The Power of Creating a Dream Board
After living in our house for 21 years, we are now packing for a move to our new home. It’s a dream come true for me because I’ll be steps from the lake in my hometown. We are moving to a smaller house now that our girls are in university, so we’ve been editing our belongings. Some items I tossed were my dream boards.
A dream board (also called a vision board) is a visual of the things/experiences you want to draw into your life. It can also include images of things that are important to you (your values) or strengths you want to develop.
My dream boards were important to me at one time, so I photographed them before they hit the recycling bin. I wanted to share them with you and let you know that the simple task of cutting out pictures that speak to you has the power to attract those things into your life.
Pictured below is my first dream board, which I created at a ‘find your passion’ workshop in the late nineties. Although I didn’t know what my next career would be, there are images of orderly homes, red rocks and mind/body connections. Shortly after creating this, I began my career as a professional organizer, traveled to see the red rocks in Sedona and trained as a life coach. I cut it out in the shape of a sun, which I interpret as light.
MY FIRST DREAM BOARD
The next picture shows my second dream board, created around 2002 at a Life Makeover Group meeting. Although it’s hard to see in this photo, there is an image of a polished looking female host, holding a microphone and being filmed by a television camera. Little did I know at the time, but a career in TV was just around the corner for me. Beach images are also prominent. Two years ago, we bought a condo near the beach in Florida. Notice the word ‘mambo’? I’ve been enjoyed Zumba classes for a couple of years now and recently signed up for Latin dance classes.
There have been other dream boards after these, and they have attracted things like my award winning book and, as previously mentioned, a home by the lake. If they work for me, and for countless other people who swear by them, they can work for you too!
Creating a dream board gives you the space and time to reflect on what you truly want without your doubts getting in the way. Having it up where you will see it keeps you focused on what matters most and can actually draw these dreams toward you.
Remember how much fun it was to cut and paste when you were a kid? Enjoy that childhood pleasure again; spend the next rainy summer day creating a vision/dream board. Leaf through old magazines and cut out images that represent your future goals and/or desires. Glue them on a poster board and display it where you will see it daily. As you look at it, imagine what it would feel to achieve it all. Not only will this inspire you, it will also make your goals more concrete and attainable. Don’t be surprised if the things on your board start showing up in your life; they did for me!
3 Steps to Creating your Dream Board:
1. Discovery: Look through at least 8 different magazines or surf the internet for pictures or words that you feel drawn to (even if you’re not sure why) and cut them out.
2. Creation: Use a Bristol board, a bulletin board or a scrapbook to post the items you’ve cut out.
3. Display: Put your dream board somewhere you’ll see it everyday. Whenever you look at it, imagine what it would be like to experience the images in your life and notice how you feel (uplifted, excited, etc). Eventually, your mind will begin to accept the images as part of your life and you will start noticing opportunities to experience all that you pictured. It’s very much like planting seeds and watching them grow!
Never seem to get around to making time for this type of activity? Consider hosting a dream board party; invite your friends to bring magazines, a poster board, scissors and glue, and have fun creating together. A reader recently shared her idea of creating the dream board on the computer and I thought this was a wonderful alternative. She used it as her background on her computer.
I hope I have inspired you to create your own dream board. Feel free to take a picture of it after you’ve created it and please share it on this blog.
Don’t over think it, display it, feel it and you will draw it towards you.
I’ve never found a dream board for me in terms of getting what I want. Usually what it ends up doing (and I’ve done it several times) is make me realize a lot of those things that I wanted, I wanted because I thought it would make me something MORE. Different. Respected. Loved. Things like a figure contestant’s body, an engagement ring, a Honda Pilot- none of which are things I need or ever got. I was trying to keep up with the Joneses- and when I saw it laid out in pictures, I realized that I was really a shallow person. I suppose my insight is the exact opposite of what Hellen’s talking about, but I just had to speak my truth on the subject. To each their own, there’s no right or wrong path. I think it works for some people- it’s just not for me. I don’t like what it does to my mind- making me look for the “someday” when I’ll be or have or do what I want, instead of making peace with what is.
