“Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Research by Child Development theorist Linda Kreger Silverman suggests that only 30% of the world’s population thinks only in words. That would indicate then, that 70% of the population is some variant of a visual thinker.

Wikipedia defines a visual thinking as “the common phenomenon of thinking through visual processing using the part of the brain that is emotional and creative to organize information in an intuitive and simultaneous way.”

If we’re aware that 70% of the population are inclined to organize information through the “emotional and creative” part of the brain, then shouldn’t that vast majority of us be utilizing this capacity, to comprehend and retain information visually, to its fullest extent?

That’s where vision-boards come in. Vision-boards, or “dream boards” as they are often referred to, are simply a visual, concrete representation of what you wish to achieve in your life. They can be images of either temporary, short-term, or long-term goals and desires, traditionally glued onto poster-board or cork- board in a juxtaposed, collage-like manner. With fervent use of technology today though, we can also place these inspirational images on our iPhones, Blackberrys, desktops. If you set them as your background for these tools, you’re forced to confront your goals every time you answer a phone call or open a window on your computer. These images will act as a constant reminder that you’re working towards obtaining these objects (or abstract desires) and reinforce that they’re well within reach as long as you sit tight and work hard!

Let’s say you want to earn $120,000 your first year. Don’t use a sign that reads “$120,000.” Instead, use a picture that equates to that income such as stacks of hundred dollar bills, bags of gold coins, or anything that evokes an emotional response from you. If you want to own a nice car; be specific. Which make, model, color or features would be desirable?

They serve as a necessary reminder because, as a whole, society is burdened by time. We get caught up in the regular drone of everyday routine, take little time for ourselves, and we tend to forget why we are pushing through our days in (what seems like) slow-motion. There is a greater picture to our lives; in fact, there are several, and when you consistently, physically view these pictures, instead of internally voicing your goals to yourself, your brain has the immediate response of, ‘I want that.’ It’s easier to grasp an abstract idea when it’s presented concretely.

It may seem childish to cut out pictures and post them on cardboard, but this method of goal-management is proven to work. And there is nothing childish about making that first 100k or owning the classic convertible you’ve dreamt about since you were young! This is the basic law of attraction: visualize what you want, and it will be yours. What helps you visualize these wishes, every single day? A vision-board! I’ve gathered some informative websites and resources to convince hopeful rental agents and entrepreneurs that vision-boards are a worthwhile method: light that fire under your heels everyday, and soon enough, you’ll kick your feet up on a leather ottoman in your office, reaping the benefits of the business you created for yourself.

Resources:

Christine Kane’s blog post titled “How to Make a Vision Board”
Step One Vision Boards software

YouTube Videos:

Vision Board The Secret John Assarf Larry King OneCoach
Vision Boards And The Courage to Believe