As the New Year is around the corner, everyone is getting ready for new transformations, resolutions, and goals. Setting goals has taken a new format as Gen Z not only uses plain journals to set goals, but also quotes, doodles, and images have become the new normal. It includes picture collage, Words, and symbols to reflect future goals.
Vision boards are not a new concept, and have actually been popular since the Egyptian civilisation. Cave Paintings in history and the Egyptian hieroglyphs are examples of vision boards used in earlier times. The new thought movements, however, brought this to the forefront, with people like Tony Robbins and Napoleon Hill becoming popular with their idea of manifestation.
The idea of vision boards is based on neuroscience and behaviour. When goals are visible, it is easy to map opportunities aligned with them. Dr Minakshi Manchanda, the Associate Director of Psychiatry at the Asian Hospital, said that visualisation reduces the cognitive load on a person’s mind. She added that Words have to be interpreted, while images give instant meaning. Hence, it helps in planning the future with more meaning and motivation.
Dr Manchanda further says that the vision board influences mindset, which influences behavioural change. It helps in strengthening sapience, which keeps the vision at the forefront and keeps the person aware. This works by keeping the reticular activating system, and keeps the mind focused on the vision through imagery.
Dr Pavitra Shankar from Akash Healthcare also said that visualising goals is more impactful than writing them since visual images create a stronger mental impression. This makes a stronger memory and motivation, compared to written cues.
The current generation resonates with the idea of a vision board as it provides alignment in the face of uncertainty, chaos, and burnout. They allow the existence of boundaries, milestones, rests, and slow living, along with ambition.
A small draft to make a vision board begins with a clear idea of what one wants. Choosing the correct medium comes next, followed by curated quotes and images, and it should be placed consciously inside the study room or bedroom.