I have been an avid fan of yours and been applying what I read from u-zine. You are right about dream board. I tried once when I was attending career planning session. one of the facilitators asked us to prepare a collage of thing we want to achieve in life: could be for family or career within a year, 3 years and 5 years. I was barely new to Canada and really positive that things will be better of than what I have had back home. it was a crude visioning but somehow it did happen. I am still wondering where I placed it after we moved to our own townhome which happened after almost a year and a half. I placed the dream board in front of the fridge so that every member of the family would see it. They all said i am quite ambitious cause i found a cute townhome and a car; children completing education and even airplane to show traveling to places. From 2006 where I had the visioning board to present, I have achieved about 65% of my dream. At age 56, I am still positive to reach the 35% of remaining dreams. Will take the photo of my dream board should I find. For sharing folks
Both Helen and last comment are insightful. A dream can be attained if it is a goal. Contentment is also magical and both can bring happiness. A slave to a materialistic dreamboard is not the answers. Who on there death bed wished they cleaned more or worked more, or boarded more?
This is in response to Liz’s comment. I understand how you feel because I was there at one point as well. The first dream board experience I had was set up as a dream board party and everyone was having a great time finding all the pictures of things they wanted, the new car, the dream home, lots of money, etc. Everything materialistic. I was really struggling to find “what I want” in the magazines. I finally turned to the words or phrases that better described what I truly wanted – strengthening family ties, balance, making the most of the everyday stuff, good health, enough money, building a team that works. You get the picture so to speak. 😉 I did have a few pictures of objects that I wanted. I tell you, both the words and the pictures have come into my life and are moving me along to live the life I want!! Good Luck!!
Theresa- I’m glad for you that it works, and anyone else who is happy in their life. Dream boards are fine in and of themselves, it’s just not something I think is necessary for my life OR always a good thing for some people. I’m not a person who scoffs at anything which happens to help others, even if it doesn’t work for my life. I have the life I want, for the most part. So I suppose that is partly why I no longer desire any type of dream board.
Apart from my own experience, my skepticism is really towards people who use it as a form of escapism (along w/ various other “self-help” techniques), which doesn’t sound like that’s your case. I know now it was just escapism for me, as is the case for most people who are perpetual self-help junkies. Which is undoubtedly what I was, but am no longer.
Congrats Helen on attracting your dream space. I know exactly how excited you must feel. I was almost 30 when I found myself alone (after a 7 year relationship that I thought would be my true love) in Toronto, living on less than minimum wage. It was one of the hardest and scariest times in my life. Though I was very happy with my cute little appartment (which I found after making a list of my wants and calling calling calling… till the right appartment had all I needed on my list). I would often feel loneyly and discouraged by my lack of finances. I knew I wanted and deserved a more comfortable life and knew that it would take focus. So I figured since a picture is a thousand words… instead of a list I would cut out pictures.
I chose a house by a lake, with a reflexion in one of the windowns of an older woman and a man dancing together. I also chose a couple painting the walls together, a jeep and then a line that said early retirement with savings in the bank ). Then I asked myself how? and started acting on my hunches… I spoke to a financial advisor who explained I had to delete my debts before I could save. I kept my eyes open for a better job and a good man. Oh yeah… I made a picture board of all the qualities he needed to have and a list of 3 pages ( I was taking no chances this time). Meanwhile I worked on me… becoming the best person I could be.
Whenever I’d get discouraged… I would review my pictures and my list and I would renew my resolve and try to develop as many action plans as I could.
Long story short… I met and married the most amazing man (yes he met all the criteria I needed on my list and picture board. When he asked me to marry him, he said he would get me a jeep if that’s what I wanted (I no longer wanted one… for environmental reasons… but it was the thought that counted ;). At 42 I retired and my husband and I just completed a 2 year project of building our dream home together… that’s right nailing, sawing, power tools… the whole thing. This allowed us to save money and live simply but so happy. As I write this I am listening to my chime and looking over at the ripples on our little spring fed lake. Life is good.
