Another year has passed and all of a sudden January 1st rolls around leaving you in disarray of where the last year went. Why do we always feel like the year flew by and we didn't accomplish what we set out to do? I can tell you exactly why you may be feeling this way...you likely did not capture your goals in a visible way or take inventory of where you were in achieving those goals throughout the year. 

Life gets crazy, things get hectic and then BAM! It's a new year and you're left looking at a pile of rubble where your aspirations used to be. Most people make resolutions around this time, but we all know that those well-intended resolutions tapper off after a couple months and then we get back to life as we knew it, just like in years prior. But not this time. Not this year. 2022 is YOUR year to shine and I'm going to show you exactly how to capture your ambitions in a way that you can reflect back on your progress towards those goals. 

Year after year, you probably sit down and make goals and dream about your future, right? They may get written down on a piece of paper but what is the likelihood of you finding that paper in a month from now? I often did this myself, wrote down my goals for the year and then I would go talk to my children and encourage them to make goals too. I think the best way to guide our future generations is through them watching us "do" instead of telling them how to do. When you take time to document what you aspire to achieve for the year, it shows your commitment to going after what you want. It shows that you have drive to obtain the outcomes you desire. As basic as possible, it's setting an example for our children on how to set goals and how to achieve them. And it gives us a way to hold ourselves accountable to the progress we desire that often times slips through the cracks.

This year...we capture those dreams and goals using a Vision Board!!!

This process is an important life skill that could be the difference between success and failure. 

Have A Vision...Set Goals...Work Hard For Them...

And Always Make Sure You Are Drinking From The Right Cup!!!

You may be wondering what a vision board is...and it's simply what the title implies, a board that will house all your visions for the coming year that you want to achieve. This poster board activity let's you get your goals out of your head and down on paper without having to use a single word. They say a picture is worth a thousand words...and I would have to agree. What may seem like a silly art project is actually one of the most powerful tools in creating lasting change toward what you envisioned your life to be. Once you make it, you put it up in a special place that you will see every day to keep your eye on the prize of leaning forward.

A vision board can be extremely impactful for everyone in your family, assuming they have the cut and glue skills in the bag. And even if they don't, this is a great way to bond with your younger child while you help them make their board with your refined adult skillset. 

For young children, a vision board helps them clarify their desires for this upcoming year and it gives them a tangible reminder to keep reaching high and to celebrate their achievements.

For tweens and teens, a vision board helps keep their fire lit to take steps toward accomplishing their own individual vision for themselves and it opens a line of communication with parents as hot topics they can be a part of...it's like reading their mind for inspiration and what motivates them!

For adults, a vision board is often overlooked but can be one of the most powerful tools to help propel ourselves toward the end result we desire. We can make a mental list, we can make a physical list, and we can write it out all day long, but it doesn't make a tangible picture in our mind until we achieve that goal. A vision board illustrates our wants and is so much more powerful than reading words. Having this board to look back on throughout the year keeps you on track when you fall off the rails towards obtaining what you first sought out to do. It's never too late to get back on the train and seeing a picture of what you desire will make you reach that much further and go the extra mile to obtain it.

Figuring out where to start is actually easier than you may think. By looking inward, start with your hobbies, your interests, what excites you...think about how you want those things to apply to your life forward looking. For example, if your vision is to spend more time together as a family, your vision board may revolve around doing more day trips, outings, or vacations together. In this case, think about what you want to do with your family, what activities you think would strengthen your bond while giving a fun environment for everyone to enjoy! If you have obstacles to overcome before you can enjoy those activities, include those as well. Another example, if you want to start hiking but don't have the energy or need to lose some weight to be more active, add that to the vision board too and as you smash that goal it will be leading into your next one which is all the more fulfilling on the inside!

You may have so many things in your head that you want to accomplish that it becomes a cluster trying to decide what you want to include this year. If you have long term goals and short term goals, you can certainly make two separate boards, or you can modify however it feels right. Short term goals would classify as an action this year whereas long term goals would be things that take multiple years to achieve.

 If this is your first vision board ever, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

The purpose of this vision board is not to throw it in the back of the closet when you're all finished. Ideally, it should be hanging somewhere you can see daily or in a spot you can easily access to view it. Understanding, you may not be keen on having your artwork displayed in your bedroom...it is a great way to keep your eye on the ball and not waiver as life comes at you. The more you see the visions you documented throughout the year, the more you'll want to go grab them and you'll start making moves to get the results you want.

It's also extremely encouraging to have your children post their vision boards in their rooms as well because it gives you insight into what's important to them. This also gives the opportunity for you to encourage ongoing conversations about how your child is working toward their goals on their vison board. This is especially important when it comes to your tweens and teens because while communication with this age group can sometimes be hard, a picture isn't hard to read and you can be there for your child in a way they have not experienced before.

Today is a fresh start to live the intentional life you want...the life you envisioned...it's up to you on whether you go grab hold of that life vision or not. I will leave you with my all-time, absolute favorite quote by Henry Ford: