How-To's: How to create a vision board

Welcome to 2012!


The year of the Dragon! Well, not technically yet since the Chinese New Year is celebrated on January 23rd this year. Nonetheless, according to ancient China, the celestial Dragon represents an emperor and  power. Today, it  is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness. 


Not a bad way to set the tone for the New Year. I'm all for mega success and happiness galore!


However, with the pressures of the New Year comes the dreaded New year resolutions. So, a few of my friends reached out to ask me if there was a fun and creative way to list out resolutions instead of writing them out on a blank, boring, uneventful piece of paper.


Of course there's a fun way to incorporate your goals and aspirations in a colorful inspiring way.


It's called a vision board! :)


It's super easy and inexpensive. Here's what you'll need:


A foam board (you can get one at Michael's, Target, etc.)
Scissors
Magazine
Glue or double stick tape (whichever you have laying around)

So as I mentioned, instead of writing down.."loose 30 lbs." or ..."organize my blah-blah"....or "go to the gym everyday for an hour of yackity-yak", why not cut out a few words and pictures that will get your motivated? 


Here's what I mean...

Want more love and happiness in your life?
Add a caption to remind you of what's to come :)

Not feeling confident with that presentation tomorrow? Will you be at a party where you hardly know the crowd?
Nah-ah honey, you got this! SMILE! You are all day FIERCE! *snaps*

Dreaming of a day where you can be pampered like the Queen (or King!) that you are?
Stick this baby on your board and you're on your way!

Procrastinating much? Imagine the things you can achieve by what
 you can DO NOW.

Get the idea? You can make it as linear or as colorful as you'd like. It could be about anything you feel you need more of in your life or places you dream of going or would like to re-visit, your dream home, your dream career, etc. 

Be creative! Dream BIG! BE BOLD!

Here's one I've created for travel :)

 You can can create more than one vision board and make it as simple or as elaborate as you wish.Once you've completed your own personal board, place it to where you can see it so you can be reminded of the steps you need to take in order to be closer to your dreams and goals.


I hope this encourages you to  create your own vision board filled with pictures of fun and wonderful things and words of encouragement. Feel free to post pictures of your vision board on my FB fan page. I'd love to see them!
Here's to attracting more happiness and success in your life this Year of the Dragon 2012. 

Laugh, Love, Live Positive

Inspiration: New Year, New Fears

As I type this, I hear Oprah in the background talking about her new network appropriately called OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). She talks about how certain experiences at this point in her life that continue to provide her with "Aha!" moments. She further discusses her adventures in this new project, which allows her to continue to grow as an individual. She felt a bit nervous of taking on an entire network but expressed that in order to grow as an individual, we have to "step into our fears and walk through it."

The new year can be daunting. The demands we place upon ourselves to loose weight, stop smoking, get organized, get out of debt, get the new "it" tech gadget, or whatever new year's resolution we plan to achieve or obtain successfully. Unless we come from a place of genuine intention to move forward with our resolutions, then our plans are flawed. Often the pressure to accomplish becomes overwhelming to which we riddle our thoughts with self-sabotage. Before you know it we are ruled by anxiety - which will be the collapse of our well-meaning plan to loose weight, stop smoking, etc, etc.

What we fail to realize is by stepping into our fears, we have to be ready for a change. If we step into our fears as a motivator for change, then our chances of a positive outcome will be greater once we commit to facing them.

My opinion? The best way to eradicate fear is educate yourself of whatever it is that creeps you out with an objective point of view.

For instance, if you're anxious to start a new smoking cessation program, read up on the negative impacts smoking does to your body with an impartial mind - no judgements. Treat it like a case study. Once you've faced your fears with the knowledge of the havoc smoking does to your body, read about the positive effects your body goes through once you stop smoking. The commitment to have an open heart coupled with the willingness receive the facts with an open mind is the key to your success.

Next, you have to surround yourself with people to aid you with accomplishing your goal. Oprah has an entire army of producers, assistants, and creative people to help her realize her dreams. Ultimately, she would have the final say with what is presented in her programs. If you plan to join a smoking cessation program (surround yourself with like minded people) which The American Heart Association strongly supports for smokers who are prepared to quit, commit to work at it everyday. Eventually, once you've completed the program the responsibility lies in you to persist to effectively attain your goal.

So with the new year, let's dare to face our fears and grow as individuals. Let's dare ourselves to speak in public, to give a stranger our most winning smile, to start a blog, to introduce yourself at a party, to start a business, to learn a new skill and a slew of other fears that no longer serve us.

We need to begin the year with positivity, gratitude, hope and an open heart ready to shame the face of fear and purge out hearts from False Emotions Appearing Real.


Laugh, Love, Live Positive