We have enough for what we need and even a little extra to help the causes which are important to us. I’ve kept the board and smile every time I look at it…. to remind me of where I came from and be grateful for where I am.
Thanks for letting me share – Sylvie
Congrats Helen on attracting your dream space. I know exactly how excited you must feel. I was almost 30 when I found myself alone (after a 7 year relationship that I thought would be my true love) in Toronto, living on less than minimum wage. It was one of the hardest and scariest times in my life. Though I was very happy with my cute little appartment (which I found after making a list of my wants and calling calling calling… till the right appartment had all I needed on my list). I would often feel loneyly and discouraged by my lack of finances. I knew I wanted and deserved a more comfortable life and knew that it would take focus. So I figured since a picture is a thousand words… instead of a list I would cut out pictures.
I chose a house by a lake, with a reflexion in one of the windows of an older woman and a man dancing together. I also chose a couple painting the walls together, a jeep and then a line that said early retirement with savings in the bank ). Then I asked myself how? and started acting on my hunches… I spoke to a financial advisor who explained I had to delete my debts before I could save. I kept my eyes open for a better job and a good man. Oh yeah… I made a picture board of all the qualities he needed to have and a list of 3 pages ( I was taking no chances this time). Meanwhile I worked on me… becoming the best person I could be.
Whenever I’d get discouraged… I would review my pictures and my list and I would renew my resolve and try to develop as many action plans as I could.
Long story short… I met and married the most amazing man (yes he met all the criteria I needed on my list and picture board. When he asked me to marry him, he said he would get me a jeep if that’s what I wanted (I no longer wanted one… for environmental reasons… but it was the thought that counted ;). At 42 I retired and my husband and I just completed a 2 year project of building our dream home together… that’s right nailing, sawing, power tools… the whole thing. This allowed us to save money and live simply but so happy. As I write this I am listening to my chime and looking over at the ripples on our little spring fed lake. Life is good.
We have enough for what we need and even a little extra to help the causes which are important to us. I’ve kept the board and smile every time I look at it…. to remind me of where I came from and be grateful for where I am.
Thanks for letting me share – Sylvie
Your success story brought tears to my eyes. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share; I know it will inspire others. This stuff works!
Thank you Hellen for making me feel so good about sharing. Yes it does work… my life is proof. I’ve been doing this kind of thing ever since I was little, and all that has come to me (which is alot) has been a direct result of knowing how to use these types of tools to make things happen.
Of course there were times when I had my doubts (especially at the beginning and for the big things… like career changes, new lifestyle, new partner)…. but now I think I’ve got it pretty down pat.
This is what I do:
-The trick is be clear and honest with yourself about what you want and why (lists and dream boards are some of the tools that have helped me with that)
-Once you have the goal, ask yourself what can you do to reach your goal… do you need someones help or is there something you need to do to allign yourself with your goal and then act on all those ideas and hunches
-Finally be patient, stay inspired and try not to settle. Patience is easy for me and I think that is why this has always worked. However when it really mattered I would get this little voice trying to convince me that it was no use (often the more important the goal… the louder the voice). So I do whatever I need to do to shut out that little voice… fill my life with things (books, sayings, hobbies… like reviewing my dream boards) and people that inspire me.
Also I’ve noticed, that whenever, I am very close to what I want… something almost as good comes along. This is where it gets tricky because if I settled, I would discover a bit later that had I just waited a bit … the best was on its way. I’m not saying to treat your entire list like a must have (it’s ok to change your mind about what you want… like my dream to have a jeep). However be clear on your “deal breakers”… what you must have and do not falter… In my case it has always brought me what I wanted and even more.
I do hope this inspires… there is only one thing for me which is as much fun as seeing this stuff work… and that is seeing others succeed at it too.
