Grab your scissors, glue, a poster board and some old magazines

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”  William Arthur Ward, author of Fountains of Faith and one of America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims. 
 

When you think about your goals, dreams or visions – what do they look like?

I had ideas floating around in my head of what I wanted my life to be, but nothing in writing.

It was all things I thought about "Someday" doing.

That's why I decided to make a vision or dream board.

I am encouraging you to make a vision or dream board. All you need are some old magazines, glue, a poster board or big piece of cardboard and scissors.

You have time to do this. I made my vision board while watching television. It was fun looking through magazines and finding words and pictures that I liked.

In the top, left corner is what I imagine my work life to be. I found a picture of a home office – because eventually that’s my goal to work from home as a writer. My goal is to write for national magazines, work on my book and write for a few of my favorite nonprofits including Mercy Corps and The Oregon Food Bank.

“Hire me,” “Write Your Novel” and Find Your True Calling” are a few of the words I cut out of magazines along with a quote from Leonardo Da Vinci that reads, “Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication” and pasted on my vision board.

In the bottom left corner, my goals such as losing weight, reducing debt and cooking smarter. In the right corner, I cut out pictures of things I want to do like go whitewater rafting with my kids and nephews Hayden and Alec. I even put what would be considered unattainable goals such as going to Europe and running the Portland Marathon. Yes, I may fail but it’s better to put the goal out there, then dismiss it.

The three favorite things I found in magazines where the words “I realized today is the day I write my own story,” “Inspired to Make a change” and a quote from Mary Oliver – “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

With a vision board, I can answer that question clearly. Here’s hoping you will make your own vision board and find your own answers to that question.