In the pursuit of personal growth and success, many people turn to tools that promise to help manifest their dreams. One such tool that has gained widespread popularity in recent years is the vision board. A vision board is a physical or digital collage of images, words, and phrases that represent your goals and desires. It’s meant to serve as a constant visual reminder of your aspirations, whether they be career-related, personal, or even related to health and relationships. But as appealing as they are, the question remains: Do vision boards really work?
In this blog post, we will explore the psychology behind vision boards, the evidence supporting or disputing their effectiveness, and how you can create a vision board that helps you turn your dreams into reality.
What is a Vision Board?
At its core, a vision board is a creative tool designed to help you focus on your goals and ambitions. People use vision boards to visualize where they want to go in life, whether it’s a new job, a healthier lifestyle, a thriving relationship, or financial freedom. By gathering images, quotes, and other items that resonate with your dreams, you create a collage that visually represents your ideal future.
The idea is that by regularly viewing your vision board, you can reinforce the mindset and behaviors necessary to bring these goals to fruition. The vision board serves not only as an inspirational tool but also as a physical representation of your future self. The concept was popularized by books like The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, which advocates the “Law of Attraction” — the idea that like attracts like and that focusing on positive thoughts and images can attract positive outcomes.
The Psychology Behind Vision Boards
To understand whether vision boards really work, we need to dive into the psychological principles behind them. While the Law of Attraction has been criticized for being overly simplistic and somewhat mystical, there are proven psychological principles that support the idea of visualizing goals.
1. The Power of Visualization
Visualization is a technique that has been studied for decades. It involves imagining yourself achieving a goal in as much detail as possible. Research in sports psychology, for example, shows that athletes who use visualization techniques tend to perform better. When athletes visualize themselves winning, their brains activate in the same way as when they are physically practicing.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology found that athletes who visualized their performance consistently improved their physical performance compared to those who did not. The brain doesn’t distinguish between actually performing a task and vividly imagining it, which means that regularly visualizing success can help you build the neural pathways necessary for achieving your goals.
With a vision board, the act of constantly seeing images related to your dreams can help program your mind for success. It can make the achievement of these goals feel more tangible and attainable.
2. The Reticular Activating System (RAS)
The Reticular Activating System is a network of neurons in the brain that helps filter out irrelevant information and focuses attention on what’s important. It acts as a kind of mental GPS. For example, when you decide to buy a particular car, you suddenly start noticing that make and model everywhere, even though you may not have noticed them before. This is your RAS at work.
By surrounding yourself with visual reminders of your goals — through a vision board — you train your RAS to focus on the opportunities and information related to those goals. Essentially, your mind starts seeking out ways to help you achieve your aspirations, whether it’s a new job listing, an inspiring article, or a new connection that can help you advance your career. Vision boards, then, can act as a tool to “hack” your RAS and keep you focused on your desired outcomes.
3. The Law of Attraction
The Law of Attraction suggests that focusing on positive thoughts and visualizing success can attract positive experiences into your life. While the Law of Attraction has been criticized for lacking scientific evidence, its proponents argue that cultivating a positive mindset can lead to improved actions, which can, in turn, lead to positive results.
By using a vision board, you are consciously focusing on the things you want to achieve. This focus can result in an increased sense of motivation, higher self-confidence, and a more positive outlook on life — all of which can lead to actions that help make your goals a reality.
Evidence: Do Vision Boards Actually Work?
While the psychological principles mentioned above offer strong support for the idea that vision boards can be effective, the actual scientific evidence is more limited. The Law of Attraction, for instance, lacks rigorous scientific backing, and there haven’t been many studies specifically testing the effectiveness of vision boards. However, some research suggests that the principles behind vision boards are rooted in established psychological concepts like goal setting, visualization, and self-affirmation.
1. Goal Setting and Achievement
The process of creating a vision board often involves setting clear and specific goals. Research has shown that writing down your goals and breaking them into actionable steps increases the likelihood of achieving them. A study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, found that people who wrote down their goals were 42% more likely to achieve them than those who didn’t. While a vision board is not a direct form of goal-setting, it can serve as a constant reminder of your goals, helping you stay focused and motivated.
2. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
The idea that belief in your own success can increase your chances of success is not new. The self-fulfilling prophecy theory suggests that if you believe something will happen, you will unconsciously adjust your behavior in ways that make it more likely to happen. Vision boards may tap into this psychological principle by boosting self-belief and creating a more positive mindset, which in turn may encourage you to take actions that align with your goals.
How to Make a Vision Board That Works
If you’re inspired to create your own vision board, here are a few tips to make it as effective as possible:
1. Be Specific
Instead of vague images like “success” or “happiness,” use specific images and words that reflect tangible goals. For example, if you want to land a new job, include images of the type of office or role you desire. If you want better health, include images of nutritious foods or an athletic goal.
2. Focus on Emotion
It’s not just about what you want but how achieving it will make you feel. Choose images and words that evoke powerful emotions. The more you connect emotionally to your goals, the more motivated you will be to work toward them.
3. Place It in a Visible Location
To benefit from the psychological power of your vision board, place it somewhere you’ll see it regularly, whether that’s above your desk, in your bedroom, or as your phone wallpaper.
4. Combine with Action
While visualization is powerful, it’s important to take actionable steps toward your goals. A vision board alone won’t bring results unless you actively work toward your dreams. Use the board as a reminder to stay focused and motivated, but always take concrete steps toward your objectives.
Whether or not you believe in the Law of Attraction, there’s no denying that the act of visualizing your goals and seeing them represented regularly can boost motivation, clarity, and focus. Ultimately, the power of the vision board lies not in magic, but in its ability to help you stay connected to your dreams and inspire you to take action to make them a reality.
