These six ways to create a vision board that works will help bring your passions, hopes, dreams, and future plans to life! I’m so inspired by Martha Beck’s latest article in Oprah Magazine. I love Martha Beck, I love thinking about authenticity, and I love the idea of finding our destiny!

“When you start assembling pictures that appeal to your deepest self, you unleash one of the most powerful forces on our planet: human imagination,” writes Martha Beck in “The Vision Thing” (Oprah Magazine, June 2010). “Virtually everything humans use, do, or make up exists because something thought it up.”

Martha Beck is one of my favorite motivational authors; her latest book is Steering by Starlight: The Science and Magic of Finding Your Destiny. And, here are six ways to find your desiny by creating the right type of vision board…

5 Ways to Create a Vision Board That Works – Martha Beck

1. Be open to the power of a vision board. “When you start assembling pictures that appeal to your deepest self, you unleash one of the most powerful forces on our planet: human imagination,” writes Beck. “Virtually everything humans use, do, or make up exists because something thought it up.” Remember that a vision board sets the stage for possibility. And, making your dreams come true – finding your destiny – isn’t about getting exactly what you want! It’s about getting what you need.

2. Be clear on what a vision board is. “A vision board (also called a Treasure Map or a Visual Explorer or Creativity Collage) is typically a poster board on which you paste or collage images that you’ve torn out from various magazines. It’s simple,” writes Christine Kane, author of The Complete Guide to Vision Boards. “The idea behind this is that when you surround yourself with images of who you want to become, what you want to have, where you want to live, or where you want to vacation, your life changes to match those images and those desires.”

3. Create a vision board that represents who you are. Don’t look through the most popular magazines for images that represent everyone’s idea of success (eg, beautiful vacations, no credit card debt, a happy family). Instead, find unusual pictures of unfamiliar places, people, poetry. Find images that resonate with who you are – without worrying about other people’s expectations. Find pictures that represent your most primal, wild, unique, innate self.

4. Cut and paste photos that spark your inner “a ha”! Beck encourages us to find pictures that invoke the following responses: joy, wonder, excitement, curiosity, and happiness. Put photos that make you do a double take or gasp with excitement – and avoid our culture’s clichés (perfect families, exotic vacations, early retirement).

5. Stop thinking about what you want out of life. Instead of focusing with narrow minded tunnel vision on finding your destiny or making your dreams come true, let go of what you want. “Stop thinking about it,” says Beck. “The biggest mistake aspiring reality creators make…is continuing to push something they’ve already set in motion.” Hmmm….this one stopped me in my tracks. Maybe I’m too focused on “making” my Quips and Tips blogs succeed…maybe I reek of desperation and need! Maybe it’s time to let my vision board hum quietly in the background while I relax and do what I love (which involves blogging, so I won’t be abandoning my dreams :-) ).

6. “Be still and still moving.” Alas, Martha Beck says, vision boards aren’t a substitute for elbow grease! We need to be active about getting what we want out of life – we need to keep moving forward, in the direction of our dreams. How? By walking through open doors, listening to our hunches, taking advantage of “coincidences”, and doing what comes naturally. And, by knowing what to let go of!  For instance, I’m constantly tweaking my ads on my Quips and Tips blogs, instead of relating to my readers or meeting new bloggers who have common interests.

“Your vision board itself doesn’t impact reality; what changes your life is the process of creating the images — combinations of objects and events that will stick in your subconscious mind and steer your choices toward making the vision real,” writes Martha Beck.

For more Martha Beck on See Jane Soar, read 6 Ways to Increase Weight Loss Motivation.

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Beck says that appreciation and gratitude increases your motivation to lose weight and stay slim. Why? Because when you’re happy, you don’t do as much “comfort eating.” You don’t feel anxious or depressed – which both often trigger overeating. Plus, the stress hormone (cortisol) that accompanies anxiety encourages your body to hang on to fat.

That’s why many women lose weight when they fall in love!

To learn more about Martha Beck’s theories and research, click on The Four Day Win: End Your Diet and Achieve Thinner Peace. And, read on for her ways to increase your weight loss motivation…

6 Ways to Increase Your Weight Loss Motivation - Martha Beck

Remember: you need to find what works with your personality. Exercising in a group Pilates class may work for your sister – but walking on your own may be better for you. You need to tune in to your own likes and dislikes.

1. Use exercise as your “me” time. Combining solitude and sweat is what works best for me! I run and do Pilates at home alone – rarely do I work out with others – to let my mind wander, my creativity flourish, and my energy increase. If I had to go to the gym or yoga class, I…just wouldn’t! If you’re struggling with an illness, read Coping With Chronic Illness – Natalie Goldberg.

2. Get the right equipment. Maybe the best way for you to increase your weight loss motivation is to stock up on the exercise balls, spinning outfits, Pilates mats, and Yoga gear. Or, maybe you need to join a running group – and all you need is a good pair of running shoes. To figure out your exercise personality, look in your closet or basement: how many old pieces of exercise equipment or fitness clothes do you see? If it didn’t work before, it may not work now. Try something new!

3. Join an outdoor club. I was single when I lived in Calgary, Alberta – and I joined the Calgary Outdoor Club and was thrilled at what they offered! Hiking, ethnic dinners, movie nights, white water rafting, trips to Mexico – all for singles who wanted to do exciting things but didn’t want to do it alone. This was perfect motivation for me. I chose physical activities that challenged me, and I lost weight because my body was being stretched in new ways (sometimes literally!).

4. Try new physical activities. If you’ve always been intrigued at the thought of belly dancing or rock climbing, then grab a buddy and try it out. The more new workouts you try – even if you’re not spectactularly successful – the higher your self-confidence will climb, the better you’ll feel about your body….and the more you’ll be motivated to lose weight.

5. Join a team. This way to increase your weight loss motivation works if you love the comaraderie that accompanies soccer teams, softball teams, or walking groups. Knowing that your teammates or fellow exercisers are waiting for you could be all you need to get and stay fit.

6. Work with a personal trainer. Some people need the discipline and structure of a personal fitness trainer. If you can’t afford it, talk to a trainer about bartering. Can you offer a service that she needs, such as doing her accounting, babysitting her kids, or cleaning her house? A personal trainer may motivate you to stick to your weight loss goals – and not cost an arm and a leg!

For more weight loss tips, read 10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds – Julia Cameron.

Friends, what works for you to increase your weight loss motivation? I welcome your comments and questions below…

Related posts:

1. 6 Ways to Create a Vision Board That Works – Martha Beck
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