How I Turned My Vision Board Dreams Into Reality Last Year

Have you ever made a vision board, either a physical or a digital one, and felt both excited and a little skeptical at the same time? That was me. Vision boards always intrigued me, but the idea of actually achieving those dreams felt a bit like wishful thinking.

However, last year, I decided to make a digital vision board that I set for the year. There was no pressure to achieve the goals I placed but I had the mindset that it would be great if I did achieve something that year.

Now, looking back, I can see just how much power lay in that decision. So, today, I want to share my journey with you—the triumphs, the lessons, and a little encouragement to try this for yourself.

Starting with Intention

First, let me tell you, this was not just any digital vision board. I wanted this vision board to spark motivation and action without the pressure to do everything listed. I asked myself questions like:

What do I want to see accomplished in life?
What do I want to focus on for my side hustle/blog/passion projects?
Where would I like to travel to?
What fun activities do I want to try or do?
What are some things I want to do that will better my body, my health and my mind or help heal my trauma?

Once I was able to give answers to those questions, I had a roadmap on my priorities. Which means I could now focus on the creative part and fill my digital vision board with images and quotes that represent my goal.

Making My Vision Board

I made my digital vision board on Canva. They had fantastic templates that I could make my own and using the Pexels app on their site gave me easy access to search the photos I needed.

I wanted it to be a daily reminder and motivational nudge in my life. For example, I added a picture of driving because I wanted to finish the process of getting my full G driver’s license. I also included a photo of me relaxing in a pool because I wanted to learn how to swim. Full tutorial on making my vision board here:

One thing I knew for sure: if I was going to make this vision board work, it had to become part of my routine. So, I placed it somewhere I’d see every day—right on my desktop computer and phone wallpaper. This way, I couldn’t ignore it and it became a reminder of why I created it.

Breaking Down Big Dreams into Smaller Steps

One thing you have to understand is that you are not going to be able to do everything at once. You may not even get to check off half the things you placed due to many factors however you can break those big goals into smaller steps.

For example, I mentioned that one of my goals was getting my full G driver’s license. It was something I started in the past but wasn’t able to finish the final part. It didn’t help that I only had until May to get this done or I would have to start the process from the beginning.

To make this goal happen, I started by getting an instructor to help me know what would be expected from my final text. Next, I ditched my subway ride and drove to work to get practice in, drove early morning on weekends to practice in the test area. Gradually, I was building my confidence driving and passed my drivers test.

Staying Flexible Through Setbacks

Let’s be real—achieving your dreams doesn’t come without challenges. Instead of letting setbacks derail me, I looked at them as lessons. If something didn’t work, I would adjust my approach to see if there was another way to reach it.

For example, one of my goals was to get my passport renewed so that I could travel in December. What I didn’t expect was having to re-mail my items because I forgot to include a document or dealing with the post office on strike. My passport eventually arrived but it was too late to go anywhere. Instead of getting frustrated, I shifted my focus and we decided to choose family fun activities in our city. I’ll save the beach for next year.

Celebrating Milestones Along the Way

To keep myself motivated, I celebrated every little win. It is best to not just focus on the end result because it may take some time to get there. I found that acknowledging each step along the way helped me stay positive and driven. Whether it was hitting a milestone with my blog or ticking off a smaller goal, I made sure to celebrate. Sometimes, that meant treating myself to a favourite snack or just taking a few minutes to appreciate my hard work.

Reflecting on the Journey and Setting New Goals

Now that is a new year, I took a moment to reflect on everything I’d accomplished. Seeing how many of my vision board goals had come to life was both humbling and empowering. It wasn’t just about crossing things off a list; it was about knowing that I had the power to bring my dreams into reality with focus, intention, and a little patience.

I loved that I was able to slide in new goals to replace the ones I finished. This year’s vision board is going to do the same thing as last year, inspiring me to go after some dreams and be okay to move the rest to the next year. We always aim for progress over perfection here!

Final Thoughts

I encourage you to give it a try! It’s worth the effort. It’s not just a pretty collage—it’s a visual map that can inspire, motivate, and guide you toward the life you truly want. Whether your dreams are small or big, putting them out into the world in this way makes a difference. So grab some magazines, or make a digital vision board that reflects all your dreams. You might just find yourself celebrating them sooner than you think.

So, tell me: What’s one goal you’d love to see on your vision board? Drop it in the comments below, and let’s start dreaming big together!

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