Creating A Family Vision Board
Having a clear vision of what you want in life is the fastest way to get there. Without knowing what you want, how can you possibly have it?
I’ve taught my children from a very young age to believe that anything is possible.
Rather than protecting them from potential disappointment by keeping their expectations realistic, I encourage them to believe they have the power to make it happen.
Back in 2012 when my boys were 12 and 9 I decided it was a great time to create a Family Vision Board. It was the school holidays and felt like a good thing to keep us all occupied.
I never imagined what an impact this project would have.
It’s a great tool for getting clear about what you want in your life.
I love helping my kids know that they are only limited by their own mind and this was a fun way to get them thinking about their future.
I began with a cozy one-on-one session, asking questions and writing down key words in their answers.
- Where would you like to travel one day? What would you do there? How would it be?
- Are there places you’ve been to that you’d like to revisit?
- What things would you like to be good at?
Then a bit of time travel:
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What do you see yourself doing in 5/10/20 years time?
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What will you do for fun?
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What kind of jobs might you have?
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Which people will be in your life?
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What will your hobbies be?
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Will you play any sports, musical instruments or have any special talents?
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How would you like to feel in the future?
I kept this session very chatty with no right or wrong answers and certainly no judgement over anything seeming far fetched or not what I’d had in mind for them.
We giggled and laughed and dreamed. They asked me questions too and I wrote down some of my own visions.
My husband was away working (and this isn’t exactly his cup of tea anyway), so I added some ideas for him as well, based on things I’d heard him say he’d like for the future.
We needed a lot of space to create this Family Vision Board and I had a eureka moment… We had a long blank wall in the corridor to the garage – this would be the perfect place!
I went out in search of poster boards thinking that each family member could create their own and we’d hang them side by side, but the shop didn’t have anything like this. However I found a big roll of paper table cloth.
We rolled it out with each boy taking a separate end, me in the middle.
We used magazines, scissors and glue and searched for photos of the things on our dream lists. (Plus any new ideas prompted by the magazines.) We used Google Images for anything we couldn’t find.
Here’s the making of the board:
So many great discoveries came out of this. I learned that my youngest wants to be good at baking (who knew?) and my eldest wants to marry someone he loves and become a star in a job he likes. They both want University degrees (yay!) and have some amazing ideas for travel adventures all over the world.
We continue to add to our board when fresh ideas come. In Spring of 2013 I watched a particularly inspirational video by online business coach Marie Forleo and decided to add her photo to the board, not really having a specific goal in my mind, but just wanting her up there.
Three days later I heard about Marie Forleo’s B School – and I found myself enrolling just one day before the cut-off!
It was B-School that taught me how to get the online presence I needed to get the attention of a book publisher – and I ended up turning Project Me into an online business I love! (See how this works!?)
*Update: In the image above you’ll see a Best Sellers book listing that I mocked up with a #1 book written by me…. That dream vision led to my book publishing deal! The power of the Vision Board!!!
Be sure your vision board includes gratitude for what you already have. Pictures of you doing something you love, places you’ve been or people that mean a lot to you. Being thankful for what you have opens you up to receiving even more. (A great lesson for the kids.)
Have fun creating your Vision Board There’s no right or wrong way – whatever works works for you and your family. If wall space is limited, create smaller boards. Make sure they’re somewhere you can see them and keep adding to them. Dream big!
** Update: I have now posted a brand new blog about how and why making a Vision Board works and why I make my own smaller annual board every year! You can read that here.
AND… Both of my sons are now at university, my eldest is indeed a DJ and we’ve had many fun family trips to the places we put on our Family Vision Board!
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I think creating a family vision board is a great idea! My children are young – 7, 5, 3 & 1…and sometimes I don’t think we give kids enough credit. They DO have dreams even as young as they are, and I’d love to hear them.
Thanks for the tip!
So true Mariah – we need to give even the littlest ones credit for dreaming and never dismiss their ideas or they will forever be second guessing themselves.
When my son was 4 and wanted to be a rubbish collector I never told him all of the reasons I thought that was a bad idea. I let him tell me how cool it would be to ride on the back of the truck (knowing he’d change his own mind when he got older without any help from me.) Often we just need to listen and be amazed 🙂
I love this idea of yours kelly. I remember when you did this with your boys & one of them wanted to swim with dolphins & I suggested you all come to New Zealand to do this!! I am definitely going to do this vision board with my kids on a rainy day over the holidays!!
Yes Emma – we still need to take you up on that!!! 🙂 Send us a pic of your Vision Board once you’ve done it!
Hi guys. I’m also interested in visualization theme. I’ve created an online version of dreams board(prototype), check it please, maybe you’ll like it. I’ll be happy to read any comments from you:
mustdream.com
Thanks)
Thanks Pamela – we’ll check it out 🙂 Love the power of visualisation!
