Vision Board That Actually Works: Step-by-Step Guide

The hard truth? Most people don’t stick to their goals because they’re not truly their goals. They’re shaped by societal expectations, partners, or what they think they “should” do.

So, what do you really want? Let’s break it down, step by step, using NLP techniques to craft a vision board that’s tied to your authentic self—and actually sticks.

Before you dive into the creative and emotional process of crafting a vision board, you need clarity. Without clearly defined, meaningful goals, your vision board is just a collection of pretty pictures. Here’s your step-by-step guide to setting authentic, aligned goals that will serve as the foundation for your vision board.

Starting With How to Set Goals Before Creating Your Vision Board: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Reflect on Your Current Reality

Start by taking stock of where you are right now in key areas of your life. Use these prompts to guide your reflection:

Health: How do you feel physically? Are you prioritising your well-being?
Mindset: Are your thoughts mostly positive or negative? Do you feel resilient?
Relationships: Are you nurturing your connections? Do they feel balanced?
Business/Career: Are you growing? Are you fulfilled?
Wealth: Are you managing your finances with confidence?
Lifestyle: Does your daily life reflect your values and priorities?
Fun/Adventure: Do you feel excited and energised by your hobbies or experiences?
Impact: Are you contributing to something greater than yourself?

💡 Why? You need to understand where you are to determine where you want to go.

Step 2: Identify What’s Missing

Ask yourself:

What areas of my life feel off balance or neglected?
Where do I feel stuck or unfulfilled?
What am I craving more of?

Write these down. Be specific. For example, instead of “I want more money,” try “I want financial stability so I can feel secure and enjoy my life.”

💡 Why? Recognising what’s missing gives you clarity on what to prioritise.

Step 3: Determine What Truly Matters

It’s time to separate societal “shoulds” from your authentic wants. Ask yourself:

What goals excite me the most?
Am I chasing this goal for me, or because I feel I should?
If no one could see or judge my choices, what would I pursue?

💡 Why? When your goals align with your true desires, you’re far more likely to stick with them.

Step 4: Visualise Your Ideal Life

Take a quiet moment to imagine your life as if it’s already your dream life:

Where are you?
What does your daily routine look like?
Who’s with you?
How does it feel to live this life?

Write down the key elements of this vision, focusing on the emotions you feel in this ideal future.

💡 Why? Tapping into the feeling of success motivates you more deeply than logic alone.

Step 5: Define Your Big Picture Goals

Write down 3-5 big goals that represent the life you visualised. These should span different areas of your life (e.g., health, career, relationships).
Use the SMART Goal Framework to make them specific:

Specific: What exactly do you want to achieve?
Measurable: How will you know you’ve achieved it?
Achievable: Is it realistic?
Relevant: Does it align with your overall vision?
Time-bound: When will you achieve it?

For example: “I will increase my strength to deadlift 80kg by June 30, 2024.”

💡 Why? Clear, measurable goals give you a target to aim for and track progress.

Step 6: Break Goals Into Actionable Steps

Each goal needs a plan. Break it into smaller, bite-sized steps:

Define Milestones: What are the key checkpoints on the way to your goal?
Create Mini Goals: What weekly or daily actions will move you closer to the milestone?

For example:

Big Goal: Run a 10k race in 6 months.
Milestone: Run 5k by month 3.
Mini Goals: Train 3 times a week using a progressive running plan.

💡 Why? Big goals can feel overwhelming. Smaller steps make them manageable and actionable.

Step 7: Identify Emotional Anchors

For each goal, ask yourself:

How will I feel when I achieve this?
What emotion does this goal evoke (e.g., pride, freedom, joy)?
What symbol, colour, or image represents this feeling?

Write these emotional anchors down. They’ll play a key role in your vision board.

💡 Why? Goals tied to emotions are more likely to keep you motivated through tough times.

What colour is it?

Can you embody it?

Like truly see it, hear and smell it?

Step 8: Create an “As If Now” Statement

For each goal, write it as if it’s already happening:

“I am thriving in my career, earning $X annually while loving my work.”
“I feel strong and confident, lifting heavier weights than ever before.”

