By Lisa Lauture

  Hey hey! Can you believe it! It's the end of January already and like me, many of you have created your vision board and are moving forward with manifesting your dreams. But for so many, the end of January means the end of the honeymoon phase with the vision board. To be honest, I believe this contributes to what many of us call, "The Post Holiday Blues." [The mood that inspires us during the holiday season simmers in January, leaving many with a mild - for some, depression.]

I'll be honest with you, I have done my fair share of successful and unsuccessful vision board elements. Because, despite the testimonies expressing the "magic" that takes place when you write down what you desire, it doesn't always happen as miraculously as some people claim.

Do I believe that vision boards work? ABSOLUTELY! But After many years of creating them and falling short in some kind of way, I learned some important lessons about vision boards. Things that I wish someone explained to me before I began this journey of manifesting the life that I want to live.

So, here are 3 things that I learned about successfully manifesting my vision board.

1.Your vision may not fully transpire within your timeline

That's right. Time and time again I've read articles and heard testimonies of how others place their target goal or desire and date on their vision board, and just like magic, it happened. That may have been the case, but what often gets left out is the process that transpired between their now and said date. That's important to consider. It's okay to have goals for things on your vision board. But it is also beneficial to keep an open mind. Having a vision board is supposed to serve as a reminder of your visions and goals. And should help you focus on what it may take in order to accomplish those goals and desires. Unexpected things happen that may seem to slow your progress but the goal it to keep going.

2.Your budgets and lifestyle have to align with what you desire.

Believe it or not, your vision may not have come to pass because you and your current situation are not ready to handle the weight or the responsibility, and that's okay. One of the most valuable things I've learned is that big dreams require specific things to be in order. Otherwise there will be chaos, exhaustion, anxiety, etc. When assessing your vision, ask yourself, "Am I ready?"

I provided the illustration of the 4 budgets to give you a visual of what you may need to consider. Example: If you are a mother of 2 children under 5 years old, becoming a full time CEO may not be feasible for you right now. Then again, it may. But I guarantee that assessing where you are in these 4 areas will give you a pretty good idea of whether you can handle the responsibility of both at the same time.

Don't let this discourage you from placing big things on your vision board. You also have to be realistic about where you currently are and trust the process. Taking a realistic look at your big visions will help you to understand what is necessary in order to handle such a big blessing. In my life, this lets me know what to work on and pray for. That's why I've added supplies like Faith, Courage, and Boundaries to my vision board. This helps me to measure where I am with accomplishing my big goals, and keeps me motivated to celebrate every victory. Remember, baby steps are still steps. This leads me to the third thing that I've learned about manifesting my vision.

3.Celebrate every step of progress made towards your vision.

One of the most valuable things I've learned on my weight-loss journey has been to look for "non scale victories." Those are changes and growth that are present but may not be seen when you step on the scale. Things like noticing your face getting slimmer in side by side photos, less swelling in your feet, or not feeling as winded when completing simple tasks. These are typically changes that take place before the numbers on the scale begin to drop. Often times, we give up on losing weight because we are not looking for the smaller signs that indicate that we are making progress. The same goes for the journey towards our vision.

You have to look for signs that indicate that you are on the right track. Even if you don't see your vision manifesting right away. What else is necessary for the longevity of your vision. If it's consistency, keep track of how much progress you are making with being consistent in your life. If it's setting boundaries, take note of how you are doing in that area. It could even be the steps you take in your action plan. Every task completed is one step closer to accomplishing your goals. Celebrating break throughs should be your way of celebrating your journey. Because the journey is where the miracles happen. You just have to be in tuned to the experience. There is a time and a place for everything, including our dreams and aspirations. Practicing gratitude for every blessing seen will get you from point A to point Z. The key is to keep going. Remember, YOU DESERVE TO WIN!