Last week I had the opportunity to create a “vision board.” If you aren’t familiar with this, it’s basically an arts and crafts experiment. You take some old magazines and cut out pictures that jump out at you or illustrate what you want your future to look like. Then, you make a collage of everything and stick it up on some cardboard with a glue stick.
Normally, this kind of exercise wouldn’t be something that would interest me, but at my age I have to take advantage of every new experience while I can. I have to tell you, I was very pleased with the result and (much more important) I had a blast doing it. I was surprised by what came out of it. I suppose it was my “inner artist” communicating with me for the first time since 5th grade.
In my particular case, material wealth didn’t materialize on my board. This may seem funny coming from a financial planner, but becoming rich is far from the most important thing in my life.
In any event, this is an exercise I highly recommend for the entire family. It’s inexpensive and fun. If you don’t have any magazines, just go down to the hair salon and ask if they could give you a few dozen old ones. That’s all you need to get started, really. Grab some cardboard and a glue stick and you’re good.
You’ll learn something about yourself. You’ll get clarity on the things you value that you may take for granted or lack focus on. At least, that’s what happened for me.
Have you ever done a vision board? What was your experience?
Now, to help you afford the vision for your future…
Let’s get on to the Pilgrim Picks for the week:
To start things off, how about my buddy Len Penzo giving away $100 to a lucky reader to show his appreciation? Check it out my friends and score yourself a nice Benjamin.
Alternative Asset Classes that Are Easy to Own
Income Tax 101: Tax Brackets and Withholding
Tips for Self-Preparing and Filing Your Income Taxes
5 Lessons Dave Ramsey Taught Me about Healthy Living
A Resolution Worth Keeping: Set Up an Investment Account with an Online Brokerage
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Changes for 2011 – The new rules don’t change what’s eligible with a FSA, but they do change whether or not you will actually be able to pay for it. Here’s a recap of the FSA changes for 2011.
TurboTax Online Tax Software 2010 Review – TurboTax is still the industry standard for tax prep software. See why.
Reverse Mortgage Disadvantages – How to talk Grandma out of one of the potentially worst financial decisions she could make.
Moolanomy offers some ideas on reducing credit card debt through balance transfers.
Momvesting talks about when two incomes become one.
Joe Taxpayer asks how you’re going to spend your tax refund?
Is the Military Homeowner’s Assistance Program Taxable?
What is a P/E Ratio?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for including us!
I haven’t created a vision board yet, but I know I need to. I’ve heard amazing stories about people who visualize their goals and dreams regularly.
I created a vision board about 2 years just as an experiment to see if it worked. I wanted a new job.
So I took one of my favorite newspapers, cut out the front page, printed out a headline with an affirmation of the job and salary I desired, and pasted the affirmation on the newspaper as the headline.
Within 7 months of creating the vision board I had the job and the exact salary I pasted on the newspaper. Yeah, I am convinced….vision boards do work.
Today I have created a new vision board with my new goals and dreams…and this time I am shooting for bigger dreams!
Terry,,,,that is awesome! I can’t wait to hear about your continued success! Send me a pic of your board if you are so inclined.