How to Achieve Your Riding Goals with a Vision Board

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I rarely set New Year’s resolutions, but every year I make a vision board so that I have a visual representation of what I want my life to look like one year from now. I am a very visual person, and I’ve found that a vision board really keeps me on track, heading towards my ideal lifestyle.
 
This year my vision board is geared more towards my business, but you can also use one to set your riding goals for the next 12 months. These are the steps I use to create my vision board. I print out two copies and keep one in the front page of my Live Whale Planner, and the other on the wall above my desk.

What is a Vision Board?
 
A vision board is a visual representation of your goals. Remember the collages you made in elementary school? A vision board is a grown-up version of that.
 
Vision boards gained popularity in 2006 when the book The Secret (buy it here) was released and studying the Law of Attraction became popular. The Secret describes the Law of Attraction as “forming your entire life experience and it is doing that through your thoughts. When you are visualizing, you are emitting a powerful frequency out into the Universe." Oprah endorsed The Secret and making a vision board as a way to achieve your ideal life. If you don’t know what you want, I recommend reading Oprah’s book The Path Made Clear (buy it here).
 
Vision boards are perfect for equestrians. We all have riding goals (See How to Achieve Your Goals with a Riding Journal) and a vision board takes the words from your journal and makes them visual. A riding journal and a vision board work perfectly together.

Two Styles
 
When it comes to vision boards, your creativity is your only limit. You can make it any way you want, but most people use one of two ways. The first way is with magazines and poster board, physically cutting out images and gluing them on the board.  The second method is the one I use – finding digital images online and using graphic design to create your vision board. This is the method I will walk you through, but remember, you can make your vision board any way that appeals to you.
 
If you are focusing on riding and horse goals, grab every horse magazine you can get your hands on. My local library gives away past issues for free, but you can also find them in bookstores or order them online. Some of my favorites are Equus, Horse and Rider, Practical Horseman, and Dressage Today.
 
Set the Mood
 
To create an effective vision board, I have to be in the right mindset. I am my best in the morning so that’s when I create. My space must be clear and uncluttered. I need to be alone and my house needs to be quiet. I play music that I love and light some scented candles (right now I’m using a Yankee Candle cinnamon-scented candle to keep me in a festive holiday mood, but you can use any scent that inspires your creativity. Lemon and lavender are also good for creativity.)
 
You can make your vision board any place you want. If you are inspired in your barn, set up in there.
 
You might also choose to host a vision board party and create with friends. If you own a horse boarding facility, this is a great bonding activity for your boarders or your clients. I may host a vision board party next year.

Find Images
 
The first step is to find images that represent what you want to attract into your life this year. I use Google and Pinterest. Although I start with a few basic ideas of what I want, I often just browse for images and words that appeal to me. Any images I want to use I save to my hard drive.
 
Consider what you want to accomplish in the following areas, and then find images that represent your goals and inspire the right emotions. Don’t forget your reason why you want to accomplish each goal. You don’t have to use every category.

• Personal growth
• Riding/Horses
• Health
• Career
  
• Finances
• Relationships
• Home
• Travel

Start Creating
 
Once you have your images, start creating your vision board. I use Canva for mine. They have a great selection of templates. I upload the images I saved to my hard drive and then replace the template images with my own. This is the easiest method I’ve found.
 
You can see Canva’s selection of templates here:
 
Print It
 
Some people choose to keep their vision board digital and use it as the wallpaper on their smartphone or their laptop, but I always print mine out. My Live Whale Planner (buy it here) keeps me on track – not only with my day-to-day obligations, but with maintaining an attitude of gratitude and setting goals that keep me moving towards the ideal life pictured on my vision board. The Live Whale Planner has a specific page for my vision board, so that’s where I put it. I put the other one above my desk, so I can see it every time I look up from my computer.
 
You can print as many copies of your vision board as you want and place them anywhere you feel inspired. If your vision board is centered around your riding goals, put one inside the lid of your tack trunk, or, if you keep your horses at home, in your tack room.

Believe
 
The most important part of creating a vision board is believing that what you put on there is possible. You are only limited by your beliefs. You will attract positive things into your life by focusing your thoughts on positive things. Believe you can win. Believe you can have it all. Remember, achieving your ideal lifestyle requires ACTION, so use your vision board to guide your actions towards continually improving. I love making my vision board each year, and I believe it keeps me on track and moving forward.
 
Do you make a vision board? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below!