How I Lived My Vision-Board Moment

and How You Can Too

At 20 years old, I’m on a mission to transform my lifelong dream into reality. With a degree in magazine journalism almost in hand, I’m gearing up for my ultimate goal: landing an editorial position in New York City.

From a young age, New York City was my promised land…a place where I’d immerse myself in writing and turn dreams into stories.

My parents were extremely supportive of my ambitions, and began taking me to the city for a long weekend during college years. Stuck in a never-ending traffic jam on the Lincoln Tunnel approach, our car barely moved. With no Waze to guide us (that didn’t exist yet), I took the opportunity to capture the city skyline using a trusty point-and-shoot camera.

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the city, and when I got back, I printed out some of my favorite photos. The photo from the highway captured the gritty, gray barrier juxtaposed against the vibrant cityscape, a visual reminder of my dreams, framed by the raw beauty of New York’s skyline.

I hung it on my bulletin board above my desk in my college apartment.

I looked at that picture every day. Not staring at it in any real meaningful way, but I saw it when I woke up. I saw it when I was doing homework at my desk, and I saw it before I went to bed at night.

When Visions Become Reality

Fast forward two years. I worked hard during my internship and was offered a full-time fact checking job. Not super glamorous, but definitely on the right track to my dream job.

I had been living with a friend during my internship. But since this was a long-term role, it was time to get my first apartment in the city. He knew friends who were heading to Chicago for a year, so they were willing to sublet their Hell’s Kitchen apartment to me. What absolute luck!

The area was highly sought after and young people brand new to the city rarely managed to get a livable spot so close to the action (Hell’s Kitchen sits above Chelsea and below Central Park on the west side of Manhattan). The fourteenth-floor apartment was close to Restaurant Row, Broadway Theaters, Time Square and so much more.

And to my absolute amazement, my new apartment was one of the very buildings I had captured in that old photo. It was a striking, tangible manifestation of my vision board.

I had looked at that photo every day for more than a year. And now, I was living in one of those buildings. Without even knowing it, I had created a vision board and made my dreams come true.

How To Create Your Own Vision Board

Since I realized the power of vision boards, I have always had one. Right now, my vision board includes pictures of my family, because their health and happiness is my No. 1 wish. It also includes photos of women I admire, travel spots I want to visit, charities I want to help, plus a big, fat check made out to me!

Creating a vision board isn’t just about placing images on a board; it’s about crafting a visual roadmap to your dreams, making them more tangible and attainable.

From my own experience, here’s how you can craft a vision board that truly resonates with you:

1. Set Clear Goals

• Identify Your Goals: Determine what you want to achieve in different areas of your life, such as career, health, relationships, personal growth, and finance.

• Be Specific: The more specific your goals, the better. Instead of “get a job,” set a goal like “land editorial job at Vanity Fair.”

2. Gather Supplies

• Board: Use a cork board, poster board, or a digital platform like Pinterest if you prefer a digital vision board.

• Materials: Gather magazines, printed images, scissors, glue, markers, stickers, and any other decorative items you like.

3. Collect Images and Words

• Magazines and Online Sources: Cut out or print images that resonate with your goals and inspire you.

• Quotes and Affirmations: Include motivational quotes, affirmations, and powerful words that reflect your aspirations.

4. Organize Your Board

• Categorize: Group similar goals together, such as all health-related images in one section and career goals in another.

• Layout: Arrange your images and words on the board before gluing them down. Experiment with the layout until it feels right.

5. Assemble Your Vision Board

• Attach Items: Once you’re happy with the layout, start attaching your images and words to the board.

• Personalize: Add your own drawings, notes, or embellishments to make the board uniquely yours.

6. Display Your Vision Board

• Visible Location: Place your vision board somewhere you’ll see it daily, like your bedroom, office, or a prominent wall.

• Digital Boards: If using a digital vision board, set it as your screensaver or desktop background for regular reminders.

Tips for an Effective Vision Board

1. Stay Positive: Focus on positive images and affirmations that evoke good feelings and motivation.

2. Keep It Updated: As your goals evolve, update your vision board. Add new goals, remove achieved ones, and keep it fresh.

3. Reflect and Visualize: Spend a few minutes each day reflecting on your vision board. Visualize yourself achieving your goals and experiencing the emotions tied to those successes.

4. Stay Flexible: Your vision board is a dynamic tool. Feel free to change it as your priorities and goals shift over time.

5. Involve All Senses: Incorporate textures, colors, and symbols that resonate with you. This can help make your goals feel more tangible and real.

Creating a vision board is a personal and creative process that can significantly boost your motivation and focus.

By setting clear goals, gathering inspiring materials, and regularly reflecting on your vision board, you’re more likely to find yourself living your dreams!

PS: Make Your Next Chapter Just as Clear

My vision board worked because I got specific. I didn’t just want “a job in New York.” I wanted an editorial job, in a certain neighborhood, living a certain life.

Your story deserves that same clarity. Most of us have done more than we give ourselves credit for. We just haven’t been taught how to talk about it.

Grab my free Life Resume Template. It pulls the milestones, skills, and turning points you already have and turns them into answers you can actually say out loud in an interview, on a cover letter, or the next time your brain goes blank at “tell me about yourself.” Get it here.