The Science Behind the Power of Vision Boards

Do you ever find yourself daydreaming about your ideal life, imagining the success, happiness, and achievements you aspire to?

What if I told you that turning those dreams into reality could be as simple as creating a vision board?

It might sound too good to be true, but there’s a science-backed magic behind the power of vision boards that makes them a formidable tool in manifesting your dreams.

Why vision boards are a powerful tool to making your dreams become a reality

1. Value Tagging: Imprinting Dreams onto Your Subconscious

Ever heard of the term “value tagging”? It’s a psychological phenomenon where looking at images of your desired goals or aspirations helps prime your brain to identify opportunities it might have overlooked in everyday life. When you create a vision board, you’re essentially imprinting important things onto your subconscious, assigning a higher priority to achieving them.

Neuroscientist and Author of The Source , Dr. Tara Swart, emphasizes the role of value tagging, stating that it “imprints important things onto your subconscious and filters out unnecessary information […]. The more you look at those images, the higher their importance rises.” She reinforces this idea by also highlighting, “The brain assigns a higher ‘value’ to images than written words on a ‘to-do’ list” in terms of how our brain prioritizes information.

As you flip through magazines or scroll through images online to find representations of your dreams, your brain is busy making connections. It’s like creating a roadmap for your aspirations. The more vivid and detailed the images, the clearer the path becomes in your mind.

By consistently exposing yourself to these visuals, you’re training your brain to recognize opportunities related to your goals. It’s like programming a powerful internal GPS, steering you toward the right direction to make your dreams a reality.

2. Visualization: From Imagination to Neurochemical Reality

Visualization might seem like a mystical concept reserved for meditation gurus and motivational speakers, but it’s deeply rooted in science. Numerous studies have shown that the brain struggles to distinguish between something that has happened and a vividly imagined version of it.

When you believe in the truth of your dreams, your brain releases neurochemicals associated with the perceived reality before you even reach your goal. This means that, armed with the confidence and belief in your dreams, you are more likely to take actions that align with your aspirations.

Picture this: as you glance at your vision board each day, you’re not just admiring pretty images; you’re telling your brain, “This is my reality.” The brain, in turn, responds by initiating the release of chemicals associated with accomplishment and success. It’s a powerful mental hack that propels you to take the necessary steps toward your goals.

3. Repetition Lowers the Stress Response

Embarking on a journey towards your dreams often involves stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. However, the novelty of these experiences can trigger your cortisol and adrenaline response – the infamous stress reaction. This is where the beauty of repetition comes into play.

Repetitively exposing yourself to your vision board’s images helps tip the odds back in your favor. Instead of viewing your goals as intimidating challenges, your brain begins to see them as familiar scenarios. This repetitive exposure reduces the stress response associated with pursuing your dreams.

Imagine looking at your vision board daily and seeing yourself achieving those goals. Your brain, over time, starts to perceive these scenarios as not “new and scary” but rather as second-nature habits waiting to become a part of your everyday life. This shift in perception not only makes your journey less stressful but also primes you to embrace the necessary changes with open arms.

Vision boards are not just for the New Year’s ‘new me’ vibe!

They’re like a personal mood board for any goal or project you’ve got brewin’ in your mind.

What do I do? I’ve got a big vision board for the year, laying out all my major goals… And then, to keep things fresh, I’ve got “mini-boards” every month I keep in my journal, which are much smaller of course. This helps me visualize what it is I want to experience, dive into or just little reminders and affirmations for that month.

The step-by-step journey – involving journaling, meditation, writing, and getting creative – turns the entire experience into a high-energy, feel-good space for our minds. Now, sure, vision boards won’t magically land you at your goals; real work is still a must. But hey, that shouldn’t stop us from dreaming big.

It’s not just a creative project; it’s like curating a visual diary of all the awesome vibes you want in your life. you can think of it as a collage visualizing everything you aspire to.

So, swipe through those magazines or Pinterest, pick out the coolest pics, and let’s make those dreams pop on your vision board! Your future self will thank you for it.

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CITATIONS

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UCL. (2023, April 21). Humans struggle to differentiate imagination from reality. UCL News. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/apr/humans-struggle-differentiate-imagination-reality

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