“Your brain will work tirelessly to achieve the statements you give your subconscious mind. And when those statements are the affirmations and images of your goals, you are destined to achieve them!” – Jack Canfield, coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series

The New Year is a time for reflection and rest and is an incredible opportunity to harness the power of visualization. Vision boards ‒ physical or digital manifestations of your goals, dreams, and desires ‒ are a popular way to practice visualization. But this isn’t about simply placing images on a board and expecting your goals to be manifested while the board’s stashed in a closet. Placing your vision board in a location where you can see it regularly serves as a constant reminder of your aspirations, which is key!

Our minds respond to visual stimuli, so simply seeing these images can activate powerful emotions. These emotions help internalize the future these images represent. The law of attraction states that positive thoughts bring positive results and putting your desires into the world will help manifest them.

How to Create a Vision Board

Keep goals simple and attainable. You can create a vision board for your ultimate future life, but creating a board for just 12 months out allows you to be more realistic about what you can achieve and accomplish in a shorter time.

Step one: Get clear on what you would like to manifest and invite into your life.

Once you’ve figured out what you want to manifest, whether it’s a new job or a new home in a new city, it’s time to illustrate this visually. Collect images that represent the future you’d like to create; they’ll serve as a reminder of what your journey is about. These images can come from magazines and social media, contain inspirational quotes, or contain anything else you want.

Step two: Divide your board into sections.

One section can apply to health and well-being; another can focus on love, relationships, and community. You may use one part of your board to represent physical goals, such as a house or a car, that trip to Japan or Paris, or a fancy restaurant you’ve been dreaming of going to for a while. I recommend leaving a blank space on your board to add new inspirations as the year progresses.

Step three: If there are quotes or affirmations you find particularly inspirational, include them.

Anything that supports good feelings and good vibes belongs on your board. Your board should be an authentic reflection of who you are as well as the life you wish to create. Also, select images and colors you feel a connection to. You might be surprised by what you learn about yourself during this process.

Step four: Keep your vision board in sight.

This can be on your nightstand or in your bathroom. You want it to be noticeable so that you can spend time each day visualizing, affirming, believing in, and embodying your goals. The optimal time to spend visualizing is in the evening, just before bedtime. The images that are present in your mind during the 45 minutes immediately before going to sleep are the ones that will replay in your subconscious mind throughout the night.

Step five: Practice your visualizations consistently.

During this time, be sure to acknowledge your achievements along the way and be grateful for everything you’ve accomplished. And don't remove the images of the goals you have already achieved! These serve as a powerful reminder of what you’ve already consciously attracted into your life.

Accepting the Process in Order to Grow and Evolve

It’s normal to feel some level of anxiety along this path ‒ they can come from reflecting on decisions you’ve made that don’t align with the life you’re manifesting. Be gentle with yourself and be sure to incorporate self-care and self-love. Surrender to the unknown and the infinite number of possibilities.

When you’ve made enough vision boards to be able to look back on them, you’ll be able to take note of what you once dreamt of or thought was significant but may no longer be as meaningful.

Long ago, my vision board would have been filled with flashy, material things. Now my board is filled with experiences that align with my soul, living a life full of passion and purpose while serving and supporting others.

Dreams change because we do. As you continue to grow and evolve, your vision boards will chronicle not only your dreams but your expansion, too.