Inspiration Board
by habituallychic
05 . 27 . 08
I have an invitation/inspiration board in my bedroom where I hang up invitations, post cards, and pretty pictures. I never really thought it could be a powerful tool until I read an interesting chapter in that book, The Secret. (I usually don’t admit to reading any sort of self help books but my friend mentioned it and so I thought I would dig it out from under my bed where it was hiding and actually give it a shot. You know you have a copy hiding somewhere too.) So anyway, one of the suggestions in the book was to create a Vision Board, where you post “pictures of all the things you want, and pictures of how you want your life to be.”
There was a very convincing story from a man who pulled his board out of storage five years later to find out he was living in the exact house he had posted. Creepy coincidence or divine intervention? Not really sure but I thought I might give it a try so I posted my dream Mercedes, some pretty shoes and my favorite house and garden. What do you think? I figure it can’t hurt, but if it does work, I might have to take down the picture of Mick Jagger by Andy Warhol and pick a more age appropriate soul mate possibility.
Oh, speaking of soul mates, I do take offense at the Relationship chapter that essentially just preaches the Feng Shui principle that tells you to literally make room in your home for another person. There is definitely not room for two people in my apartment so I sure hope someone out there is making room for me! Otherwise, I may have to move!
25 Comments
So interesting you mentioned the Secret! I have recently heard so much about it and have wanted to read it- so now you’ve officially inspired a trip to Barnes and Noble today. Thanks! And haha about Mick Jagger!
I believe this works. Whenever I take time to write down my goals, I am surprised to read later that I met or surpassed many of them.
My neighbors attend a liberal church and when they need something, they write it down and send it to priests who pray for it, visualize, etc. for 30 days. They have some pretty remarkable stories about the results.
T8
http://www.strangeclosets.com
When design takes priority, the result is often strange closets.
Just one board? Man, I’ve got two sketch books full and the rubber band on the 2nd is showing signs of strain….
I’ve been using visualisation for a few years now, with the help of the vision board, and it has turned out to be such a useful tool. My husband hmphed a bit when he saw it, but it didn’t take long before he had a few clippings up around his computer. 🙂
I was told to keep visual reference around me for design and painting, etc. so why not for our personal lives too?
I hope all your wishes come true!
(Check out the movie ‘Performance’, if you haven’t already done so, as it stars a very young and lovely Mick Jagger!) 😉
“There is definitely not room for two people in my apartment so I sure hope someone out there is making room for me!” LOL!!!
Michelle, We’ll both have to try it and report back to each other. I figure it can’t hurt. Good luck!
Tate, do you have the name and number of the church??? I wonder if they would be willing to send a few prayers to the priests for me?! That sounds fabulous!
Easy and Elegant, the board is a small part of my inspiration collection. I have boxes of tear sheets and other good stuff waiting to be organized.
Thanks Uptown Arts! I hope they come true too but I was wondering if they don’t, does that mean you weren’t meant to have those things. Hmmm…
Anonymous, glad I could amuse you today 😉
I think you are on the right track and should keep doing what you’ve been doing. As I recall, earlier in the year you made public a list of things you wanted/hoped to accomplish (which I think is another component of The Secret: putting it out there in the universe)…and you have made tremendous strides toward doing so! Great new design job, First Dibs, Domino…coincidence? I think not. You made it happen!
I don’t think it’s new-agey at all to write down goals and to post inspiration. It’s just a “prettier” way of creating a to-do list, right?
I just think it’s funny that books like The Secret pretend they have discovered something new, when it’s just a repackaging of tactics people have used for years to organize their lists of wants in a way that keeps them top-of-mind and more likely to be acted upon.
But then again, you know me… I just ask the world for what I want. I posted a “Boyfriend Wanted” ad on Craigslist 6 years ago and he’s the one I am still with. I wrote it to sound just like an employment ad and I got everything I wanted. It worked so well, when I moved to seattle, I did the same thing on CL to find a best chick friend, and 4 years later, she’s still my bestie.
I like your inspiration board. Very cute. And I am really glad good things keep happening to you this year! It’s been pretty exciting for you…
I love your inspiration board! It’s so colorful and pretty. Someone sent me the Secret for my birthday and I haven’t finished it, but think it’s a good compilation of techniques from Feng shui to the old text, ‘Consciously Creating Circumstances’. They’re all valid so it’s nice to see them all together, even if repackaged, it still works.
I love inspiration boards. I have done them off and on for years. I even have old inspiration books and wish books tucked away. very fun. As for the room. Who had the space to even give up a drawer?
The Secret is a great tool, I definitely use it in my life on a regular basis. I have a beautiful vision board which includes aspects of love, home, career, etc. etc. Check out the cds of the book, good stuff.
Now about Martha’s cottage, love the pink painting…the wicker furniture, not so much.
Where did you get that board from? I like it a lot better than the ugly cork boards available. Thanks!
Thanks Smitty! I guess the key is to think positively and go after what you want but if putting it all on a bullitan board can help, then I’m gonna do that too!
Decorno, I love that you met your finance on Craigslist but I’m afraid what I would find here if I posted an ad. Match.com was bad enough! I don’t know what I’m going to do!
The Paris Apartment, the secret isn’t that big of a secret but I love reading the testimonials. Even if it is all marketing, it’s still inspiring!
Kwana, Making room would mean getting rid of half my wardrobe and I don’t see that happening any time soon!
Dawn, I definitely want to watch the DVD. I’m curious if you had any success with it!
Katherine, I actually covered an ugly corkboard with fabric and then used ribbon and tacks to create the invitation board. Very easy and very DIY! Oh, I also used batting so it has softer edges.
Yes, these types of vision boards are very powerful & inspirational tools to daily life.
Heather
My Photography & More>
May I recommend Nicholas Kniel’s website? He made a message board for me that is similar to yours. I provided the fabric – orange – and he used brown gros grain ribbon – very Hermes. He then used my board as a backdrop to display items in his new book. His tiny shop is a bit of Paris in Atlanta. All ribbons and embellishments. Dreamy and very Marie Antoinete. http://www.nicholaskniel.com
What about using all the same containers to hold your items on the shelves to the right of your inspiration board? – for a chic look.
MAB