treasure map, vision board

You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, and your intentions create your reality. — Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I remember a friend of my mother’s, back when we were in Miami: Brazilian, loud, cooked amazingly and yelled at cars who got in her way. She was very spiritual as well, and one of the things I remember most clearly after 11 years is her Treasure Map. “This is my house in Key Biscayne, my car is parked right outside. Over there is my family who have moved from Brazil, and I’m over here running my own business.” These were magazine clippings and old photographs glued on to a cardboard, scrapbook style, and they were there as a visualization of her goals.

She taught me about the Law of Attraction, which I loved the concept of. So the next day I convinced my father to take me to a huge art supply store just off of the US 1 so that I could get some cardboard paper for my Treasure Map. Of course I was only nine at the time, so my Treasure Map consisted mainly of roller blades, a new set of paints and glitter, as well as a sticker book and a lot of stickers to trade with my friends.

Some people write things down, put them in a drawer and believe if it’s meant to be it will come to them. But I say: don’t underestimate the power of visualization. The mind associates objects and ideas with images, be they simple or complex. Visualizing a certain situation can invoke the emotions that come with it; that way, if you suffer from stage fright, imagining yourself in front of a crowd ready to give a speech might make your palms a little sweaty. So in the same way, if you visualize success, you will experience a taste of what it would feel like — it’s about taking that bit of energy and turning it into motivation to attract that which you want for yourself.

Before you create it:

  • Sit down with yourself quietly and think of what you want — what you truly want! Don’t think yourself selfish, just start with a clear goal in mind. Go beyond material things; think about where you’d like to see yourself in the near future and with who!
  • It can be in the form of a posterboard on your wall, maybe a corkboard inside a fancy frame, your computer desktop or even a video if you’re feeling extra creative!
  • It’s best to keep it private, you know, like a treasure!
  • Be in a good mood, because only positive things will go on it.

Creating your Treasure Map/Vision Board:

  1. Go through magazines and We Heart It for images that represent what you love and want.
  2. Draw, glue, fold cut and write. Rhinestones, glitter, feathers…Whatever works!
  3. Include at least one photograph of yourself to ground the goal and bring it closer to you, preferably in the center!
  4. Add positive affirmations.
  5. Once you’re satisfied, put it up somewhere where you’ll see it often.

Now all you have to do is put your dreams to action; it doesn’t matter how many things are up on your map if there is no intent on your part to making it happen. We can’t leave everything up to the Universe, you know!