Visualisation is one of the most powerful coaching tools currently used by coaches all over the world. The process involves creating images in your mind of how you want your life to be or who you would like to be. It is not just about seeing the image, but also about trying to feel, and in some cases smell, what your life would be like. For those of you who are familiar with the Law of Attraction, you will know that this process gradually tricks your mind into believing it is a reality, and indeed with constant reinforcement it can eventually attact what you want into your life.
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne talks about how the process of visualisation has been taught by all the great teachers and avatars throughout the centuries. Think of the great inventors and inventions such as Thomas Edison and he light bulb, or Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. These things were only created because the inventors had a picture in their minds. They saw it clearly, and by holding that picture of the end result in their minds, all the forces of the Universe brought the inventions into the world, through them. The secret also is to not just create a static picture in your mind, but to create lots of movement in the picture.
Genevieve Behrend (1881-1960) said: “Everyone visualises whether he knows it or not. Visualising is the great secret of success. We all possess more power and greater possibilities than we realise, and visualising is one of the greatest of these powers.”
Now of course, many people find this a very difficult process, and therefore I would like to share some ideas with you about creating vision boards. The idea behind these boards is that by surrounding yourself with images of who you want to become, what you want to have, where you want to live, or where you want to go on holiday, your life changes to match those images and those desires. Before you set about making a board, you need to sit quietly and set the intent. With lots of kindness and openness, ask yourself what it is you want. Images should start coming into your head and slowly you will begin to create your vision. The process can be quite a deep experience. Some people like to put on music as they are doing this.
The next step is to find the images you would like to use. You may have some photographs, but your best bet is to go through magazines, newspapers, catalogues and brochures. It is also a good idea to look for key words and phrases too. Some people like to type their own favourite quotations or powerful words to incorporate into the images on their vision board. You can have lots of fun doing this, but ultimately you need to make a pile of appropriate images and words.
Then you need to start putting your favourite images onto a board. This could be poster board, thick cardboard, or even a piece of plywood. Start to discard the images that you don’t think will work. As you begin to lay the images on the board, you will begin to get a greater sense of what you want to achieve. Some people like to asign different corners of the board for different aspects of their lives, or you might prefer to have a series of small boards. I personally prefer to use images that summarise my overall goal that I am working towards. Then you can start sticking onto the board. You can add writing, which you can paint on, or write with markers, or use printed words. Make sure you leave a space in the middle to put a great photo of yourself – although this is optional. Then hang your board in a place where you will see it often.
There are many different types of vision boards for different purposes. One such is the “I Know Exactly What I Want” Board. This would be where you are very clear about your desires, or you want to change your surroundings, or if there is a specific thing you want to manifest into your life. People who are trying to lose weight often use images of people to illustrate their perfect body type. I know of someone who wanted a new bathroom, so she had images of her perfect bathroom suite and decor.
The “Opening and Allowing” vision board is for when you are not too sure what you want, or if you have been in a period of depression and grief. In other words, you may have some clear vision of what you want, but are unsure about some aspect of it. Or, you may know what you wantto change, but don’t know how it’s possible. With this type of board, you need to collect images that give you a great feeling of happiness and joy. Don’t question why, just collect the pictures spontaneously. Then, look at each picture and ask what it is telling you about you. It may not give you an answer straight away, but in time it will. This type of board can be a powerful guide for you and can go much deeper than the first type of board, as it goes much deeper than just getting what you want.
A third board is the “Theme” board. This works well if you are working on one particular area of your life, such as love and relationships, or work and career. It’s also effective for starting a new cycle in your life, such as the New Year or a birthday.
You can use a combination of all three boards. It might start out as one and then develop into a completely different type. It’s important to be creative and go along with the whole process and where it takes you. Good luck if you decide to give this a try, and let me know how you get on with it. Even better, email me some photographs of your board(s).
