A Vision Board is a visual, pictorial representation of your desired goal. It is a finished product of an intuitive process: sifting through multiple images and bold phrases in various media, either paper magazines or digitally, grabbing the pictures that resonate with you, and pasting them down in a collage that gives you strength and positive thinking as you meditate on those goals.

Making a vision board work for you, however, is more than the simple exercise of cutting and pasting pretty pictures and encouraging words. Once you have realized your goal by this process of creative visualization, you will also need to imagine the steps involved in reaching those goals. Creating a focused image of your aspirations is a great place to start, but it is not enough to concoct a fantasy and believe that you can attain it by positive energy and faith alone. You also need to prepare yourself for the hard work and the possible forces working against you.

For example, if you were trying to lose weight and get in great physical shape, you would start by visualizing yourself at a healthy weight, looking trim and toned, similar to a model on your vision board. Then you would make a reasonable plan of diet and exercise, setting reachable goals and ways to reward yourself along the way. You would also need to devise a plan to ward off the inevitable temptations, to put in place mental pictures and helpful hints to refer to in times of discouragement.

Then, with your confidence raised and your goals clearly in place, you are ready to negotiate those obstacles while still keeping your eyes on the prize.

Consider this quote by Joel Barker, author and lecturer:

“Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.”

So go ahead, pull out the scissors and glue, the magazines or computer for either your paper or digital Vision Board. But be sure to follow it up with visions of the steps you will take to achieve your goals.

“Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it.”

-Jules Renard, French author

Is it health management? Is it related to emotional and mental well-being? Wellness can include all of the above because wellness means different things to different people and organizations. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the concept of wellness primarily centers on building healthy and safe communities, expanding quality preventive services and empowering individuals to make healthy choices. So, how is wellness specifically defined? Wellness focuses on the individual self and can be divided into four general concepts: social wellness, emotional wellness; living fit or physical wellness and financial wellness. Acquiring a working knowledge of these wellness components is essential to identifying patterns which require change to achieve life balance.

Social wellness

Social wellness refers to the ability to develop and cultivate close relationships that contribute to contentment and health. Maintaining intimate friendships develops a strong support system. Further, friendships offer companionship and support to navigate through life’s ups and downs.

Emotional wellness

It is difficult to maintain social wellness without achieving emotional wellness. Emotional wellness fuels the body and provides self-awareness and confidence to stay active and eat well. It is also a form of self-motivation and self-awareness which provides individuals with the ability to perform work, exercise or even think. The ability to feel positive and enthusiastic provides the capacity to cope with stress and embrace strengths and limitations.

Live fit

For the most part, living fit or physical wellness is concerned with maintaining fitness and health. Three of the primary components of physical wellness are physical activity, exercise and healthy eating habits. Physical wellness is also concerned with proper nutrition and mental well-being. Developing physical wellness empowers individuals to lead a healthy lifestyle and ensure maximum fitness levels.

Financial wellness

Financial wellness centers on an ability to manage money and achieve financial security. Sound financial practices may include debt reduction, budgeting and mindful spending. However, financial wellness involves more than just careful money management, it also includes occupational wellness. Positive, occupational wellness is a clear path to well-being by securing satisfaction and enrichment through your work. Identifying meaningful, rewarding work can promote excellence in an individual’s career which translates to occupational stability and financial wellness.

The use of a strategic wellness approach to life promotes balance and encourages optimal health related to social, emotional, physical and financial well-being. Wellness also means obtaining high levels of well-being that helps to achieve goals, find fulfillment and joy. So, start your wellness plan today, by visiting beach body coach.com to help identify steps to incorporate wellness into your lifestyle now!

Overnight success. Can it happen? Does it ever happen?

When you see someone who is wildly successful, seemingly overnight, do you think that success came easy?

Probably not. But appearances can be deceiving.

The Long Road To Overnight Success

According to the quote I share in this video, it takes, on average, 15 years to reach overnight success. Kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it?

And what a relief it is, right? Everyone, not just you, struggled long and hard to reach “overnight” success. You just don’t see the struggles along the way.

That path to success contained challenges, obstacles, frustrations, do-overs, and many other potential setbacks.

On The Road

Think about your life, your goals and dreams. How many times have you started down a path, only to find along the way that your focus, your interest level, even your once-burning desire has changed? My guess is that it’s happened more often than not.

And that’s the best part of your journey toward success. No matter where you started, the experiences and personal growth that happen along the way is the best part of the ride. It’s then that you discover what matters most to you and discard what no longer fits.

Obstacles encountered on the way to success reveal how deep your desire goes. Finding yourself easily sidetracked is a sign you may need to refocus and change direction.

If you’re willing to fight your way through the challenges, no matter how hard they may be, you’ll know you’re on the right path.

The Road To Success — Where The Riches Lie

Now, you may be thinking that the road to success is hard and unpleasant, something you’ll want to struggle through as quickly as possible so you can reach your dreams and goals.

But that’s the wrong way to look at it.

The truth is, it’s those very experiences, the friendships and bonds you cultivate that enrich your life, long before you reach your goal.

Follow A Plan, But Be Willing To Make Corrections

What do you want to achieve? What are your life goals? What is your definition of success?

That first step toward success is often the hardest. When you over-anticipate and fear all that might go wrong, you may not ever take that first step.

But once you’ve begun, you’ll tackle the challenges as they come and find your way past the obstacles you encounter.

You might, however, change course. Maybe you’ll rethink what your version of success means.

You’ll course correct.

And all of these maneuvers take time. But that’s okay. Because time is going to pass no matter what.

Your overnight success is out there. It may take you a while to get there.

It may even take 15 years.

But every step is its own success. Don’t worry about how quickly others reach success. You know the truth. Their success was a long time coming.

Because there’s no such thing as an overnight success.