Its the last day of 2008... Which for me, means its time to make some visual lists of what I want to accomplish in the new year!
What is a visual list? To me, its a lot like a regular handwritten list, but incorporating some methods of mind mapping, photos and illustrations with the written text, and then combining all of these things into a creative final conclusion! I always keep my lists in one big scribbly sort of journal.
"The Creative Entrepreneur" by Lisa Sonora Beam, is a book that uses this method to make artist's business ideas happen. In the book it says,
"Creatives tend to be visual, action-oriented learners. We respond to visual stimuli. We also need to be engaged in a personal, meaningful way with the material...Visual journaling helps us go beyond what we know in our rational mind, so we can access other ways of knowing - the kind of knowing that results in truly original thinking, ideas and creative breakthroughs."
How to get started! Grab a journal, a pen/pencil/whatever! - and get thinking. I prefer using a Moleskine sketch book because its small enough to carry in my bag. I've scanned in a few pages from my visual lists I used to plan for 2008 as examples. I was not happy with how things were going in 2007, so I used visual lists and journaling to figure out how I could change things and make goals. Ideas I tried that might work for you:
Once you have an understanding of where you want to be, goals should come easily! Gala Darling wrote an excellent article on making goals last year, inspiring me to make 3 lists: Goals that scare me, Things I want to do before I die, and Easy/simple/smallish goals. After writing it all down, I took one goal from each of the first two lists and then several from the third. Fine-tuned everything, and then I wrote it all down in a final completed list.
This is the most important step - it seals the deal! Like making the promise to yourself more realistic. And guess what - IT WORKED! I opened up my old visual journal today to write this post, and I saw I had completed everything on that list but one thing, which I plan to roll forward into 2009. Not bad, huh? :)
Ideas to keep you inspired once you have come up with your goals:
I would love to see others!
You can see more from my past visual journals here on my flickr.
Inspiring links:
How to set amazing goals - Gala Darling
5 Kick-ass reasons to use a journal and how to do it - The positivity blog
Really simple goal setting - Zen Habits
Trusting in the universe - We like it raw
- Make a list of people or things that inspire you. Write a number next to each item, and then on a different sheet of paper, write down with the corresponding number a few reasons why this person or thing inspires you. When you are done, cover up the first list - it's not what is important! (I hid mine under a sheet of cardboard with an illustration - out of sight, out of mind!) Instead, focus on is how many repeated factors you wrote on the second sheet. Those repeats are most likely what you are aiming to become with yourself! This is a great way to figure out where to start on planning goals.
- Make a list of all the "biggest myths" you tell yourself! Do you not believe in yourself, or think you are incapable of doing something? Write down these silly notions and take a good look at them when you are done. Most likely, they aren't true. Figure out ways to prove to yourself they are truly myths!
- Do a mind map! Draw your name in the center - and branch off of it with whatever comes to mind about who or where you want to be. Look at these concepts - what do they mean to you?
Once you have an understanding of where you want to be, goals should come easily! Gala Darling wrote an excellent article on making goals last year, inspiring me to make 3 lists: Goals that scare me, Things I want to do before I die, and Easy/simple/smallish goals. After writing it all down, I took one goal from each of the first two lists and then several from the third. Fine-tuned everything, and then I wrote it all down in a final completed list.
This is the most important step - it seals the deal! Like making the promise to yourself more realistic. And guess what - IT WORKED! I opened up my old visual journal today to write this post, and I saw I had completed everything on that list but one thing, which I plan to roll forward into 2009. Not bad, huh? :)
Ideas to keep you inspired once you have come up with your goals:
- Paste in your journal photos/illustrations that inspire you.
- Doodle to your heart's content!
- Write down whatever you fancy at the moment. I love making lists of things I'm adoring or dreaming of - it keeps my spending at bay and my heart calm.
- Jot down a few good/interesting points from each day! This will help you learn to look at the positive aspects of life.
- Make a small calendar of the months from now till next year in your journal. Next to each month as it occurs, write down an accomplishment or something you are proud of. As time goes forward, you will have this to look back at and will easily see your progress!
- Look up things to aid in your ideas and goals like classes, books to read, people to contact, things to purchase, etc. - and build a to-do list with it in your journal!
- Don't focus on pages being perfect works of art. This is just for you! It's all about being inspired and learning about yourself. Just have fun!
I would love to see others!
You can see more from my past visual journals here on my flickr.
Inspiring links:
How to set amazing goals - Gala Darling
5 Kick-ass reasons to use a journal and how to do it - The positivity blog
Really simple goal setting - Zen Habits
Trusting in the universe - We like it raw
