Experiments In Happiness: The Vision Board

Earlier this year, Red Lotus Mama Nicole and I took a wonderful workshop aptly titled "Happiness Bootcamp: How to do a Vision Board and Keep Resolutions." I took away so much from this 2-hour class, but one of the things that stuck with me is this idea of putting together a mass vision board that includes hopes, thoughts, goals and ideas for ALL of us. 

But instead of listing out traditional resolutions, coach Stacie Somers suggested finding a THEME for the year. Words or a simple phrase that you will strive to achieve, and build your vision board around them. I loved this idea. Resolutions are so finite... and so breakable. But a THEME can grow and change over the year. 

But how do you FIND your theme? Here is an exercise that we did with Stacie to figure it out. 

Rules:

1- Re-Write these questions down using your dominant hand (your normal writing hand - for most of us, the right hand.)

2) Answer the questions writing with your SUB-dominant hand (for most, the left hand)

Crazy, huh? But using your "other hand" triggers parts of your brain that you normally are not using and really helps with figuring these things out. 

Questions:

1) How do I want to experience the world this year?

2) What do I yearn to have more of in my life?

3) What do I need in my life?

4) What was missing from my life last year?

5) What would it feel like to have these missing things in my life this year?

Now, did you notice something in your answers? A recurring theme or words that stick out more than others? Use those to create your personal theme. It can be one or two words, it can be a phrase... but use that to build your vision board and guide your year. 

Without getting too personal, for this year I chose two key words: Energy and Clarity. Two things I'm striving for and working to achieve in many different aspects of my life this year. As far as my actual vision board is concerned, I will admit that just like me,  it's still a work in progress....

Staci's Happiness Bootcamp was a free event held at Bliss 101 in Encinitas, CA. If you are local I highly suggest "liking" thier Facebook page for more information on upcoming events.  

2013: Hopes, Dreams and Goals for the New Year

Looking Back:

2012 was interesting. Not the best of years, not the worst of years. I had great months, I had horrible months. 2012 was just there. 

Looking Forward:

Marking the start of a new year is always a good time to set ideas, goals and thoughts down. As we all know, resolutions are made to be broken - so why bother? Of course I want to lose weight and be healthy and make more money... but I want so much more out of these next 12 months. And while yes I would love to accomplish these things from inside a pair of size 6 skinny jeans, I also don't want to deem the year a failure if come next December I'm the same size. 

I've been trying to organize my thoughts on things I would like for 2013... some are materialistic, some are emotional, some are physical

HOPES:

I hope that by 2013 I've regained my confidence. Somewhere along the last few years I've lost the ability to be happy and proud of myself - I want to get that back. Not just the ability to say "I rock." But the ability to feel it. To look in the mirror without criticism and smile without worrying that there is something in my teeth. 

DREAMS:

I want to go to Italy and Malta. I put this under "dreams" because we have yet to take a BIG international trip with the kids and we've been saying this for YEARS now. But our good friends are over there and we want to see them and I think that by 6 and 9 the kids may be more ready for traveling to, an appreciating, Europe. 

GOALS:

These are the basics. Things I WILL achieve for my sanity:

• Re-do our home office to make it a comfortable, creative space for both Jason and I to work in tandem or alone.
• Organize my "craft closet." Seems simple, but this one is daunting to me... 
• Get more spa treatments (because I deserve it).
• Lose 20 lbs.
• Become Rich and Famous so I can hire someone else to do this all while I travel to Malta on a private jet. HAHA. 

What about you? What do you want to achieve in 2013?