I’m looking around at all the New Year’s resolution, word of the year, and motivations that are inundating my email and social feeds and seeing hope and change swirling in the air. Frankly I love this time of year. It offers a rhythm to self reflection that allows for completions and new beginnings. Acknowledging the accomplishments of the past year, along with the lessons, is a meaningful way to allow for both celebration and a pivot, in a choiceful and deliberate way.
Personally, I’ve never been into resolutions. I’ve tried them. I’ve broken them quickly, and I’ve moved on without a second thought. Clearly they don’t work for me. On the other hand, I have been an avid word or phrase of the year user and find that it actually is a powerful way to refocus myself through the year. I use it as a touchstone to both notice when it is showing up and to re-loop back to it when I notice I am far adrift. It is a tool that is more of a mindful slogan to keep me connected to my change of year intentions.
That being say, my favorite New Year focusing tradition is actually the vision board. This is where I cement my word/phrase and visually create the path of manifestation in my life. It could be that this method works best for me because I am a visual learner. I make the vision board and keep it accessible and visible throughout the year. And it is a powerful process indeed. I’ve also learned that those images I choose are particularly powerful both consciously and sub-consciously. For example, if I want connection in my life I need to make sure I have a visual way of connecting the elements of the board. If I want ease and flow I definitely want images that include flowing water vs. strong waves of change. If I want relationship enhancement I won’t be putting an image of empty chairs even if they look like they are “inviting.” Yes, I’m learning from past mistakes. The power of specific images, combined with my intention, is indeed mystical and magical.
This year as I jump into the process of creating my vision board I know there are specific arenas in my life I want to focus on and support. I create manifestation by starting with envisioning. It’s all about seeing in my mind’s eye how I want my life to unfold before I ever put a thing on my board. For me it’s not about creating a checklist of goals (although there is value in a list of goals as a tool once the vision is created). It’s about imagining what I desire and getting my other senses involved too. I let myself daydream into what I want my life to feel like, look like, sound like. What am I doing in the future that brings me joy or that resonates with my intention? Who am I doing it with? What am I wearing or eating? What does it feel like emotionally when I envision the outcome I desire? Are there sights, sounds, smells, tastes associated with any of it? Does it connect to my intentions in any other area in my life that I will put on the board? I linger in the daydreaming phase for a bit because that lets me experience my desire in a creative way. It is the emotions we feel that inspire the decisions we make which in turn attracts those experiences to us. A feeling of “want” attracts situations that involve more wanting. A feeling of success attracts more opportunities to succeed.
Once that daydreaming stage feels comfortable, exciting, and complete then I allow images that correlate and support it to draw me in so I can add them to my vision board in very specific ways. For example, if I have health on my board that’s too broad – I depict what I want … if it’s increased self care I may put a massage, spa, or reading and candle images there. If it’s more action and movement I may put images of walking, exercise, etc. When I take the outcomes I want and solidify them into specific images I know my board will reflect what I want for next year vs. what I just had in last year or think I have in this moment. The images call me forward into a future I have envisioned.
Right now I’m knee deep in that process. I’d love to hear how you wrap up one year and embark on the juiciness of possibility for the next year.
Keep moving forward – in an easy, joyful, abundant, and positive way … and be blessed!
