A Better Way to Positive Visualization: A Vision Board

Most people set goals, but very few of these goals are achieved. This is mostly because people don’t clearly imagine their own success. This is why positive visualization is important for achieving your goals. With positive visualization your mind forms a vivid image of what you want before you can achieve your goal. This helps you program your brain, when you continually revisit that image to focus on what is important to you.

A vision board is an effective way to make visualization easier to work with. It uses abstract mental goals and turns them into something concrete and visual. For example, when you look at your vision board, your brain makes stronger connections to those goals. But, you don’t just hope for success—you start believing it’s possible.

Why Positive Visualization Works

It takes more than hard work to become successful. You also need to be sharply focused on WHAT you want to achieve. There are plenty of hard working people out there who don’t achieve the success they could. While a sharp vision of what you want to achieve is necessary, having the right mindset is what allows you to succeed. Without these you won’t take action or worse: won’t stick with your goals. Positive visualization prepares your mind to expect success, thus making it much easier to reach your goals.

How can we be sure it works? Many top athletes, CEOs and others use positive visualization to improve performance. These people don’t just expect or hope to win, even if they put in all the work required – they actually picture themselves playing and winning. They make a detailed image of their success in their mind, making it as detailed and real as possible. This makes what they feel real. As a result, by going through this process it tells the brain’s reticular activating system (RAS), which helps filter information and keeps you focused, what is important to you.

The Science Behind Positive Visualization

Your brain can’t fully differentiate between real and imagined experiences. When you visualize an action, MRI scans show the same brain regions activated as though you were physically doing it [1]. This allows you to train your mind for real success by simply imagining yourself succeeding. 

A famous study from 1995 found that those that mentally rehearsed playing the piano showed the same brain activity as those that practiced physically [2].  In another study athletes showed that those who did both positive visualization and physical training performed better than those who only trained physically [3].

By visualizing success, your brain builds and strengthens neural pathways that are linked to the actions you visualize. This helps to:

• Increase confidence by minimizing fear and doubt 
• Enhance mental focus by training your brain to recognize opportunities
• Increase motivation by making success feel like it is real

Why Positive Visualization Alone Isn’t Enough

Most people don’t understand positive visualization and think of it as similar to daydreaming. They fail to recognize the need for detail and clarity and don’t recognize the need for action. These people believe in the idea of manifestation and affirmation without understanding the science behind positive visualization. It is necessary to reinforce your vision daily and take steps toward it. 

A vision board provides focus and clarity. Rather than having vague or fleeting thoughts, a vision board provides a continuous reminder of what you want. It strengthens your belief and keeps you sharply focused and motivated.

What Is a Vision Board?

A vision board is a collection of images and words that represent your goals or aspirations. You can build a traditional board by cutting out images from a magazine and tacking them to a board. Alternatively, you can create a virtual vision board. Rather than simply thinking about what you want, a vision board provides a constant reminder of your goals. It helps achieve these goals by reinforcing your focus and clarity, making your goals more concrete, while keeping you motivated.

A lot of people set goals and then forget about them shortly afterwards. Using a vision board ensures this doesn’t happen. It gives you a visual / mental anchor that brings your attention to what matters to you. Furthermore, it can include images and words that support your health, build your wealth, and even strengthen your relationships. A well designed vision board will keep you aligned with your goals. Better still, it can grow with you –  as you achieve your goals, simply paste images that represent new goals.

The Purpose of a Vision Board

The primary reason for having a vision board is to keep you mentally engaged with your dreams. Abstract ideas are turned into concrete visions and instead of hoping for success you see it everyday. The process of viewing your vision board daily triggers your brain’s reticular activating system (RAS), which acts to remove distractions while helping you focus on things that bring you ever closer to your goals.

It works by:

• Strengthening belief – Seeing your goals regularly make you feel like they are real which builds confidence and motivation.
• Programming your subconscious – Your brain begins to see opportunities and connections that line up with your goals.
• Reinforcing positive emotions – Continually viewing positive images of future success helps remove self-doubt while keeping you motivated. You begin to believe in your success before it occurs.

What Should You Put on a Vision Board?

What makes a vision board powerful is that it is personal and has meaning to the person using it. This is why it makes little sense for someone to use a pre-made vision board online – it won’t resonate with the person using it because it has no meaning. The meaning of a vision board is imparted as it is made.

In order for your vision board to be personal and meaningful include the following::

• Images – Pictures that represent your goals (e.g., fit physique, dream home, person of your dreams)
• Words & Affirmations – Phrases like “I am strong” or “I am building my future”. Ideally you write these affirmations so they are written in the way you think and talk.
• Symbols – Icons or objects that trigger motivation (e.g., a cruise ship for travel goals, a barbell for fitness)
• Milestones – Key achievements along the way to remind you of progress. If you are engaged, have something that represents marriage. If you are studying for your MBA, perhaps display a diploma with your name on it.

The secret of a vision board is to include only things that truly inspire you. If you aren’t excited by each part of your board, take it off and replace it with something that sparks excitement. You need to feel motivated every time you see it.

How Vision Boards Improve Visualization

The reason positive visualization works is because it trains you brain to focus on success. However, without a clear structure and vision it is difficult to stay specific and consistent on what you are visualizing. This makes it easy to lose motivation or even forget what you’re trying to achieve. A vision board strengthens the visualization process by turning your thoughts into more effective tangible visualization.

Here’s how a vision board improves positive visualization:

• Rewires the brain with repetition– Seeing images of success regularly increases and strengthens neural pathways, helping to make success feel natural.
• Keeps the subconscious mind focused – A vision board helps your mind to identify opportunities related to your goals.
• Creates emotional engagement – A clear vision with strong emotionally driven images keeps you motivated and helps remove doubt of success.
• Eliminates mental clutter – It removes distraction which reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed by keeping you focused on what matters.
• Strengthens decision-making – It makes it easier to decide on what is important by filtering out what isn’t.
• Increases motivation – Continually seeing your goals helps to provide a stronger feeling that success is real and achievable. 
• Makes goals feel achievable – Daily viewing and visualization reinforces your brain’s belief that what you see is real.
• Creates a sense of urgency – The stronger the emotional feelings  the more likely you’ll act to realize success..
• Rewires negative thinking – It acts as positive reinforcement such that instead of focusing on doubts, your mind sees possibilities.

By adding a vision board to support positive visualization you train your brain to expect success and to take action toward it. Of course this isn’t magic, it’s psychology and neuroscience that helps you achieve your goals.

Final Thoughts on Positive Visualization With a Vision Board

A vision board is not an art project, it is a psychological tool that keeps you focused and motivated on what you want in life. It is like positive visualization on steroids. When you create a board with images and words that align with your goals it adds clarity to your goals and a pattern to build positive visualization upon. Taking a look at it daily trains the mind to expect success. 

When you use your vision board daily, make sure to include your other senses – how it will feel, smell, sound like when you achieve the goals on your vision board. Add additional reinforcement with strong emotions and affirmation but most importantly, take steps to achieve your goals – you need to take action! 

Check out SMART Goals for a Year.