Interview with bestselling author Joyce Schwarz with PSYCHCENTRAL.com about what else Visioning the Future and Vision Board creation

1. Plan Your
Future: How to Create a Vision Board
By MARGARITA
TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.
Associate Editor
How best to plan your future?
While there are many possible ways to do this, one creative
method is to create a vision board.
“A vision board is a visual map that you create to design your
best possible future. It serves as your virtual GPS for work
and life planning,” according to Joyce Schwarz, author of The
Vision Board.
Below, Schwarz, who’s also founder of The Vision Board
Institute in Marina Del Rey, California, provides her tips for
starting a vision board.

2. Start by “Visioning”
Visioning typically is the first step in creating a vision board.
According to Schwarz, “Visioning is an ancient art and science
that dates back to the caveman days, which is a combination
of meditation, soul-searching and even improv.”
It’s a group activity where individuals bounce around ideas,
formulate and share their vision for their lives. Usually there’s
a facilitator, such as a certified vision board coach, who asks
participants to respond to a series of questions and prompts
Essentially, the goal of visioning is to pay attention to your
recurring themes, phrases and suggestions that inspire your
vision board.
Schwarz also suggested keeping the following 5-step formula
in mind, which she termed GRABS:
1. Begin by being grateful for your life. Express what
you’re grateful for.
2. “Release disappointments from the past or judgments
of past experiences,” Schwarz said. “Be ready
to receivethe best that the universe has to offer you
and that you can create or even something better
beyond your expectations.”
3. “Acknowledge yourself for doing this process and for
being you,” she said. “Askfor assistance or answers to
clarify your path to your vision and begin to take
inspired action.” Inspired action is about embracing
uncertainty and following a hunch.
4. “Believe in yourself and beauthentic along the way.”
5. “Share your abundance [such as your] knowledge,
insight and gifts.”
You can learn more about visioning in the first chapter of
Schwarz’s book.
Create a Mini-Board
In her book Schwarz also includes tips on creating your own
visioning session.

3. • Pick three to five magazines you normally wouldn’t
read. As Schwarz explains, if you’re into motorcycles,
get a sailing publication.
• Look at only the pictures on each page. Ignore the
articles and even the captions.
• Go back to the first publication, and cut out anything
that appeals to you. (It could be anything from a
fashion layout to a travel ad.) Repeat the process with
the rest of the magazines. You should have eight to 10
photos.
• Lay out three or four images in a row.
• Look at the pictures from different angles.
• Move the pictures around, until you feel like they fit
together.
Then ask yourself these questions to help you figure out what
these images mean for you.
• Is there an obvious link between the photos? For
instance, maybe the images of the outdoors indicate
that your dream is to travel.
• What’s the point of view? If there are people in your
pictures, are they active or static? Are you the driver or
passenger in your life? Which do you prefer?
• What’s different in the pictures from how your life
is right now? For instance, as Schwarz writes, are
there a lot of children in your images, even though you
don’t have kids?
• Do the pictures portray a quality of life? Write
down the key words your images spark. For instance, is
it peace or adventure?
It’s important to get as specific as you can about what you
want and figure out the “why,” Schwarz said. Why do you
want this vision?
Once you do identify the what and why, be sure to live your
vision every day. For instance, let’s say you want to take a
sabbatical in Italy. “Start living, breathing and eating Italian,”
she said. Play Italian music, watch videos filmed in the

4. specific city you’d like to visit and have an image of the place
as your screensaver, she said.
A Sample Vision Board
As an illustration, Schwarz shared one of her vision boards.
The theme is “Eat, Pray, Love,” which reminds her to have
balance in her life. For instance, the picture of the Vision
Board book reminds her of her mission: “to show people how
to live their vision boards and of course their visions.”
The woman doing yoga symbolizes the importance of
quietness and meditation. The apple and cappuccino signify
the simple treats in life. The building is a symbol of the
importance of leaving a strong legacy.
Schwarz also stressed the importance of having power words
on your board. “Power words are crucial in keeping you on
track to your vision because just by reading and saying them
you realize what your heart knows is vital to you now,” she
said. In this board, her power words are: Eat, Pray and Love.
You can learn more about vision boards
at Schwarz’s blog. www.visionboard.info
or email her at joyceschwarz@gmail.com