The first vision board I created a couple of years ago was a part of “my new year, new me” mantra. I cut out words and pictures from magazines and glued them to a poster board while sipping mimosas with my girlfriends. It was a good time. It was also inspiring to be surrounded by like-minded women with goals and aspirations. But I had lofty goals that I later realized were slightly unrealistic and kind of all over the place. And as the fun wore off, I would love say that I looked at my vision board daily for inspiration while I checked off goals written down in my journal. But the truth is my board fell behind my console table and I forgot about the damn thing.
The lesson, though, was that the vision I created was not what I needed. In fact, it was the same shit I’d been “working on” for years. I mean they were real goals: loss weight, find a new job with more money, read more, love on my hubby more, build my brand, take a couple of vacations, etc. It was so much and thinking back now, so overwhelming. Moreover, how could a big ass poster board really be the difference maker for my new year, new me attitude with this same ol’ hefty bag of laundry, I’d been carrying around for years with no cleaners in site. It left me thinking, what really is my vision and how do I get there?
I believe in the power of vision boards, goal setting, and purposeful intentions, so I didn’t let that deter me from trying again. So, the next year, I decided to do a picture frame vision board instead of a poster board. I sat it on my dresser right next to my bed so I’d have to look at it daily and also so it wouldn’t get lost LOL. Seriously though, it forced me to be super intentional and specific about my goals because there wasn’t enough space for clutter and fluff. I focused on one thing last year. It wasn’t my physical being, or my finances, or my brand. Hell, it wasn’t even my marriage. I focused on having a healthy mind to fight my dark days and love myself completely and wholly. Everyday, I woke up and looked at that picture frame. When I felt broken, I recited the words glued to paper behind glass in the frame. When I felt myself making small strides towards a breakthrough of inner peace and joy, I celebrated.
So, let’s talk.
Have you created your vision board this year? Is it filled with big dreams and unreachable goals? Or have you narrowed your focus to a few intentional objectives that will support your long-term vision?
Listen. Be your best self is not just a motto for me. It’s truly a lifestyle. It wasn’t until I was working on this year’s vision board that I understood the integral role those words played in the work I’ve done on myself over the past year. I see the changes in myself, the confidence, the conviction, the self-love. It’s empowering! I am more whole now than I’ve ever been and I am a better woman, wife, and mother for it. This year’s vision is led by good energy, good health, and saving to buy our first home in January 2022. That’s it, y’all.
Arthur Ashe said it best, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” We don’t have to get to the vision tomorrow but we do have to put in the work. Attaining the vision you create for yourself is a process that takes time to cultivate, so don’t rush it. Find the patience to focus on what steps you should take now then build up from there. Life is overwhelming enough, so when you overfill your plate with expectations that are just too much or simply out of reach for now, you create the opportunity for self-doubt, disappointment, and loss of the vision you were working towards in the first place. So for now, take some of the pressure off of yourself but don’t stop grinding! And no matter what, keep going. You got this!
Tiarra 💜
tiarratalks.com 