I’m getting ready to create a vision board for the next chapter in my life. I love to create these, and I have a special way of going about it that makes the entire process feel fun, fabulous and expansive. But before I get into any of that, let me share with you why I create these.

Trust me when I tell you that I often feel a lot of resistance to taking the time to do something like this. I can come up with every good excuse not to create one, and sometimes that resistance gets the best of me.

But then I turn my attention to what I receive from my vision boards, and that little shift in focus makes all of the difference. Here are my big ‘whys’:

• I get to be creative and artsy, which is something I currently don’t make a lot of time for in my life. Being creative really fills me up and fuels me, the way a vacation does. Anytime I can immerse myself in something that really fulfills me, I know it’s time well spent.

• It feels like I’m tending a garden – the garden of my dreams and desires. Making a vision board allows me to focus on what I really want. It asks me to get specific with how I want to feel, and what I want to create and choose for myself. From this place of clarity and specificity, I get super clear on where I want to focus my time and energy. In the end, creating a vision board actually saves me time and energy!

• Creating a vision board inspires me to dream even bigger than maybe I was before. I might have an idea of something I want to experience, but when I start to find images and symbolic representations of those things, the vision expands – which in my book, is a very good thing!

• When I’m complete with my vision board, I’m left with two really important things: a) A gorgeous, colorful, energetically aligned snapshot of my next chapter and level in my life. I can always refer to it when I need to be reminded of where I’m going and why, and b) I’ve already laid a powerful foundation for receiving those things and experiences that my heart and soul desires. By creating the vision board, I’m spent time in the energy of my next chapter and level. I have aligned with my desires. This is the key to receiving them, every time.

Here are my fool proof steps for creating a vision board that inspires and elevates you to the vibration you require to be at in order to start receiving what you dream about and desire most:

1) First, I go through my Soul-Luxe Living Assessment. This helps me to get super clear on where I’m at, what needs to shift and change, and it puts me in touch with the desires that are calling me forward. If you haven’t downloaded your free copy, you can do so here.

2) I remind myself about where I’m at in my life, and what feels true to me. For example, I knew I wanted to become a mother, and at age 40, I recognized that the clock was ticking. So that dream became a priority for me. Now that I’m a mom, skydiving, or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail doesn’t hold that much appeal to me ;0 But planning a retreat day just for myself, or traveling as a family to an inspiring place does! So I make certain that what I desire is aligned with the life stage that I’m at.

3) I collect magazines, catalogues and miscellaneous things (like out-dated calendars, cards I’ve been given, and sometimes even photographs) that inspire me and energetically align me with my vision – which means they put me into the positive and expansive emotional state of what it feels like to be living my dreams. Some of the images I collect are actually representations of things and experiences that I desire, others are more symbolic of how I want to feel. Some are of people who inspire me because they’re living the kind of life I want to live. I also include quotes and words that are relevant. I gather all of these up and I set them aside.

4) I schedule time to focus specifically on my vision board. Then I grab my favorite extra-large spiral bound blank page journal and a can of rubber cement (it works much better than a glue stick!) and get ready to have some fun!

5) I light a candle, play some music that puts me in the perfect mood, and pour myself a glass of something delicious (my Watermelon, Strawberry & Mint Cooler served in a long stemmed glass is perrrfect for this!). These little extra touches make the entire experience feel beautiful and luxurious – two feeling states that raise my vibration and help me to align with my dreams.

6) I arrange things on a page (sometimes two) in my journal in a way that speaks to me, then I adhere each image to the page. Sometimes there is a lot of blank space, and other times the page is full. It just depends, and there is no right or wrong way to do this. I’ve even created a vision board that was ONE image!

7) I name and date my vision board, and have it on display some place where I can see it every day, immerse myself in the positive energy of it, and remind myself to take small steps toward the things that I dream about and desire every single day.