By KIRKLAND PRATT
Just two short years ago, I returned to the Bahamas after spending a few years studying in the Caribbean. So much was new, and the need to reacquaint myself with my home environment presented the formidable challenge of getting back into the professional race. I needed a strategic plan.
In my metaphysical readings, I came across the concept of a Vision Board (otherwise called Dream Board). Vision Boards use words, images, and colours that are strategically selected to reflect a person’s visions and desires for the future. With so many plans and aspirations (on the heels of spending so much time working on qualifying myself) I was anxious to manifest my creative goods – my dream board allowed me the opportunity to my hone objectives and measure plans.
This creative exercise taps into an individual’s intuition to express goals. As the New Year approaches, many Bahamians will make resolutions. Unfortunately New Year’s resolutions are often short-lived as many who vow renege on the most genuinely expressed goals.
One of American’s foremost inspirational authors and Unity Church Minister Catherine Ponder, who underpins the significance of visualization, is quoted as saying, “Generalities do not produce results because they lack substance and power. Vague hopes and indefinite goals are not convincing to the mind, whereas a clear cut picture of the good you want activates people, places, and events to cooperate with your pictured desires.”
According to research conducted by Clinical Psychologist Jonathan Fader, Ph.D., the most common New Year’s Resolutions in the United States over the past decade are losing weight, exercising more, and quitting smoking. As all people share in a common human experience regardless of race, creed and culture, many of these resolutions are mirrored in the hearts of Bahamians as well.
In five easy steps your vision board can be in place for 2014. They following steps are reprinted with permission from “My Life Map: A Journal to Help You Shape Your Future”.
Step 1: (Optional) Place a photo that you like of yourself and that shows you feeling happy right in the middle of the board.
Step 2: Sit quietly, with no distractions. Decide that all things are possible. Ask yourself what it is that you want to be, to do, to have, and to feel. What do you want to surround yourself with— what home, body, people, work and surroundings? What makes you happy?
Step 3: Gather a collection of photos, images, colours, and words that delight you. Don’t worry about fixing anything in place yet, just pick images using your intuition.
Step 4: Start laying your favourite images on the board. What feels right surrounding you? What doesn’t? Sort the images by theme or lay them randomly, letting your gut tell you what to put closest to your photo.
Step 5: Give your vision board a title that inspires you.
It is important to note that vision boards can be created virtually from images online or cut and from images from magazines etc. As I have done, it is important to post the vision board in a place that you’ll see every day; for me it was the refrigerator door, a screen saver on my laptop and on the wall next to my bathroom mirror.
I feared very well with my vision board of 2011– my focus was so intense and objectives so clearly met that realised every visual, so much so that I had to create a new board for the remainder of the year.
Focus is the key for preserving resolution. Think outside the box when making those new resolutions for the new and untried year.
Keep thinking though, you are good for it!
Happy New You in 2014.
• Kirkland H. Pratt, MSCP, is a Counselling Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology with an emphasis in Education. He lectures in Industrial Psychology and offers counselling and related services to individuals and businesses. For comments, contact kirklandpratt@gmail.com.
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