Entrepreneuress 101: how to create a vision board that works

As we approach the end of the year, we are always called to begin thinking about what we want to create for the coming year. When I think about it, I am not really ready to answer appropriately. I'm still over here feeling so excited for what is going on in my life right now. I really want to take in all the goodness of NOW. Dreams are coming to fruition, especially my book, Blissful Living, which I am more proud of than anything. ISTA magazine, which has been such a passion project for me, is making me feel totally inspired at all times. My new home, Villa Noir, is on the penthouse floor of a beautiful high rise and I am so in love with my view. All of these things were on my vision board last year, not in a literal form but the idea of them was plain as day. Over time, the images on my board came to life through inspired action and I can't help but sit in wonder of the power in dreaming with focus. 

I am so set on encouraging everyone to make their home more beautiful and a vision board is always a part of that story. Whether it’s done as an art wall or a bulletin board in your home office, your dream board represents the best of who you are inside. So, why not take the time to bring that out into the world? 

As I take inventory of all the blessings I have had this past year, I am starting to just create the space for my new 2017 desire list. I'm starting to tear images, check in and see how I am feeling. Take a step back from my list of To-Do's and just ask myself what it is that I truly want. 

ONE SUPER IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER: Creativity > Competition

Focus on your desires, your feelings, your needs. Drop the desire to get what someone else may have and push into what makes you feel good on a daily basis. For example, while one of your fabulous friends may have a closet full of clothes to die for, maybe you really just want to have blowouts, facials and massages on the regular. You've got to tap into what is for YOU. That’s a huge part of what makes a vision board truly work, YOU MUST BE ALIGNED WITH YOUR DESIRES.

Years ago, I would make vision boards and not see anything happen. I didn't really understand what I was doing wrong. After a lot of talking with my mentors and following what other super successful people were doing that I wasn’t, I learned just what it takes to get to a point of effortless manifesting my dreams and goals. I finally figured out the secret sauce and a few key elements of the vision board process that it started to actually work for me.

If you haven't already, be sure to grab my Vision Board Bliss e-book. I created this to show you step by step how to design your dream board so that it actually helps manifest what you want into your life. It's important to stay focused and in tune with the best version of yourself you can possibly imagine. AND THEN you can put all of your action into practice. 

For now, I will share with you 3 very important things you will want to begin to put into practice…

1. You must believe in the miraculous. Typically, the largest barrier between where you are and where you want to be, is just the belief that is has to be more difficult than it needs to be. You are usually the only thing standing in your way. The thoughts you have about yourself, the beliefs you hold, etc. The good news is, It’s not your fault. Society, parents, friends have filled your mind with beliefs of fear, its a natural human condition, we are created to think ahead, to anticipate the worst with fear. Understanding that your mind is made to work in this way is one of the first things you can use to your advantage. Simply begin to change the way you think and what you allow yourself to believe.

2. Choose yourself. Always always always go with your gut when it comes to your dreams. No one knows your destiny better than you. Hold tight to your vision. So take the time to really get to know what you heart wants and don’t deny your inner dreams.

3. Investments in yourself, will reap the most rewards. Life is an ever evolving journey that never ends. You will never get “there”. When you are open to continually growing, learning, changing and investing in things that help you do so, your life will feel in flow. Don’t let yourself get stuck in complacency and routine. This is where I love using Feng Shui to bring my life back to flow.

a few tools to help. . .

So, while you are making your Christmas lists and travel plans, don't forget to be collecting your vision board images. Start imagining now what you want. Why not host a little vision board soiree where you can create it with your besties? Don't forget that your dreams are for you and it is so important to DREAM BIG, so if you need to keep it private, make it a fabulous party for one. 

Who else is ready to start dreaming & manifesting with me? NOW is the time. 

Grab your vision board E-book here.

Entrepreneuress 101: cultivating an attitude of gratitude & attracting abundance

Today is a pretty exciting day, in the US, its election day and the possibility of the first woman president! This month, is probably the easiest time to cultivate your gratitude as a woman. Women making election history, plans with spending time with friends and family being thankful for them and most importantly a time to be proud of our nation and our history. This morning when I woke up, I started to think about how far women have come in this country. I recently watched the show Good Girls Revolt on Amazon and it completely inspired me. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching it. You will get a sense of the appreciation I am currently feeling.

P.S. I am especially grateful that Nate Berkus gets me and created my beautiful black and gold desk. 

It also reminded me as to why I started  ISTA Magazine. When I first got the idea for ISTA, it was because I wanted to celebrate the relationships I have created with other women entrepreneurs. I was coming away from an incredible 2 hour conversation with my business besties who are self proclaimed ISTAS. Gardenista, veganista, passionista, I thought to myself how grateful I was for these deep and enriching conversations with passionate + like minded women, which always seem to build confidence and connection. That deep sense of gratitude is what propelled me to create my little online magazine, a softer, more feminine, spiritual side of myself and my brand.

THE SECRET TO ATTRACTING ABUNDANCE

Gratitude will always lead to more abundance in your life.  Gratitude stirred up a fresh idea for me. Gratitude keeps me going when I'm not feeling creative or inspired. Gratitude will keep you hustling. When you are grateful, focused and passionate, success will ALWAYS come. Gratitude is the secret sauce. If you are doing your best to make something successful and it's just not quite making it, pay extra attention to where you are complaining, self-doubting and feeling entitled. Take your mind off of what isn't working and start being thankful for what is happening right now. If you are reading this blog post, be thankful for your health and the ability to read & see. Whatever you can drum up, write it down.

I use my planner as a tool to focus on cultivating my gratitude, inspiration and positivity. These daily capsule sheets from Cloth and Paper are my favorite because each day you get to write down your mantras and affirmations right along with what you are grateful for. This is something I highly recommend putting into practice in your work. 

I'm always grateful that I get to work for myself and have the ability to create things that I absolutely love. I am grateful that even the smallest thing can inspire me. This little gold lion head gave me inspiration for a new project I am working on. The possibilities of what we can create in the world are endless. 

My black and gold planner dividers are also from Cloth and Paper. 

For the times when I am not feeling so grateful, which happens of course, I turn to the front of my planner. I keep this page from my LOA planner and use these prompts for my reference. If I ever need to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, I use it as my cheat sheet. You can use it too. 

Just put this into practice for the month and see what happens in your life. Did you get inspired to create something new? Did you attract something you have been wanting out of the blue? 

Or are you already a gratitude focused gal? What are your secrets? Leave me a comment below, I'd love to know.