💡 Why? NLP emphasises the power of language in shaping your beliefs. Writing goals as “as if now” statements helps your brain start working toward them as if they’re already real.

Step 9: Align Goals Across Your Life Areas

Make sure your goals are balanced across all areas of life:

Are you prioritising health and mindset as much as career and wealth?
Do your goals feel achievable as a whole, or will you burn out trying to do it all?

💡 Why? Life is about balance. Misaligned goals can lead to stress and neglect of other priorities.

Step 10: Commit and Take the First Step

Choose one small action for each goal that you can take today. Write it down and do it.

💡 Why? Taking immediate action creates momentum and reinforces your commitment to your goals.

Now You’re Ready for Your Vision Board!

With clear, emotionally anchored goals in place, you’ve built the foundation for a meaningful vision board. Each image, word, and symbol you choose will reflect the feelings and aspirations behind your goals.

Let’s get started—your dream life is waiting. 💫

VISION SEQUENCE

Step 1: Reflect on the Past Year

Open your camera roll and write down the months from January 2024 to December 2024.
Note the highlights, happy moments, challenges, lessons, and anything significant.
Reflect on obstacles. What did you overcome or learn each month?

💡 Why? This step taps into your subconscious, highlighting what truly brought you joy or helped you grow.

Step 2: Identify Patterns and Habits

Can you see recurring lessons or negative habits?
Write down the habits you need to stop to break free from past cycles.
Look ahead: If you continue these habits, what will your life look like in five years?

💡 Why? NLP works by breaking unhelpful patterns and installing new, empowering ones.

Step 3: Flip the Script

What new habits could you adopt instead?
Visualise how your life would improve in five years with these habits.

💡 Why? Your brain can’t tell the difference between imagination and reality. By visualising your desired future, you create a mental blueprint that your brain naturally wants to follow.

Step 4: Visualise Your Future Through Your Own Eyes

Picture your ideal life as if it’s happening now.
What do you see, hear, and feel?
This is critical: Visualise through your own eyes, not as an outsider looking in.

💡 Why? Seeing through your own perspective activates the emotional connection needed to make your vision feel real.

Step 5: Anchor the Emotion

Choose one specific goal that’s meaningful to you for this year.
Imagine achieving it—how does it feel? Write down this emotion.
Find an image, colour, or symbol that represents this emotion.

💡 Why? Anchoring the emotion creates a tangible connection between your goal and how amazing it will feel to achieve it.

Step 6: Have Your Mapped Out Goals for Different Life Areas

Apply this process to multiple areas of your life:

Health: Physical strength, recovery, energy.
Mindset: Mental resilience, personal growth, emotional health.
Relationships: Deepening connections with loved ones.
Business: Success, innovation, growth.
Wealth: Financial health, long-term stability.
Lifestyle: Balance, quality of life, experiences.
Impact: Contributions to community or legacy.
Fun/Adventure: Activities that spark joy.

💡 Why? A balanced vision ensures you’re growing in all aspects of life.

Step 7: Create Your Vision Board Based on Feelings

Collect images, words, or symbols that evoke the emotions tied to your goals.
Ensure every image triggers the feeling of “as if now”—as if you’re already living that life.
Arrange them on your vision board. Don’t just think about how it looks—think about how it feels.
How do each represent for you internally?
Is there a colour?
A smell?
A flower?
A sensation?

💡 Why? NLP relies on emotional resonance. The stronger the emotional pull, the more likely you are to take aligned actions.

Step 8: Make It Visible

Make your vision board your phone or computer wallpaper.
Print it out and put it somewhere you’ll see daily.

💡 Why? Repeated exposure to your vision reinforces your subconscious belief that this future is already yours.

Take the First Step Today

What’s one small action you can take today to move towards your goal? Do it.

💡 Why? Momentum begins with small, consistent actions. What is the hardest step? Do that first.

Share Your Vision

Accountability is everything! Send your vision board to someone you trust!

How Much Longer Will You Settle for Less?

This isn’t just about pretty pictures on a board. It’s about creating a life aligned with your authentic self. So, grab your scissors, magazines, and a clear vision of the future you deserve.

Let this year be different.

Stick to your promise. The life you want is closer than you think—one step, one image, one decision away.