How to Create a Vision Board with Purpose and Compassion

Hello friends! Can you believe how quickly this year has flown by? As 2024 comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect and look ahead. The start of a new year often sparks conversations about goal setting, and many of us are thinking about how we want to grow and evolve in the months ahead. One of my favorite practices for this is creating a vision board.

Vision boards aren’t just about cutting out pretty pictures and hoping for the best. They’re an invitation to connect with yourself—your dreams, your intentions, and the kind of life you want to create. Creating a vision board can be a beautiful self-care practice that allows you to pause, reflect, and tap into your deeper desires, all while honoring your values and your unique journey.

I’m so excited to share with you a new approach to creating a vision board. It’s about cultivating a vision with intention, aligning with your deepest values, and setting yourself up for the kind of growth and self-compassion that leads to meaningful change. To help you with this process, I’ve designed a free workbook that will guide you step-by-step, along with some bonus printables to add a personal touch to your vision board.

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.” – Oprah Winfrey

How to Create a Vision Board with Purpose and Compassion

1. The Mindset: Aligning Your Intentions

Before you start collecting images or cutting out quotes, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on your mindset. A vision board is not a magical fix—it’s a tool that works when you pair it with action and clarity. You get out what you put in, so take the time to connect with the deeper “why” behind your vision board. This is about more than just what you want—it’s about who you want to become and how you want to feel as you move through your life.

A vision board can be a daily reminder of your values, your worth, and your potential. But it only works if you show up with intention and an open heart.

Remember: Your vision board is a reflection of your own inner wisdom. Trust yourself as you create it.

2. Start with Reflection: Honor What You’ve Already Accomplished

Before diving into setting goals for the upcoming year, take some time to reflect on everything you've accomplished this year—no matter how big or small. This can help you build confidence and momentum as you look ahead.

In my free Vision Board Planning Workbook, you’ll find prompts that help you celebrate your wins, reflect on challenges, and acknowledge your growth. This is a crucial step in ensuring that your new goals are aligned with who you’ve become and where you want to go.

“Vision is merely a dream without action.” – Joel Barker

3. Create Balance: Address All Areas of Your Life

A key part of visioning is looking at the different areas of your life and imagining where you want to grow. This is where I like to bring in the Eight Dimensions of Wellness:

• Spiritual

• Emotional

• Intellectual

• Social

• Physical

• Environmental

• Occupational

• Financial

Incorporating goals in these areas allows for holistic growth and balance. When one area thrives, it positively impacts the others. Use the prompts in my workbook to reflect on where you feel content and where you feel called to nurture yourself.

4. Add a Little Fun: Your Bucket List

Now comes the fun part—dreaming big! This is where you get to think about things that bring excitement, adventure, and joy into your life. Maybe it's a trip you want to take, a new hobby you want to try, or even something that just brings you happiness. These are the things that remind you to live fully and in alignment with what feels good. Your bucket list isn’t just about the “what” but also about the feeling you want to cultivate.

5. Set the Mood: Create a Sacred Space

Before you get creative with your vision board, it's important to set the tone. A vision board is more than just a craft project; it’s an act of self-care and intention. Create a calm, peaceful space where you feel inspired. Light a candle, play some soothing music, or even meditate for a few moments before you begin. Treat this time as a gift to yourself—a quiet moment to reconnect with your dreams.

6. Find Your Material: Gather Images and Words That Reflect Your Vision

Now comes the fun part—collecting your images and words! You can find these from magazines, Pinterest, Canva, or even by drawing your own images. The key is to select visuals that resonate with your values and goals. Ask yourself, “What images represent the life I want to create? What words speak to my heart?”

If you're creating your board digitally, save everything in a folder on your computer. If you're working with a physical board, go ahead and print everything out and get ready to arrange your pieces.

7. Create the Vision Board That Reflects You

There is no right or wrong way to put your vision board together. This is your personal creation, so trust your intuition. Place your images and words in a way that feels authentic to you. You want your vision board to be something you’ll enjoy looking at every day—something that will inspire you, remind you of your worth, and encourage you to take action.

How to Make Your Vision Board Work for You

So, now that you’ve created your vision board, what’s next? The truth is, creating the board is just the beginning. The magic happens when you take intentional action and show up for yourself each day. Here’s how to make your vision board truly work for you:

• Look at it daily: The more you see your vision, the more it will resonate in your subconscious. Hang it somewhere you’ll see it often, like your bedroom or office.

• Visualize your dreams: As you look at your vision board, close your eyes and imagine living the life it represents. See yourself feeling fulfilled, aligned, and at peace.

• Use it as a tool for encouragement: When you feel discouraged, lost, or overwhelmed, look at your vision board and reconnect with your “why.” Let it be a reminder that you're on the right path, even when things feel uncertain.

Remember, a vision board is a tool for becoming. It’s about focusing your energy on what matters most and reminding yourself daily that you are worthy of creating the life you want.

“The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps – we must step up the stairs.” – Vance Havner

Ready to Create Your Own Vision Board?

I’m so excited for you to begin this process of creating your vision board with intention and purpose. As a gift to you, I’ve put together a free workbook to help you design a board that reflects your dreams, goals, and values. The workbook includes reflection questions, exercises for setting your intentions, and some beautiful printables to inspire you.

Download your free workbook here and start creating a vision that truly aligns with your heart and your deepest desires.

I’m wishing you a year filled with compassion, growth, and meaningful transformation. You are worthy of every dream you envision.

Let me know if you have any questions or need support along the way. You’ve got this!

I've shared this same post in my Substack publication - Cultivating You. If you make a vision board I'd love to see you share photos in the comments there! Let's create community <3