Creating a Vision
Jo Leath.
Placing pictures on a Vision Board is a little like naming a destination as
you settle behind the wheel of your car. Before ever turning the ignition
key, it is good to know where you would like to get to.
Imagine that you get into your car today, with a plan to get to Halifax.
Even if you have never driven there before, there is no need to micro-manage
the details. There are signs, junctions, choices you can make. It doesn’t
really matter, while you are still at home, exactly where you will stop for
coffee, or which are your favourite comfort stops. You know that Halifax is
accessible by car, and you can set out with confidence.
It is not impossible that when the journey is underway, an obstacle causes
a detour. Perhaps a construction site causes a diversion through a small
town instead of a long stretch on the highway, or maybe heavy rains have
caused a hazard and it makes more sense to head south and approach the city
from the west instead of the north.
You are clear about your destination. It remains unchanged, and perhaps you
enjoy the drive more than you might have done otherwise. Maybe this is an
unexpected opportunity to visit a shop you have heard about, or enjoy a cup
of tea with a rarely-seen friend. When you reach your objective, it is as
you intended, and your day may have been enriched by the unexpected aspects
of the trip.
Imagine though, if you had no destination, or only a dreamy idea of where
you might like to go.
What if you got into your car planning to just get through this kilometer?
If I can get through this, you might think, then I will worry about what’s
next. To get through the next kilometer is a small, easily achievable goal,
and yet any obstacle, however small, becomes a huge impediment. A detour
might be ten times as big as the initial 1 kilometer goal. That is disheartening. That is overwhelming. That may even be a reason to give up and go home. or perhaps, eventually, you would reach your objective. It would have been a journey fraught with not knowing, with difficulty and even fear.
For many of us, our approach to all of life is about ‘getting through the
day' – or week or pay-period. Some of us just want to make it through until
after a stressful committee meeting, or when the grandchildren go home, or
until we can’t be in the garden every day. We make a plan to delay any
thought of what might be possible a little further along in life. There is
no goal, no target, and no vision. We have not looked within to find what
we believe our purpose to be.
Making a vision board is like seeing that Halifax destination. Knowing
where you’re going lets you enjoy the journey. A closed lane on a bridge is
just another irritant to cope with, not a Major Life Problem. A detour off
the highway is a chance to enjoy the scenic surroundings we so often take
for granted. All is well with the world.
A vision board is a wonderful way to remind ourselves of where we are
going, even when we are not at all certain how we might get there.
I put an image of two people on a board in the spring of 2009. It was a
wish to spend more happy time with some specific family members, people I
love. They live and work near Ottawa. I live in the Annapolis Valley. I had
no idea how “more time with them” could possibly happen, and I did not
invest any energy looking at whether I wanted to go to see them, or I
wanted them to drive to see me. I simply put out the idea that having me
with them, more laughter and fun with them was a place I wanted to reach.
Within weeks I received a phone call. They were planning a road trip, would
I like to come along?
Thank you. Universe, that works just fine.
©Jo Leath MMXI
Jo's next VisionBoard workshop is being held on Sunday 22nd January at Apple Pie Pottery and Gallery. 106 Main Street. Middleton
1-30-4.30 p.m.
Visionboards for New Year 2012
What would you like to be feeling this time next year? Proud of your accomplishments? Content in your relationships? Enthusiastic about specific projects? Excited about travel opportunities?
Come and create a visual depiction of the way you want to feel, and take it home to remind you of your direction for this year.
$35.00 includes supplies.
Please pre-register at 902 765 0415 before January 20th
