How to Set Goals with Pictures

Almost every popular self-improvement/spiritual growth author has written about the importance of getting your dreams on paper. Whether they are called imaging pages,treasure maps, vision boards, or Illustrated Discovery Journals, each one requires you to create a picture-page. I believe that the very act of creating the page is a demonstration of your faith and intention. If you are willing to take the time and energy to create the pages of your dreams, you will be more likely to accomplish the things that are important to you. Imaging pages keep you focused, and imprint your subconscious mind with your desires.

You will want to set aside an hour or two just to browse through magazines. Cut out any pictures that appeal to you -- and look for bright colorful pictures. Look for phrases and dynamic words, too.

Now, set your goals/dreams in a list format that is comfortable for you. See the category list below for ideas and inspiration.

For example, using the dolphin picture above, I created a page of myself swimming with the dolphins.
Because I believe the pages are a form of prayer in a concrete form, I always add "This or something better" to the bottom of my page.

And I did indeed swim with the dolphins in Marathon, Florida at the Dolphin Research Center. It was a wonderful experience. I showed you my results page because I always make a page when my dreams are realized. These accomplishment pages are real faith builders on days when everything seems impossible.

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If you would like to use a notebook for your pages, I did design an imaging workbook. You can download that for FREE at Joyful Acquisitions.

With or without the workbook, DO create pages of your dreams. Use construction paper if you like. I have also used file folders -- I simply created my page inside the folder and put it in the file drawer. If you have a very busy workday, this is a good solution. You can pull out your imaging page and look at it, and let it inspire you, in just a few seconds. This is especially good if you are dealing with a crisis situation and have created an imaging page for that particular problem.

For example, you have a friend/relative who is seriously ill with lung cancer. Create a page of that person smiling and healthy and add a picture of healthy lungs. And then add an affirmation/prayer "I see you as healthy and strong."

Or, your child is concerned about graduation because of grades in a particular course. Grab a piece of construction paper. Put your child's photo in the middle of the page, add stickers or pictures of cap and gown or other graduation type symbols, write the graduation date directly on the page and create your own prayer/affirmation. You could write "I am so happy and so thankful now that you have successfully completed this education."

Please leave any questions in the comment section. I really do care and I want your pages to be a helpful part of your life.

Catherine Ponder recommends using different colors for different types of goals/dreams. I know she recommends green for the ones that involve money. I also read somewhere that you use pink for finding items. So if you have lost something important, put a photo of it on a pink page.

I personally like putting my little workbook in a 3 -ring binder. I use it for my morning meditations. I have pictures of my children and grandchildren in there, a page of photos of my friends, and of course my personal dreams and goals. Having it all in one notebook is helpful to me. Perhaps you will find that helpful also.

Another little thing I have learned over the years is to add blank paper to my notebook. Then when Divine Inspiration/Ideas come to mind, I can make a note right that minute. Haven't you ever had a "lightbulb" moment and then immediately forgotten it? It seems the older I get, the more likely I will forget -- and so I keep notes and notes and notes of my notes.

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When you are setting your goals and dreams, be sure to balance across these categories:

Health -- Make a page of you at your perfect weight, or a fun page of yourself surrounded by fruits and vegetables!

Household -- Cut out photos of the deck you plan to build or the new addition to the house. You can even paste a picture of that home repair you have been trying to forget!! It is so much fun to give yourself gold stars when a job is completed. This works for cleaning out closets (those wonderful organized closet advertisements make great cut-outs!), planting the garden, or even painting the bedroom.

Mental - Learn something new. Take a course. Study a specific country on line.

Wants -- What do you want to do? Be? Accomplish?
What material thing do you want? Where do you want to go? Who would you like to meet?

Friends and Family -- I have a page of family photos in my book and a page for friends and another page for internet friends. It's fun to add photos and/or parts of web pages to celebrate accomplishments of those we love. If one of our children or grandchildren has a special day, I glue that photograph to the page. If a friend on line launches a new site, or a new e-book, I add that to the book, too.
This is a wonderful way to note special prayer requests and to work on relationships. During this busy time in my life, I make a little note under my friend's picture if we go to lunch, or yard-saling, or sometimes even if we chat on the telephone. I want to stay in touch with the special people in my life.

Rhonda Byrne - "Create a vision board of pictures you want to attract. Every day, look at it, and get into the feeling state of having already acquired these wants."

Sarah Ban Breathnach - "Meditating on one visual image a day can jump-start your creativity and lead to revealing insights."

Norman Vincent Peale - "...before the dawn of history men were vividly imaging goals essential to their survival and reinforcing those images by painting them with primitive but lasting colors on the ceilings or walls of the caves that were their homes."

Shakti Gawain - "Creative visualization is the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life."

Catherine Ponder - "Generalities do not produce results because they lack substance and power. Vague hopes and indefinite goals are not convincing to the mind, whereas a clear cut picture of the good you want activates people, places, and events to cooperate with your pictured desires."

William Arthur Ward - "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."

Jiminy Cricket - "When your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme."