Imagining the Possibilities

We’re already a month into 2016 and it’s getting difficult to stay motivated. A vision board (also called a dream board) is a way to keep your dreams fresh in your mind and alive in your heart. It’s a great exercise for supercharging all the things you’d like to have happen in the year ahead.

• First, grab some magazines you don’t mind cutting up or hop on to Pinterest and get ready to do some printing.

• Find pictures that capture dreams you have. They could be anything from a new home, to a romantic relationship, to expressing your creativity on a daily basis, or that trip to Paris you’ve always wanted to take.

• Think gigantic—put your big, wild dreams on this vision board. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know how you’ll get these dreams. In fact, it’s better not to worry about that part at all. Let your imagination and desires take over.

• Add in any images that make you feel good, for any reason—it’s about how you feel when looking at this board, it should have you brimming with excitement and joy just looking at the possibilities. So while you may have some very clear dreams you’re putting up on it, don’t let that stop you from adding in splashes of whimsy, things that caught your eye unexpectedly while leafing through the magazines or perusing Pinterest.

• Now gather all your freshly cut out images and lay them on a large piece of paper, canvas, bristol board, etc. (you can check out DeSerres on the Danforth for any crafting supplies needed). Add paint, a small swatch of fabric, stickers—any materials that make this board really come alive for you.

• Leave space in the centre for a picture of yourself. Yep, that’s right, you’re going up on the vision board too. Having your photo centre stage among those dreams allows you to more easily envision yourself as a part of that future you desire (sometimes we find it difficult to imagine getting the things we want most, so this is a gentle and loving way to start affirming that you are allowed to have the life you dream of).

• Now put your board up somewhere that you’ll see it every day. Having this visual reminder of your dreams puts them into your daily life and makes it more likely that you’ll attract those things to you—you’ll be more likely to consciously start taking steps towards them.

• If you’d really like to amp up the power of your vision board, do just that—write out some small steps you can take today or in the next few weeks that would move you in the direction of your dreams. Don’t put pressure on your vision board to get you to exactly those photos—just little ways that you can bring those dreams into your daily life, in whatever capacity you can right now. For example, if one of your dreams is to be a best selling author, a small step could be to start writing for 30 minutes everyday.

• Let these small steps be things you’d find pleasure doing because they’re meant to bring more joy into your life and let you start living your dreams in the present. You may even notice that it’s not so much about reaching for something anymore, but becoming aware of all the wonderful ways it’s possible to find happiness where you are right now with small acts of self-love and the courage to follow your heart.

Amanda Wood is the lifestyle section editor for On the Danforth. She’s an avid reader and reviewer of YA fiction. She has a love for comfy sweaters and all things magical. You can find her on Instagram.