I came over here from Tiny Buddha (great, great job Kelly!). But I adore this idea!! I am going to buy some posterboard and do this activity with the family. My hubby is sort of like yours…”not into that sort of stuff” but I will also make one for him. 😉
Thanks Robyn – I’m so happy it’s inspired you to create your own Family Vision Board. Although my husband has never been into it, he recently glued his very first picture onto the board! A photo of a vintage car he’s had his heart set on since he was a teenager. (The car from Heart to Heart!) Now that its there on the board – I’m convinced he’ll be driving it soon…
Good luck with yours! I’d love to see a pic once you’ve created it.
Hello! I also hopped over here from Tiny Buddha. I love your blog and Project Me. Very empowering. Ooh, Kelly – do you really live in Madrid? Me too! Lucky us, eh?! I’m looking forward to reading more and I will be sharing this with my mum-friends too. Great job!
Hello my fellow Madrileno! Yes – I live in Pozuelo (in the ‘burbs). So happy you found Project Me and hope to connect with you more 🙂
Ha! I’m in the burbs too – just down the road in Las Rozas! Defo looking forward to connecting more with you, almost-neighbour! 🙂
I’ve just followed your link and discovered your website! mylittlespanishnotebook.wordpress.com
I’ve been living in Spain for 3.5 years and was making great improvements in my Espanol until I started this website! Now all I do is think, write and speak in English (except rare times I venture out to buy food – ha ha!)
I’ll share your site with my Goals Group – many of whom have goals to improve their Spanish this year. I’ll let you know about the upcoming workshops I run out of my home 🙂
Cool! V. interested in your workshops. I took some coaching a couple of years ago, (also in Pozuelo, funnily enough) and it was fantastic! Thanks for sharing my site. I’ll be sharing yours too. If I can work out how to message you privately I will let you know of some fun mums-in-the-burbs type groups you might be interested in! I’m sure they’d be interested in you!
Good to know that you did B School! Can’t wait… 😉
You’ll LOVE B School Adrienn!! 🙂
Another here via Tiny Buddha! I can’t tell you how much I needed to read about this Project today. I’m coming along for the ride 🙂
Woo hoo! It’s going to be a great ride Mama G!!! Glad you’re on board 🙂
Hi Kelly,
I’ve always beleived in dream boards and have encouraged my children to do them separately But, I LOVE this idea! I will definitely put this idea to use. 🙂
So happy it inspired you Leslie! We absolutely love ours 🙂 We’d love to see a pic of yours: email us – hello@myprojectme.com x
[…] http://myprojectme.com/creating-a-family-vision-board/ […]
Oh wow, this is just wonderful. We will definitely be making one of these; we’ve been talking to our almost 4 year old a lot recently about being who are, following your dreams and being who you want to be. What a wonderful celebrations of our achievements and aspirations!
Katie, your child is lucky to have a mama who supports and encourages them to be their own person and dream big! Have fun creating your vision board. xx
[…] teach my children to believe that anything is possible and encourage them to write their goals […]
[…] art, lego, play solitaire, listen to music, build a fort, take photos or videos, work on their Vision Board. Things to do with siblings – board/card games, make believe / dressing up, trains, cars, dolls, […]
[…] boys and I created an amazing Family Vision Board. Check it […]
Love this! Was looking to creating a vision board for myself for 2015. Never thought of having my kids do one! Really looking forward to making one with them. Thanks for the idea.
You’re so very welcome Joanne. I’m happy you feel inspired to do this with your kids! 🙂
What a cool idea! This would be a great family night right before school starts or as a mega project for Thanksgiving. Pinned and subscribing. I found you on the 5 Minutes for Mom G+ community.
Hi Heaven! Thanks for your great comment – nice to meet you and welcome to Project Me! Thanks also for telling me how you found Project Me. I look forward to hearing about your Family Vision Board. Send pics 🙂
[…] Thank you to everyone who came to our family workshop last night! It was a lot of fun to watch you create with your kids and talk about your hopes and goals for your family. If you missed the workshop, this is a great project to do at home! Here are some simple instructions to create your own family vision board at home: http://myprojectme.com/creating-a-family-vision-board/ […]
I love this Kelly! I was literally just thinking on the school run this morning that I don’t really have a vision for my life in 10-15 years time – I don’t think I can bear the thought of my boys leaving and having an empty nest! So this would be a lovely thing to do as a family. Thank you for the inspiration as always.
