A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Your Waistline
With a new season, a new year, or a new chapter in our lives, we often reflect on the previous ones and think about what we hope to accomplish in the next. Many people turn to a vision board to see in images what they want their future to look like. While a vision board can be a helpful tool for goal setting, I often notice it can also hold people back.
Here’s what I often see. We’ll call this person Joe for our example. Joe creates their vision board, adding a photo of a house with four pillars and a double door and an ad for the exact make and model of the car they hope to own. Fast forward, Joe is shopping for a home and finds one with two pillars and a single door. Joe thinks, “Well, that’s not it, it doesn’t look exactly like the picture on my vision board,” and dismisses the house.
We can get so attached to the specifics of the images we pinned on our vision board that we miss opportunities right in front of us because we’re stuck on the details. I often remind my clients that many experiences and opportunities are steppingstones for personal growth. Most of the time, we can’t see exactly how everything will fit together in the moment.
Another reason vision boards can limit us is that they rely on what we can imagine or find in images. What if what’s ahead of you is far bigger than what your current imagination allows? What if your future is beyond the boundaries of the pictures you can create today?
Here’s a different approach. Instead of focusing on the “things” you want, focus on how you want to feel. Why do you want that car? Does it give you a feeling of freedom or confidence? For me, I seek ease, joy, and flow in all areas of life. On my vision board, I include images that connect to those feelings. I have a picture of a private plane, not because I want the plane itself, but because it evokes the feeling of being able to pick up and go wherever I want, whenever I want.
The key to a limitless mindset is connecting to the feelings those images represent. A business coaching client once told me they wanted to pay off all their debt this year. I asked, “How will paying off your debt make you feel?” They said, “Like a weight lifted off me. I’ll feel lighter and freer.” They added a photo of a bird flying through the sky to their vision board, symbolizing that feeling. You don’t need a vision board with pictures if that’s not your style. If you meditate, focus on the feelings of what you want. If you journal, write about them. Whatever method you choose, connecting to the feelings daily will guide your decisions.
The next step is noticing those feelings as they show up, regardless of how life presents them. A few years ago, I shifted full-time jobs. It wasn’t yet the fully self-employed life I imagined, but it felt closer than my previous role. The change made my life lighter and freer and gave me the time to build my business on the side. Less than three years later, I left that job entirely to focus on my self-employed work. Using the feelings from your vision board as a barometer can guide your choices in life and career.
All in all, the traditional way of creating a vision board may limit your personal growth. As we move through the year, this is a perfect time to revisit your goals. Focus on images that evoke the feelings you want, not just the exact house, car, or career path. As you move through the rest of the year, say yes to what shows up and feels aligned with your desires. With a limitless mindset and intentional goal setting, your life can unfold in ways bigger and more incredible than you imagined.