example, if your goal is to start a business, you would want to refrain from verbiage that hinders your belief. “I’m hoping to start a business but its hard”, or, “I want new customers but I’m not good at sales”. Say only what matches the outcome you want. “I’ve started a business and with consistency, I know I will win”, or, “I attract new customers daily with my passion and integrity”.  Can you see the difference?
7.  Find an Accountability Partner. Someone who believes in your vision and understands where you’re trying to go.  Give them a copy of your strategy game plan and have regular check-ins with them to report your progress.  This will create consistency, but most importantly, you will have someone who won’t let you out of your commitment to yourself and your “WHY”.

I love vision boards and I’ve taught my children to use them.  There has never been a “WHY” that wasn’t strong enough for me to succeed.  Don’t be afraid to re-create your vision boards mid year if adjustments need to be made.  I do a similar smaller visual in my planner for the month as I break down the strategy to accomplishing my goals. Do what works for you, just make sure you do SOMETHING!

Habakkuk 2:3 New Living Translation

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.