You’re welcome for the inspiration Vicki! Funnily enough, I’ve been thinking about how my boys will have flown the coop in a few short years and there is SO much I want to see and do when that next chapter of my life begins. I have a feeling Project Me will evolve as I do, so with kids a bit younger than mine, just watch this space! I feel a programme for ‘Empty Nesters’ coming on….. 🙂
Kelly I think about you often when I look up at my vision board, not only because of “success beyond our wildest dreams” is pasted up there (ha ha!), but because you’re the one who really got me interested in doing a vision board in the first place. Some amazing things have come out of it and I look forward to adding to it in the new year. I love the family vision board idea and will definitely give it a go when my son is old enough!
Awwww – I love it Catarina! Yes, continue to add to your own board – DREAM BIG! And this will be so fun to do wth your little guy in the not too distant future. xx
Hi Kelly, I was looking for ideas to make my vision board for 2016 but I didn’t know exactly how ro include my son in it. Your site gave me the best ideas to make one for us together and one for him and his dreams. We are from Colombia and we live in Bogota. I used to be a school teacher but 6 months ago I decided to star homeschooling. My blog is the journey of my son Christopher (Shishu) and me. It’s in spanish You will get to practice tour spanish! Anyway, thanks for your ideas!
You’re so welcome Lilian! Thanks for taking the time to comment and let me know 🙂 I’ll check out your blog – you’re right, good practice for my espanol!
Thanks for sharing Kelly. Tony Robbins is amazing isn’t he? I love his live event and programs. They are so life-changing. So glad that you went to UPW.
He’s amazing indeed! A true inspiration and I’d love to attend another one of his events 🙂
[…] pictures, markers, stickers, etc to make a colorful dream board or “vision board” for the family to share. Post it in a prominent place in your home and refer to it often. […]
Hi Kelly, what do you think about the idea of digital vision board? For example, a desktop wallpaper or the mobile phone saver screen? Would it work the same way as a physical vision board?
Sure! I think any of that is a great idea, so long as you remember to look at it on a very regular basis. It’s the repetition of seeing it often and pausing to feel it in your heart and believing it will happen that seals the deal! Great question, thanks for asking 🙂
Hi Kelly,
Can I ask which video of Marie’s you watched? So many are excellent, but I don’t want to miss the one you mentioned.
Thanks,
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
I came across this site looking for Tony Robbins inspiration having been to UPW in London last year!
We’ve just had a our first child and these are some perfect tips for something my wife is working on so thank you!
She may be in touch shortly…
Hi Kelly,
Me – again! Just to let you know the vision board is up and looks fantastic!
I found this group on facebook called DIY on a budget that also helped with design! I’ll try and post a pic here!
Hi – very happy to hear you’ve had success with your Vision Board and I’d love to see it! Send it to hello@myprojectme.com 🙂
[…] Create A Family Vision Board […]
[…] in the present tense as if it’s already your reality, really FEEL how it will be, create a vision board of pictures that support your goal. Use a notebook immediately following this meditation to capture […]
[…] school or academic goals do your children have? What personal fitness goals do you have? Here’s a step by step if you’ve never done it before, but let everyone’s goal have a valid place on the […]
[…] get you there. Reflecting back on the time frame of my book dream… In 2012 I put it on my Vision Board. I had no website, no platform, no idea other than a title and logo. (I took the time to type it up […]
[…] It may seem counterintuitive to give away money when you’re trying to attract more, but generosity raises your feel-good vibes and it’ll come back to you ten-fold. When the new 5 pound notes came out in the UK it felt like fake plastic money to me. If I passed a homeless person and had a £5 note in my bag, I gave it away. (Don’t lecture me on not giving homeless people money – sometimes I can’t help it.) Guess what happened straight after I’d manifested that SURGE of financial abundance I wrote about earlier? I went to the cash machine to make a big withdrawal feeling super grateful and… the machine spat out ALL £5 notes! That had never happened to me before – so I took it as a sign from the Universe and began giving them out freely on that bitterly cold winter day in London. Generosity also comes in the form of being helpful, kind and doing random acts of kindness. Give freely of yourself and it will come back to you. It’s also good to visualise which charity(s) you’ll support generously once you’re in a position to do so. Add their logos to a Vision Board. […]
[…] art, lego, play solitaire, listen to music, build a fort, take photos or videos, work on their Vision Board. Things to do with siblings – board/card games, make believe / dressing up, trains, cars, […]
Vision boards are the best.
I can’t wait to implement a vision board for my family. Thd y have big goals and I know they will achieve them but this will help us keep our eye on the prize.
Wonderful! BIG things are possible when you keep your visions alive!!! 🙂
Vision boards are a really powerful tool to help kids organize their ideas and dreams. kids may sometimes feel a bit discouraged when they put in a lot of effort and don’t get anything in return. Vision boards teach you patience and persistence.
Also, some kids may not begin to know what they want, let alone their parents, so having examples that you put here really helps.
I actually have a few ideas of my own, if you care to take a look https://aliciaortego.com/vision-boards-for-kids/