E - Explore & Experience Your Word of the Year with a Vision Board
Many of us have forgone the new years resolutions, but still have dreams and goals. This year, I’m following Mary’s suggestion in. making a vision board. I want mine to fit in my Leuchtturm journal so it can be portable and easily accessible throughout the year. There are some good options for that. I considered my options for format: I could just use some of the pages in my everyday journal, or do a tip-out accordion fold, or try my hand at a portable fancy fold card vision board that a similar size as my journal. I decided to try that. If it doesn’t work out, the accordion vision board will do just fine. Sometimes a girl just needs a bit of a change and challenge… Further down you’ll find how to make a vision board like this.
Making a Vision Board is a Prophetic Act
Because I believe making a vision board is a prophetic act, I tend to be fairly loose in my approach, using steps as guidelines rather than rules. Feel free to adapt questions and prompts to what you are comfortable with. Each time I’ve gone through the process it has been so revealing, expanding my insight. It always starts with prayer. Pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead and help you express the desires of your heart.
“Things never discovered or heard of before,
things beyond our ability to imagine—
these are the many things God has in store
for all his lovers.
But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit.
Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and
deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit,
who constantly explores all things.
After all, who can really see into a person’s heart and
know his hidden impulses except for that person’s spirit?
So it is with God.His thoughts and secrets are
only fully understood by his Spirit, the Spirit of God.”
~ 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 TPT
Don’t overthink or over-plan. Letting God lead me with peace is one thing I am being intentional about learning this year, instead of always pushing through to the goal.
Lord, direct me throughout my journey
so I can experience your plans for my life.
Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you.
Psalm 25:4 TPT
Questions & Answers
One main way to start a vision board is to ask questions and then write down the answers in a journal. After that I consider what size and format I want to use for the vision board. Here is a list of questions to consider. Don’t feel like you need to answer them all. They are suggestions that I hope will inspire meaningful answers. Ask God to lead you with peace.
What are things I did well last year that I want to continue?
What would I like to continue and/or finish that I didn’t get done last year?
What surprised me about last year? How does that “surprise” influence and impact my life this year?
What is important to me?
What important events are planned or happening this year for me?
What do I want?
What do I feel I need to change?
What areas of my life could use improvement?
What do I want to grow in? To learn?
Where do I see God’s blessing or favor in my life?
What comes easy to me?
What do I want to do well?
How-To Make the Vision Board
Making a vision board is a process for me that is both organic and planned, especially this year with the format being more in book form than a flat surface.
Materials:1 piece of white watercolor paper 140 lb (90 lb would also work) 7x10"1 piece of black paper about the same thickness as the white (I don't know what kind I used since I used what I had and couldn't find a watermark. You could also use card stock.Pencil with eraserRulerBone FolderMagazine clippings that resonate with youGlue StickMicron Pens (I used mostly size .02)Water based paint of choice (watercolor, acrylic etc) or scribble sticks, markers or any other coloring medium you choose (I used fluid acrylic)Any other imagery or embellishments you choose (Washi tape, magazine clippings etc.)Stencils of your choice (see links toward end of post for the ones I used with acrylic paint)Cosmetic sponge for stencilingMedium-small paintbrush for applying paint
The Organic Part of the Vision Board
For the outside (front and back cover) I began by looking in magazines for relevant words and imagery that seemed meaningful to me. I didn’t put much thought into it, just looked for words that seemed highlighted to me. After I cut out a collection of words and a few images, I arranged them on the front cover and glued them on with a glue stick. Then I did the back cover in a similar way. Visually, I finished it off by stenciling some pattern with a small amount of acrylic paint on a cosmetic sponge.
The Planned Part of the Vision Board
I found this pin on Pinterest that shows how to make the card/vision board. It is made by Norma on her blog site: From My Craft Room. I adapted the sizes to be a little bigger, but the six inch one she makes would work well too. Norma’s instructions are great. I followed them without any trouble. You can check out the process of making the card here: http://frommycraftroom.blogspot.com/2013/04/template-for-3-step-card-4-14-x-6.html
The interior of my vision board was well-planned. I had one magazine image of a lit candle that I knew I wanted to include as a central image that represented the symbol of Light, my word of the year. I chose to put that in the middle interior of the fold-out that I cut out in a gothic window shape. Stair-stepping down on the sides of the fold-out are words that sum up what I want, in the priorities I want to live them:
Shine! Know the Light - Be the light!
Celebrate Life & Love
Receive & Respond to Revelation
On the left and right sides of the interior I wrote and illustrated what I want to improve on:
To move (aka exercise) for health, and to be more light-hearted.
The last step was gluing the interior white cut and folded paper onto the black inside cover that was previously folded in half. I used a glue stick. Refer to the same link with instructions: http://frommycraftroom.blogspot.com/2013/04/template-for-3-step-card-4-14-x-6.html to see where to glue them together.
Here is a bird's eye view of the vision board
Next time I will talk about how I am being intentional about reaching those goals.
