How to Make an Affirmation Board

With Rosh Hashanah this week, we are being given that clear wake-up call to remind us that it’s not too late to make our dreams happen for 2011. But we have to have a plan, we must be organized with our desires! Otherwise, how do we expect to make our dreams come true? There’s a Jewish saying that says:

There are those that let life happen, and there are those that grab the ram by the horns and make life happen for them.

People all over the world have adopted the ‘grab the horns’ mentality. It’s another example of our traditions observed without people realizing–just because it make sense! Well, for Jewish people, the ram’s horn is in your face this week. So, are you focused on Rosh Hashanah? What are you doing to change your life this New Year? I update my affirmation board every September. I highly recommend you do the same! It doesn’t matter if you’re Jewish or not. It’s about getting organized, having a plan. That’s something everyone can benefit from.

So what exactly is an affirmation board? It’s simple. An affirmation board is your dreams, your desires, your GOALS in a visual form. It needs to be on cardboard or stiff paper. It’s personal, but you need to put it somewhere where you’ll look at it. Stare at. Be reminded. All the time. To remind you where you’re going. To remind you that the time is moving, with or without you realizing your dreams.

Napoleon Hill Said: A goal is a dream with a deadline.

Well, it’s Rosh Hashanah. There’s no better time than now. So pull out a piece of cardboard. Print off some images from the Internet. Cut out some images from magazines. Put together a realistic visual reminder of what you want to accomplish. Put your dreams to paper. Keep them realistic, achievable goals. Saying that, there’s no harm in pushing yourself either! 

I was looking at last year’s board today. What was on it? Well,  I wanted to find a way to upgrade my very tired old Landrover. Hooray, I did! Another goal was to pay off my revolving debt. I had printed off a collage of credit cards as a reminder to myself that I wanted to clear them out. Last year I didn’t really have a plan for doing this. But the constant visual reminder pushed me to make it happen. I’m now 85% debt free. Considering that I haven’t borrowed any money to buy my car or pay off these cards, I’m pretty proud of myself. And if not for the board, it probably would not have happened.

I keep my board on the back of a door. It’s in a place where I look at it regularly but no one else really sees it. A friend of mine keeps her affirmation ‘board’ on a folded piece of paper in her handbag. She pulls it out and looks at it whenever she’s waiting somewhere. That’s a pretty good idea too. Regardless of how you design it or where you keep it, it’s really about having the plan, knowing what you want to accomplish, and creating a reminder that you look at regularly.

Happy planning!