Every now and again, some fancy ‘schmancy’ pop psychological theory will arise that will tell you how wrong you are living your life and how you need to do this instead, in order to achieve that.
My brother has been trying to get me on the Law of Attraction (LOA) bandwagon for as long as I can remember. What is the LOA? To best understand it, think of Thor’s relationship with his hammer. He thinks it and it comes or at least that’s how it appears to work.
So basically, the law of attraction posits that if you focus all your energy, all of your chi and super powers on something; if you think about it hard enough, if you build it they will come, it will short circuit the universe and magnetize what you envision and just like magic, it will appear.
Emerging from it’s main proponent is the new craze, vision boards–a ubiquitous tool utilized mostly -by all indications- millennials to chart their visions. Everyone and their astral self has a vision board.
Apparently, this board is the conduit through which all the magic of the law of attraction manifests itself. Once you stick fancy cut-outs representing all the things you want to achieve (or envision) on this board and sprinkle it with glitter -which eventually represents a giant scrapbook- then something special happens (I guess).
Every time I see a vision board tutorial, I get super excited and eager to begin my craft project. Needless to say I have yet to begin. The concept really is an interesting one, all I have to do is think it, stick it on a board and it will come (how cool is that?).
But, what did people do before there were vision boards and doodlely bullet journals?
Why, they worked their asses of with tenacity and sheer determination. A vision board or any other form of artsy-fartsy craft-work will bring you no closer to your goals if you lack:
Discipline
This is perhaps the most important characteristic necessary to achieving whatever it is you set out to achieve in life. You can create the most darling vision board, your best bullet journal, your longest list, but if you don’t have the discipline required to remain tenacious and execute , then you are giving yourself extra dust to clean.
Realistic goals
When my cousin was little, he lived in a two-storey house. He always wanted to fly like superman. He was determined and everything aligned perfectly for him to attempt to achieve this dream of his.
He already had his cape, the perfect landing point which was probably about a 10 ft drop from the window and a windy day. He perched himself inside the window frame, put his hands up and off he went straight to the emergency room with a broken arm.
Nothing is wrong with aiming for the sky, but how realistic are your goals to your current situation? Sociologists say -and this is a very loose reference- that our advancement in life is pretty much pre-determined by our life chances. Is it realistic to quit your day job and pursue your dream to become a VS model at age 35?
Determination
How badly do you want what you want? Do you want it any less badly if you cannot see it on a pretty art project? How much time are you willing to invest in what it is you want to achieve? How many times are you willing to fail –because you will fail- and get back up again and keep going? Are you ready to do what it takes? How determined are you. If you possess that determination, that sticktoitiveness you will need, then you are half way there.
Organisation
Admittedly, like any great venture, proper planning is required. However this is done is totally up to the individual, be it a board, snapshots of your dreams from the astral world- whatever it is, some planning has to take place.
I hated organizing and planning and to do listing, but it is tried tested and I’m a believer! Write shit down, physically, mentally, in the sand at the beach, on toilet paper, write shit down, what ever your medium.
Where you write it doesn’t really matter, but don’t just write it down, keep it visible, tick off, strike through as you complete each task that gets you closer to your goal, trust me, it works!
Motivation
How motivated are you to get what you want? Do you put in the extra effort that it takes to achieve your goals? As I age, I’ve learned that there really is no such thing as procrastination. That is a euphemistic terminology used to describe laziness. Yes, your not wanting to complete that task because you prefer the couch is laziness. Get off your ass and get motivated. No one is going to do it for you, the videos, the pep talks nothing works unless you work.
Now go on, put down your art projects and go achieve your goals!
What about you? How do you tackle your life’s goals? What are some of the things that have worked to keep you focused? I would love to hear from you, let me know in the comments below. Thanks oodles for reading!
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That’s funny because I made a mood board to help me with branding my handcrafted business. It gives me something tangible as seeing it on a screen doesn’t have the same effect on me. As always, great post.
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Thanks Eve. Tangible works for me as well… I have to see a physical list or any thing of the like in order for me to remain committed… thanks for stopping by… 🙂
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At the beginning of this year, while everyone was being emotional and having all the “this year, I won’t do this”, “this year, I won’t do that” small talks, I joined the party. I saw a beautiful vision board on pinterest, BEAUTIFUL. Then, I said to myself, man I am surely going to do something like this and paste it on my wall. Keda, till today, I don’t have shit on my wall, NOTHING (laziness is the culprit). Although, I still have my goals achieved the “old fashioned” way, as you listed above and I don’t have problems with it. I guess I just considered the mood board thingy because it was fancy???that’s a wrong reason right? I dunno (shrugs).
About writing stuff down, that’s KEY. It’s not even just writing it down, pasting/keeping it where you’ll see it. To remind you everyday so you keep track.
“NOTHING WORKS EXCEPT YOU WORK”.
