I’ve been mulling over something different to do this year on New Year’s Eve. For the past several years, I spent NYE surrounded with old magazines, a large piece of tag board, scissors and tape, constructing a vision board. Many times, I made it a party with friends, happily chatting while we taped pictures of our dreams on tagboard, and when finished, sharing what each picture meant to us. This process set intention for our future, clarifying individual focus for the year ahead.
There’s something powerful about a vision board. The first step to making one could be why. It involves searching the heart to answer the question “What do I really want in the year to come?” This question could be posed in several categories, like finances, homes, relationships or travel. Carefully cut and artfully displayed pictures of what we want on a piece of tagboard seems to cement the answer to that question to give hopes and dreams a solid base to develop into reality.
This Has Been Widely Successful for Me
As I look over vision boards from years past, it’s nothing short of amazing how many happenings and occurrences have lined up to those pictures. I’m humbled and awestruck how this has consistently worked for me and for my group of friends.
(Keep reading to find out the ONE thing that I’ve had on my vision board year after year that has NOT happened in my life. YET.)
Perhaps it’s not about cut out magazine pictures or the words I’ve scribbled around them, or the hope that dreams may come true. The time devoted to contemplating and visualizing what I truly want, is the catalyst that makes this work.This is what it’s all about. By self-reflection and then visualization, I found that I move from vague aspirations to clear, actionable intentions for the year ahead.
Keeping your vision board where you can see it, is part of making goals and dreams come true. The part of the brain called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) is the brainstem network that acts as your brain’s filter, controlling arousal, consciousness, and attention, prioritizing sensory input and helping you focus.
“By consistently viewing your vision board, you value tag your goals, signaling to your RAS to prioritize your vision board content. This causes you to actively notice opportunities, people and ideas that align with your aspirations.”
Use Your Vision Board to Inspire and Guide Your Actions
Mental Rehearsal and Emotion
Visualizing your goals activates the same areas of the brain as experiencing them, creating a powerful emotional connection. This mental practice can increase motivation and confidence, as your brain begins to believe your goals are possible and even probable.
Motivation and Action
The positive emotions generated from visualizing success, combined with the constant reminder of your goals, can increase your motivation to take action. Seeing your progress can also boost your confidence, helping you to continue working toward your objectives.
A New Practice to Explore
This year on the NYE I will make a vision board, and I’m going to add something new. I’ve been contemplating the value of writing a letter to myself. In this letter, I will jot down how 2025 went, including successes as well as disappointments. The year held so many blessings, small wins, and lessons. It brought some heartaches that are hurtful and vivid.
I may forget about some of these events by the time December 2026 rolls around. In fact, I’m sure I will. Time moves on and so do circumstances, difficulties, successes. Everything will morph into something else after 12 months of moving forward. It will be interesting to read how I felt as this year ended, what impacted me the most, and then read the hopes for the year that were important one year ago. While focusing on the present moment, I’ll be looking ahead to the future year.
How to Write a Year-End Letter
Here’s a few pointers to help you write a letter to yourself.
- List the fun you had.
- Write your hopes, dreams, and vision for the year 2026.
- If you’ve had tragedies or hurts, it’s ok to put them down. Write where each situation is currently – then add where you want them to be by the end of 2026.
- Remind yourself how much you love you. Give yourself some love.
(As promised earlier in this article, here’s the one picture that I brought forward to a new board year after year. A small bright red Mazda Miata convertible!)
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Will you join me in making a vision board to view all year or writing a letter to yourself to be read one year from today? Have you done either of these in the past? What has made the most impact on your life? Please share the successes you have had with vision boards for inspiration!