By Nia Simone McLeod
Shanice Bradshaw’s Vision Board
As the ball drops and a brand year strides forward, most are gifted with a burst of inspiration towards their goals and aspirations. Whether it is saving money or eating healthier, people all across the world are putting forth an extra effort to make their best selves a reality. One popular way that individuals have been trying to bring their goals to fruition is through visualization and more specifically, vision boards. Women of color near and far have been utilizing vision boards as the fire behind bringing their biggest and brightest goals to light. But, what exactly are vision boards and do they actually work?
Visualization, The Law of Attraction, and The Secret
Utilizing visualization and the law of attraction to bring yourself closer to your goals has been a mainstay in society since the beginning of time. But fairly recently, this method has grown in popularity through the 2006 self-help book The Secret. The book talks about the power of gratitude and visualization in achieving one’s desires. The book then continues to reference philosophers and examples where historical figures used
The Secret Book Cover
visualization successfully. Due partly to an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Secret became wildly popular throughout the entire world. The book has been translated into 50 different languages and has sold 30 million copies since its release. The influence of The Secret led to a new generation of dreamers and believers utilizing the law of attraction to make their goals a reality.
Vision boards are the next interpretation of using visualization in modern society. This project consists of pasting quotes, pictures, and drawings onto a posterboard that remind you of the goals you’re looking to achieve. For example, if you are looking to buy a new car, you may paste up pictures of your dream car. The thought is when you surround yourself with positive images of things that you want and are currently pursuing, you’ll begin to attract them into your own life.
Do Vision Boards Work?
Lavene Gass
The answer to this question is yes, but only if you do too.
Lavene Gass, a motivational speaker and media professional, has been creating vision boards since 2014 and swears by them. Gass believes the execution after making a vision board, is as important as making the vision board itself, “The key to a vision board is the execution. Like making a to-do list, you must execute the plan. In addition to creating a vision board, one must believe that he or she is worthy of attaining everything on the board.”
Shanice Bradshaw, a financial services professional, thinks it’s very important to make a plan, “Vision boards help you to visualize your dreams and goals and see them daily. So, when you feel like giving up or you’re tired, you always have
Shanice Bradshaw
something to look back at and say ‘No, I have to keep going.’”
Some may find similarities between making a vision board and making a to-do list.
Victoria Bola-Okerinde, a public health professional and content creator, believes that there’s a big difference between the two, “A vision board is a visual representation of your dreams and aspirations. I am a fervent list maker but one thing I find is that my lists are very brief. I overwhelm myself with things I need to do and I don’t go into detail when it come to actioning my plans. I usually keep my to-do list locked away and often don’t get everything done.”
Victoria Bola-Okerinde
Bola-Okerinde believes that vision boards inspire people to dream big, “A vision board is important because it allows you to freely dream beyond your limitations. Subconsciously, every time I look at my vision board I am making affirmations and visualizing success. Consciously, I take small and steady steps to manifest my vision. Vision boards are a source of motivation and inspiration, but they also help you to focus and refocus when you get a bit lost.”
The Power of Vision Board Parties
At first glance, the art of creating a vision board may seem like a project that is often done by yourself. But, the reality is that it is often quite the contrary. Vision Board Parties have been popping up endlessly throughout the past couple of years. Recently, communities have come together to bring their vision boards to fruition and solidify their purpose.
A Sample of Mines Vision Planning – Supplies
A Sample of Mines Vision Planning, founded by Monique Sample and Pam Mines in 2015, is a Richmond-based company that’s passionate about vision planning. In addition to offering vision board parties, this company also offers help in creating “happyness jars”, “reflections”, and ways for individuals to “plant the seed.”
A Sample of Mines Vision Planning – PFF Students Vision Board Party at VCU
A Sample of Mines Vision Planning hopes that people walk away from their vision board parties inspired for the future, “We want people to walk away with an excitement for life and an improved way to talk and think about their lives, themselves, and the things that they want. Vision planning is about changing how you see yourself, your life, your dreams, and the things ahead of you. We have made our own visions our focus; we just want to help others make their dreams their focus.”
Making Their Goals a Reality
Pam Mines and Monique Sample
Goal setting is a tool that has stood the test of time, but vision boards can help you take that next step to attracting what you desire into your life.
Lavene Gass and her Vision Board
Laverne Gass has manifested many things from her vision board, “Some things I’ve manifested from vision boards are getting accepted and graduating graduate school, starting businesses, selling out my first theater production, traveling, and garnering media attention to name a few.”
The professionals behind A Sample of Mines Vision Planning proclaimed that the interview with Urban Views Weekly, and a bigger media presence in general, was one of the things that they were looking to manifest, “Other things we have on our vision board include more client referrals, an increase in our philanthropic approach, travel to other areas outside Richmond to expose people to vision planning and so much more.”
A Sample of Mines Vision Planning – Church Group Vision Planning Event
A Sample of Mines Vision Planning continues, stating that they “practice what they teach”, “We started “Sample of Mines” after realizing that many people were blindly trying to go through life without a plan, and that people needed to “write their vision” and believe in it. We are passionate about vision planning. We both apply it to our lives and live it 100%.”
