Vision Boards
What are they, how do you make them and how do they work? I thought this would be a perfect topic for my blogging come back as I bow to the universal wizardry that is my vision board!
A vision board is like an altar. You need to imbue it with love and reverence, keep it alive and active, treat it with respect and know that it contains Divine mojo. Place it in a special spot where you’ll constantly see your dreams, hopes and playful fantasies. Vision boards shouldn’t be hidden! They need air and light and room to spread their magnificent wings. Don’t be shy, afraid or ashamed. Your vision board doesn’t want you to shrink like a violet it wants you to explode like thunderous stallion!
To wet you appetite about all things vision, here are 3 of my favorite vision board stories. I hope they inspire you.
Crazy Sexy Cancer & Oprah: When I decided to make my film, I wrote the words Crazy Sexy Cancer on my vision board and though many people (network executives included) told me that I would never get a show like that, with a name like that, on tv – I did. But I didn’t stop there. I tacked a magical itty-bitty note next to my dream. It read, “Oprah, save a seat for me, I’m coming”. It was a long shot, but a powerful voice inside me said that I would meet her and that my goals were within my reach. So even though I didn’t know whether or not I’d be alive let alone finish a film, I kept my eyes on the prize, poured my heart, soul and life savings into the project and 4 years later it aired on TLC and I sat on Lady O’s comfy white couch. I don’t remember much from that super surreal day (other than the fact that she liked my perfume and I liked her earrings and she called me a “Crazy Sexy Teacher,” which I thought was pretty righteous, and I ate Chinese food when it was all over), but I do remember a deep sense of accomplishment and pride.
A bit of advice to all the negative Nellies who like to rain on parades and poop on dreams: When a person is powered by faith, love, a righteous mission and a vision board, it’s best to get out of their way or you just might get hit with the holy sparkle (which wouldn’t be such a bad thing – holy sparkle definitely combats hot air).
Our Office: When Brian and I moved to Woodstock in 2004, we dreamed of having an office in town. But since money was tight, we worked from our tiny (yet energy efficient!) home. Needless to say, it was 24-7 sweat pants and laptops city! Our bedroom was our fulfillment center, our den was our office space and the kitchen table was our assistant’s work area. Not great for the marriage, not great for personal downtime.
For months I’d drooled over ads for office space in the Woodstock Times. But everything was out of our financial reach. We were building both websites at the time and the moolah from my speeches was barely paying the bills and keeping the lights on. Manifestation time!
In order to attract more space in my life I needed to get very clear about my needs. So I scoured through tons of touristy postcards of Woodstock until I found one with a picture from the exact location I wanted to be. Then I placed it on my vision board and wrote the amount of money we could spend on the card. Then I told Brian about my plans and that he had to help me manifest an office even if he didn’t believe it was possible. “Babe, fake it, I don’t care, just be on the same page with me and watch what happens!”
Here’s where the story gets wild and wonderful. I old love rugs, in fact I collect them. One day Brian spilled an entire green smoothie on my very old and very fabulous Tree of Life Rug from Turkey. Fearing my tears, he jetted to town to talk to our friend who is a rug expert. In passing, Brian mentioned that we were looking for affordable office space and if he heard of anything would he tell us. Well, not only did our friend know of a great space in the exact location we wanted, he knew about it before it went on the market so he called the owner and we got it! Did I mention that the rent was exactly what we could afford?
But perhaps my most cherished vision board story comes from my right and left hand, Corinne. It’s better if she tells it herself…take it away Corinne!
“Three years ago, I realized I’d been living someone else’s life. My first step to figuring out my own path was to quit my job and head to an ashram for a month. I spent the following year freelance writing and teaching yoga, but something still didn’t feel right. One night, I returned home from class and caught the end of Crazy Sexy Cancer on TLC. Kris Carr lit a spark in my spirit that resonated so loudly I couldn’t get her message out of my head. I had to live like I meant it and there might be a chance that I could reach for my dreams and actually achieve them.
I scoured the internet for everything Kris had written, bought a juicer, gave my diet a makeover, and started thinking more about the planet. Over time, I learned about vision boards through Kris’ blog and online community. I tore through magazines with scissors in one hand and a glue stick in the other. I pulled every image that would help me piece together my hopes for the future and slapped it on a piece of poster board. You know who was in the center of that vision board? Kris Carr of course.
I also learned about manifesting my desires during this time and I began saying daily affirmations. Each day I would say “I am happy and grateful to have a career based in wellness and that I work for Kris Carr.” I said this in the car, on my meditation cushion, in the shower, before I went to bed and any other time I had the chance to focus for a few seconds on my dreams. I had started a blog when I decided to quit my job and begin yoga teacher training and I would often write about the many ways Kris had inspired me. One day I checked on my blog only to find that Kris Carr had commented on MY blog post! I jumped around the room, yelled downstairs to my husband, printed out the comment and stuck it on my vision board. Maybe this really works, I thought.
As soon as myCSL launched, I started thinking about ways that Crazy Sexy Life could grow. Finally, I decided to send a message to Kris and tell her about my ideas. She messaged me back telling me to call her. I was floored, but dialed the number before I could get nervous. We hit it off and a few days later she asked me to meet her in NYC to brainstorm in person. The whole time I had no idea where this adventure would take me, but I knew that it felt right in my heart. Over the next few months, I got to know Kris and Brian and we turned out to be a pretty rockin’ team. A year and a half later, I’m part of the Team CSL. Not only do I work for Kris and Brian, two people who are my bosses, mentors, and friends, but I don’t feel like my job is “work.” I don’t want to make this sound like it was an easy path. I faced stress and fear along the way (and still do!), but I can say that I am truly living my dreams and that I work for two of the most creative and caring people I’ve ever met who have enriched my life in ways that I didn’t know were possible.”
Wow! Corinne’s story definitely takes the vegan cake!
Vision boards work because they allow you to turn your dreams on. They create a path that leads to action. Look at your vision board like a road map, allow yourself to believe that you are powerful beyond measure and that you deserve to live your best life. Your vision board can be a very helpful compass. But it’s not enough to post stuff and then sit on your sofa and do nothing. Plot and plan your attack!
Your tools: magazines clippings, prayers, sayings, quotes, paper to write stuff on, scissors, glue & poster board, thumb tacks & cork board, imagination, freedom, and a positive attitude, childlike whimsy, giggles, and a sense that anything is possible.
2010 is the perfect time to start a board. You have nothing to lose – well, except doubt and the blues. Share your powerful stories with us! We’d love to see your boards and hear how they’ve transformed your life.
Peace and thumbtacks,
Kris
Ps. I have missed this blog so much! Happy Healthy Love-filled Holidays Everyone!!!
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