National Vision Board Day | JOY for Today

Having a vision means having a purpose. It gives you something to work toward and helps direct your goalsetting. Knowing your purpose, your vision, and where to focus your goals brings JOY.

January 14, 2023

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Three we didn't.
• Wolfe Stew Connects To choosing a focus.
• Bible Verses and Quotes For having a vision.
• Activity Suggestions Individual and collaborative vision boards; Would You Rather questions
• Last Year's Post: Make Your Dream Come True Day (January 13th Annually)

Did You Know:

1. Vision boards are image centered? While your vision board can include words, generally pictures dominate to remind you of your vision at a glance (Psychology Today)
2. The more you see something, the more you like it? Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as the mere exposure effect. Studies support the observance of this effect in people, words, and music. (Simply Psychology)
3. You likely have a version of a vision board already? A picture of your family in your workspace, your motivational Pinterest board, and the picture of your dream home taped on your fridge are all forms of vision boards. A vision board in simplest terms is a visual that keeps us focused on what matters most to us. (Got Questions)
4. Oprah and Steve Harvey advocate the use of vision boards? While they offer differing reasons for the effectiveness of vision boards - Oprah's being manifestation (the process of turning your dreams into reality) and Steve's being his faith in God and guidance from scripture - both agree hard work is essential to reaching your dreams.  (Oprah Daily and Steve Harvey)
5. Action boards are alternatives to vision boards? Nell Farber questions the effectiveness of vision boards and visualizing the end goal and alternatively suggests the use of action boards and visualizing the performance of steps required to reach the end goal. (Psychology Today)

We'd Love to Know:

Which fact was new to you?

Wolfe Stew Connects

What we focus on becomes our reality. 

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) echoes this:

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

The more we see something, the more familiar it becomes, the more we like it. 

Ephesians 5:11 (KJV) cautions us:

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

The "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys are in my head singing "Oh be careful little eyes what you see..."

There is good intention to these words of caution we teach our little ones. More than a cute image, more than a fun song, this is wisdom.

Surround yourself with reminders of who you want to be; stay away from darkness. 

A vision board is not the only way to do this, but it may work for you. I keep a vision board above my desk and glance at it before I sit down to work and whenever I need motivation or a reminder of my focus. My vision board changes annually. I choose my theme and start collecting images at the end of one school year and change it at the beginning of the next. While some images stay and others get replaced, one thing always remains the same: I keep my focus on my faith. As Philippians 4:8 asks, my board is full of reminders of things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. They are pictures, verses, lyrics, and quotes that remind me of what really matters and keep my thoughts from going to dark places. Many pictures represent a spiritual battle I am currently fighting and a quote that reminds me how to overcome. The three images that have remained throughout every redesign:

1. "The only title I'll ever need or want: I am a daughter of God," which fulfills my quest for importance. I don't need accolades or approval from this world; I am His daughter. The knowledge and acceptance of this fact fulfills me.
2. A rose trampled on the ground reminds me to forgive even when it hurts. A message delivered at our church offered this metaphor. When a rose is trampled, it releases a sweet perfume which is like forgiveness. Forgiving often feels like we are being trampled, like we allow others to "get away" with the hurt they have caused us, but in doing so we release a sweet perfume in the scent of love. After thinking of this, I hear Michael W. Smith crooning "Like a rose / trampled on the ground / You took the fall and thought of me / above all," and I know forgiveness is always the answer.
3. "It's not about what; it's about who and that who is YOU," which reminds me that there is nothing I can do to earn His love or favor - I already have it. Instead, my purpose is to know Him more and point others to Him.

If you make a vision board, I hope you center it on Jesus and His love for you. There is incomparable value to focusing your attention on Christ.

In response:

1. Start collecting reminders of truths you need to hear. Think of a way to display them so that you can quickly start battling the lies when they resurface. 
2. GROW with us in our journey toward identifying ourselves and others as VALUABLE (a truth we all need to hear). Or engage in last year's GROWTH opportunity and learn to CHOOSE decisions that reflect your values.

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses

• "I know the plans that I have for you, declares Yahweh. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NOG
• "Then the Lord told me: 'I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read again at a glance. At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting - it will happen!'" Habakkuk 2:2-3 CEV
• "When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful." Proverbs 29:18 NLT
• "This is what the LORD of Armies says. Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are giving you false hope. They proclaim visions that come from their own hearts and not from the mouth of the Lord." Jeremiah 23:16 EHV
• "Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually." I Chronicles 16:11 KJV

Quotes

• "When there is no vision, there is no hope." - George Washington
• "Vision is a destination - a fixed point to which we focus all effort. Strategy is a route - an adaptable path to get us where we want to go." - Simon Sinek
• "You've got to think about big things while you're doing small things so that all the small things go in the right direction." Alvin Toffler
• "Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others." - Roy T. Bennett
• "A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more." - Rosabeth Moss Kanter

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote helps shape your vision board?

 

Activity Suggestions

Find independent and collaborative vision board creation suggestions below. Download a printable version at our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

The Mr.'s Suggestion:

Make a meme!

Pair a picture or video and caption it with text that fits your vision board's theme. Then, add it to your vision board. Sharing it with others is completely optional.

The Mrs.' Suggestions: 

Make Personal Vision Boards

• Choose a topic (job/school, personal/spiritual growth, fitness, finance, hobbies, travel etc.)
• Gather inspiring images or phrases that relate to your topic. (Search magazines, the internet, created memes, and favorite books for quotes.)
• Arrange the objects and set them in place when content. (Corkboard with pushpins, posterboard and making tape, or whiteboard with magnets)
• Adjust at regular intervals. (Add and subtract as often as needed but completely rethink it at least once a year.)

Discuss "Would You Rather..." Questions

• Have a vision board or a goal journal?
• Display your vision board in your room or at school?
• Create an organized or freeform vision board?

If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every January day, download this Wolfe Stew PowerPoint.

Construct a Family Vision Board

Start by brainstorming a list of family goals for 2023. As a family, select one and make the goal into a collaboratively made vision board.

We'd Love to Know:

How you stay motivated to reach your goals?

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. Come back next week for... National Popcorn Day!

Your Partners in JOY Finding,

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.