New Year Vision Boards

A new year, a new vision?

 

It’s the time of the year when we feel driven (or pressured) to set new goals, to create some improved version of our former selves. Many of these goals are linked to family, friendships, health and career. It’s ironic that this is the time we’re tasked to take on new challenges when we are at our most tired state. The holidays have just come to an end. We are partied out and just getting back into the grind can seem daunting, let alone adding new routines and ambitious tasks to the agenda.

 

Why do we do this to ourselves?

 

Yes, the new year can feel like a rebirth; a chance to do life differently for the year ahead. But in an age where we are all so focused on doing things better, improving and growing and perfecting ourselves sometimes we lose sight of what’s really important.

 

Let me suggest a different way: creating a visioning board. I think vision boards are a great replacement for resolutions. For those of you who don’t know, a vision board is a unique visual display of what you want in your life. It’s a picture collage that sums up your vision of a good life. It can be filled with items or experiences you hope to have one day or it can be one picture that represents peace and tranquility. It doesn’t need to have a due date or a measurable goal. It captures values and feelings. It can be eye opening to discover what catches your eye as you search for images and ponder why? What is it about this picture of a man and women holding hands across a table that is stirring positive emotions in me? Ah – I want that closeness with my partner too! A vision board can represent a single year or many years in the future. It’s a beacon you are moving towards, not goals that you might hit or miss. The best part of all is that it is completely up to you….and there are no rules.

 

Vision boards can also make for a great family activity on a cold and snowy day. You can each make your own, or try making a collective family vision board together. I promise you will learn lots about your children when they reveal what’s important to them. You can chose whether you want to put the boards on display somewhere in your home or perhaps privately in one’s own room. Catching a glimpse of the vision board daily is a reminder of what is important to us and it will move us in that direction but without the stress.

 

I am hoping you’ll share some pictures of your family’s vision boards with me!