What Is a Vision Board (and How to Create One That Empowers You)

Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a great last week of 2025. Today, I am excited to share one of my favorite tools for self-empowerment: Vision Boards.  A vision board is a collage filled with pictures, images, quotes, words, and affirmations that align with your goals and dreams in life.  

At Ayana Active, we believe in empowering women to live with purpose, and vision boards are a wonderful way to bring that mindset to life. They help you visualize your goals, stay motivated, and align your daily habits with the future you’re creating.  In this journal entry, I want to talk a little bit about the science behind vision boards and how you can create your own to manifest towards the most empowered version of yourself.   

Do Vision Boards actually work? 

Before you start making your vision board, you may be wondering if this is a manifesting technique that actually works. The important thing to remember with any type of manifesting is that it requires clear intentions and is not a shortcut, but rather a guide. A vision board works as a reminder and encouragement towards your goals.  

Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart explains in this article that “looking at images on a vision board primes the brain to grasp opportunities that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. That’s because the brain has a process called ‘value-tagging’ which imprints important things onto your subconscious and filters out unnecessary information.” 

How to Create Your Vision Board 

If you’ve never created a vision board before, don’t worry, there is no wrong way to do it. The beauty is that this tool is for you and you can create something that is fun and easy while also using your own creativity. 

Start by deciding whether you want to create a physical or digital vision board, then follow the steps below:

Physical Vision Board

1. Clarify your goals: Take a few quiet moments to reflect on what you want to achieve and why those goals matter to you.
   
   

2. Gather materials: Grab a poster board, magazines, scissors, glue, tape, and print photos that inspire you (I love using Pinterest for this!).
   
   

3. Create your collage: Cut and arrange images, words, and affirmations that represent your goals.
   
   

4. Place it somewhere visible: Keep your board in a spot you’ll see every day, and update it as your goals evolve.

Digital Vision Board

1. Clarify your goals: As with the physical version, start with reflection and intention.
   
   

2. Choose your platform: Create a collage or slideshow using Canva, PowerPoint, or even a Pinterest board.
   
   

3. Find inspiration online: Search for images, quotes, and affirmations that capture how you want to feel and what you want to achieve.
   
   

4. Keep it close: Set your vision board as your laptop wallpaper or phone background so you can see it daily.

You can create one large vision board for your overall goals or make smaller boards that focus on specific areas of your life. For example, this year, I made two: one for my overall 2026 goals, and another focused entirely on style inspiration with outfits and accessories that reflect how I want my personal style to represent the woman I’m becoming in 2026.

FInal Thoughts

Whether you’re setting intentions for your wellness journey, your career, or your personal growth, a vision board is a beautiful way to stay connected to your personal purpose and be reminded of the beautiful future you are creating!

Follow @AyanaActive on social media to stay tuned for exciting updates in the new year!