Blog > Vision Board > How Vision Boards Help You Achieve Your Goals
A vision board brings together visualization and reinforcement to visualize your aspirations and to take action steps towards them. Being daily reminders, they help remind you where you’re going and motivate and clarity you. But vision boards are no magic, they really work best when you take action, spit out a plan and make sure you hold yourself accountable.
But what are vision boards, how do they work, and what’s their psychology behind it? Let’s delve into how vision boards work and the psychology of it, and practical tips that will help maximize your vision board’s effectiveness.
Using vision boards takes advantage of your brains ability to see what you want. Repeating to your mental vision what your future you’s hopes from you today helps your mind to develop the idea that what is imagined is not simply imagined, but real, a process called mental rehearsal.
Example: Visualization involves athletes using their minds to practice winning a race, or a skill, in their head. Likewise, you rehearse success daily by using a vision board.
Your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) filters the information that passes through it based on your focus. A vision board is a way for your RAS to get in the habit of noticing opportunities, resources and connections that align with your goals, by creating the vision.
Example: When your vision board reads “start a business,” your RAS will literally bring you ‘conversation, articles, and opportunities’ related to this.
Seeing your goals visually helps you to maintain optimism and stay motivated. The focus is continuous, and it builds resilience and motivation even in the middle of the challenges.
Very specific, measurable goals for at least half a dozen key areas of life: health, career, relationships, finances, to name just a few.
Example: Instead of, “Get in shape,” say, “I want to lose 15 pounds in three months, doing four workouts a week.”
What images, quotes, and symbols really speak to you? Select them and experiment with making sense of life by connecting to them. A generic one is much less powerful than an individual one.
Visibility is key. Show off your vision board in your room, where you work or as a desktop wallpaper each day to resound the goals that you are trying to achieve.
Make it a habit to check out your vision board from time to time and make sure your aspirations are still on it. Change it to be updated with new goals or progress.
Vision boards on their own won’t get you there. Then pair them with consistent effort, actionable steps.
Example: If your vision board looks like saving up for a dream vacation, set a monthly savings plan to make it happen.