My new mantra! Great post as usual my beautiful Keda🙌💕
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😘😘😘 yes girl… I keep my list open on my desk else I’ll be a confused mess… you get my point… a bad reason… I wouldnt say so, the idea really is a great idea… but an elaborate twist on the old fashion writing things down I guess… but your quote sums it up nicely…”nothing works unless you work…” ❤
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Not my quote, I saw it here! Lol.
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HELL YES HELL YES HELL YES. I love vision boards and all that law of attraction, but like you said you need GOALS. Sticking pretty pictures down and hoping they come true isn’t going to do anything. I like to use them as a starting point; when I make vision boards, it’s to help me visualise what I want and build an overall picture of my end goal, then from there I break it down bit by bit 🙂 xx
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indeed… you actually have to do what it… right… exactly work on it bit by bit…
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I love this post, especially the opening paragraph when you talk about how there’s always some trend about how to get stuff done and people jump on the bandwagon as though its the best thing ever! Soon, everybody and their mama is creating a vision board. I can’t lie though; I created one in 2013 but when my goals fell through I abandoned the board altogether I never created one again.
Instead, I write my goals down in a journal and I look at it from time to time. It uses the same principles as vision boards, but without the expense and time.
Great post 🙂
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Thanks much… :).. writing down works for me as well… besides I’m not all that artistic either… hahah… I keep my lists and cross out as I complete my goals… crossing out feels soooo good…!
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Exactly! There’s something about crossing items off a list makes you feel so accomplished. ☺️
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Indeed…!😆
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Love it! Rather than create a physical board though, do you reckon it’s okay to have one on pinterest?
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Thank you so much, hahah, you can create what ever works for you; the gist of the post however is to follow through, that is all… 🙂 thanks for reading…
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Also I’ve just realised my blog is on your “blogs I can’t get enough of” tiles – wow! Thank you very much! 🙂
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Loved the post and agree LOA do not work. Vision Boards well, not them either. Lists, of what to do next and what I would like to achieve. I like a plain wall to visualise on this works for me.
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Thank you so much. You are right at the end of the day it’s really what works for you and following through as well… because nothing works if you don’t put in the work…
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You are so right. Like your posts humerous.
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❤ thanks
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Loved this post 👍
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Thank you… thanks for stopping by…
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Hey…. ive nominated you for a Liebster….
https://anexpatshome.wordpress.com/2018/06/04/nominated-by-crushedcaramel-for-liebster-cool/?preview=true
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LOL I was just looking up vision boards yesterday! I decided it wasn’t so much for me. I like your realistic approach.
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haha… it is an interesting concept if you have the time and patience I guess…
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Love this piece! Full of humour with some great advice throughout. Looking forward to more!
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Thank you so much Tom… 🙂 Thanks for visiting…
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I loved reading this – super helpful and I totally about setting goals; especially ones that is of importance close to our hearts!
I followed your blog; I’d love to be friends, you sound like an amazing person.
xx
https://thenicepeach.wordpress.com
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Thank you Olivia… 🙂 Indeed
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Good advice. Its never enough. Hope they work magic for me.
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If you hold out for magic it’ll never happen🙈 thanks for reading fredrick
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Superb! loved this post!
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❤ thanks much…
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My pleasure!
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I’m a fan of vision boards. The things I put on my vision board are goals… so rather than just have my goals in my mind, I put them on the vision board. THEN, like you said, I get to work to make those items on the vision board come to fruition. The reason the vision board is important is because on the days that I am tired and thinking my goals/dreams will never come true, I look at my vision board and am reminded … to KEEP WORKING at it!
It’s sort of like College. When I was young I was taught I needed to study and then I would go to College. So my family created that vision in my mind of a College and then the end result of a black cap and gown. This vision was ALWAYS coming into my mind. It took over 20 years from grade school to high school to College graduation, but THAT vision was always there, it was a “done deal.”
So, it is the same with OTHER things I might want. If I want to go to Spain. Then I add pictures of Spain to my Vision Board. At first it seems impossible, but then I might be somewhere and I see a brochere on Spain, then I go back to my vision board and THINK, maybe it will be possible… so, I take it a step further. I research how much air plane tickets cost and I write that on the board. NOW, I have the goal of KNOWING how much money I have to save to pay for a plane ticket.
Are you better understanding how a vision board is really meant to work?
You don’t just put a picture there and hope a fairy godmother comes along and grants you a wish. We need to do all the work, the vision board REMINDS us NOT to GIVE UP! Nice post.
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Thank you for your very informative comment…Glad to hear how well it works for you☺. Thank you for reading❤
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Smiling… it can work for you too! Might take a while, but with hard work, we can make things happen. have a good day!
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I love the story about your cousin. As far as I can see, all this think-it-and-it-will-happen stuff is a fancy way to blame the people who don’t end up with–well, whatever. Fancy houses. Jobs that pay obscene amounts of money. The ability to fly. It has nothing to do with the law of gravity or a busted system that rewards those already closest to the top and closes out most of those who aren’t, with the exception of a very few. Nope. It’s all about willpower and kindergarten-style craft projects.
Grrrrrrrr.
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