🙂
I am so inspired by this idea! Thanks everyone for sharing… Your resonses have been useful in terms of what I think I can get out of the activity. I’ve always noticed that I am drawn to certain things, and it will be so interesting to see what I feel when I see all those things in one place staring right back at me. I think it will be quite powerful in terms of taking stock in my life and evaluating the direction I want to go. Thanks so much Hellen. Keep stuff like this coming!
Hellen, thank you for sharing your past vision/dream boards. They are so theraputic to create! I was just helping a girlfriend organize her garage this afternoon and we stubbled upon one of her old vision boards. It was surprising to both of us to see that her current bedroom decor is the same of a picture on her vision board from a few years back! The same bedspread, pillows and wall color.
There are great sites online that will let you create vision boards for your monitor screen as well.
To Your Success,
Grace Brooke
Hellen, I have just created my first vision board. You can see it here: http://janetbarclay.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/IMG_17242-150×150.jpg
Janet, it looks fantastic! Hope you attract everything you dream of! Thanks for sharing.
I loved reading about your dream board. My six year old daughter alrready enjoys cutting out magazines and making collages, so one cold November evening, I asked my husband to pick up two bristol boards for us. My daughter and I had so much fun doing each, our own “dream boards”. Her and I had to negotiate on many pictures as well since we loved similar ones. It was a really nice way to spend quality time together and talk about our dreams and hopes. On both of our dream boards, we pastes pictures of what we would like in our dream home. I put a random picture of a flat screen TV with sleek black furniture around it. I didn’t really think about it because I was just placing photos of what I would like in my home then fast forward a few months later, my husband decided to buy a new TV. An LED with new Black furniture to go with it. I didnt’ take much notice until one day, I looked at my dream board and showed my daughter. We were both so excited and happy, she even took a pen and check marked it. That was very cute.
I found doing the Dream Board was therapeutic as well. And we put both our dream boards up so that everyday we can look at it and it gives us such joy and peace within our hearts. Thank you Hellen for sharing this on your blog.
PS Hellen, I think my daughter is still waiting to meet Justin Bieber 🙂 I mentioned to you that she put his pictures on her dream board.
Hi Hellen, LOVE the dream board. Time for me to create one for 2012!
🙂 Linda
I’m thinking this is my chance to better see my vision, I’m making a board! I have less than a year to get a business plan in order and make things happen, for my own business (even though I’m working full time) maybe instead of always tucking info/photos/ideas away having them on a vision board might keep me more focused, and on track with what really needs to get done. Bristol board here I come…
I received a Severance Package in Sept./99 when TD merged with Canada Trust. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Dec./97. These events motivated me to create the Dream Board pictured here, in Jan. 2000.
Since then, I’ve worked 12 years at PC Financial in town (vs. King & Bay in Toronto) and survived a Diagnosis of invasive, aggressive Ovarian Cancer in Jan. 2010 and Intensive Chemotherapy (Jan-May).
Why create a Vision Board? A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words and my Personalized Picture helped me remember where I wanted to be, in Good Times and Otherwise.
Time to create a New Dream Board ♥
Hi Debra, I can’t see your vision board (access is blocked) but I’m so glad things worked out for you.
Debra, I just accessed it. Beautiful!
Great!
My Board represents (from L to R): Serenity (Meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi & Reiki) in the form of Nature & Gardens; Rose: Take Time to Savour All Life has to Offer; Clock: Time on Earth is Finite; Playing Cards: Life Deals the Cards– You Decide How to Play; Books: Love of Learning; Globe: Love of Travel; Staircase: Take the First Step even if you Can’t see the Destination; Woman: Health & Well-being; Candle: Share my Knowledge and Experience with Others; Multi-Faith Places of Worship: Understanding of Others’ Beliefs.
Debra, the symbolism is fantastic! Wow, I’m really impressed – you put a lot into this. Thanks again for sharing.