1. New Directions by Thomas Hushen
Service Coordinator-HRC
A new year is upon us, and people are making New Years I like using a glue stick, Glue or Rubber cement.
resolutions”, however, they lose sight of them as they fade Before you begin your vision board:
away after about a month or so! Is it possible to truly move in
Make a little ritual before you begin your vision board. Sit
new directions that will lead us to the very life that we only
quietly and set the intention of what direction in life you want
dream of? Yes it is! The secret is having a vision for your life
to go. With lots of kindness and openness, ask yourself what
and keeping that vision alive on a daily basis. Think positively
it is you really want. Images may come, words, emotions
and ask yourself, “What is it that I really want my life to be”?
may come up. Just take a moment to be with those. This
process makes it a deeper experience.
Often we get so caught up in the search for “wellness” that Now that you’re ready…here are the “directions”
we never really focus on our direction in life. We live in the
Selectively flip through your magazines and tear images
past, robbing ourselves of the present moment, which is all
and phrases and words from pages, things that represent
we really have. Often times, life stressors cause us to experi- the new direction you wish to go in. Next cut them and place
ence increased depression, worry, anxiety, fear and many them into a pile. No gluing yet! Just let yourself have lots of
other symptoms that only serve to hold us back and keep us fun looking through magazines! Have fun with it.
where we already are. By spending most of our time focusing
on our problems, we lose “sight” of our vision and direction in Go through the images and begin to lay your favorites on
life. As a result, we end up merely “existing” rather than the board. Eliminate any images that no longer feel are right.
“living”. This step is where your intuition comes in. As you lay the
pictures on the board, you’ll get a sense how the board
The good news is that we can make a positive change in our should be laid out. For instance, you might assign a theme
lives! The key to this process is to “take action”. It means be- for different parts of the board (Health, Financial, Job, Sobri-
ing honest and real with your self and being willing to em- ety, Spirituality, Relationships, for example).
brace the changes that need to happen and view them as an
Now, glue everything onto the board. Add writing if you
“opportunity” rather than a “challenge”. In doing so, you can want. You can paint on it, or write words with markers. Be
and will create the reality you desire! creative and as wild as you want it to be! Enjoy yourself!
There is an project that can easily be done that will help you This next step is optional, but powerful: Leave space in the
to go in new directions to create your life vision. It is an effec- very center of the vision board for a good photo of yourself.
tive tool that many people have used to help facilitate the Paste your self in the center of your board.
process of change in their lives. It’s called a “Vision Board”. It Finally and most importantly, hang your finished vision
is a creative, fun and inspiring way to help you get to where board in a place where you will see it everyday, perhaps in
you want to go! Here’s how… the kitchen, bathroom or on the back of your front door. Look
at it frequently. Keep the vision alive daily!
Create a “Vision Board”
What is a Vision Board? A vision board (also called a Treas- Each time you look at your vision board, it will remind you of
ure Map) is typically poster boards on which you paste or col- the direction you want to go. And as “your thoughts create
lage images that you’ve torn out from various magazines. It’s your world”, you will undoubtedly see your new life vision
fun, simple and very inexpensive to make! begin to manifest in your life!
The idea behind this is project is to surround yourself with Happy New Year, Happy New You! ~
images of who you want to become, what you want to have "It takes a lot of courage
and where you want to go in life. This project redirects your to release the familiar and
mind from the past, and puts before you, a blank slate on seemingly secure, to em-
which you can begin to redesign your life. I highly recom- brace the new. But there
mend getting a group together to do this project, it’s fun to is no real security in what
clip, cut, glue, paste and laugh, and yes, look at all the cata- is no longer meaningful.
logs and fun things in them! Take your time and enjoy the There is more security in
process. the adventurous and ex-
Supplies you’ll need for creating a Vision Board: citing, for in movement
- Poster board. (The Dollar Tree has a really nice variety of there is life, and in
poster board in matte finish poster board) change there is power."
- A big stack of magazines. Ask friends, family and others to ~K'jerrel Smith, PhD
supply you with magazines, catalogs etc. (Make sure you find
lots of different types. If you limit your options, you’ll lose in-
terest after a while. Thomas Hushen is a Service Coordinator and
- scissors to cut out your chosen pictures (you can also tear
them out, giving your masterpiece more texture). SacPort Instructor at Human Resource Consultants
- Glue. Not Elmer’s. (It makes the pages ripple.) (HRC) www.hrcrst.org