Vision boards often backfire because they focus on extrinsic goals like wealth and fame, which research shows diminishes well-being, and they show outcomes instead of the actual steps to get there. Replace them with images tied to intrinsic goals like relationships and growth, and visualize the concrete process steps instead.
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October 13, 2015
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Hey guys, this is Brian with another Fun Optimal Living 101. This one's on two reasons why your vision board might suck and very importantly, what to do about it. All right, let's jump straight in. Two main reasons why your vision board might suck. Number one, a focus on extrinsic goals. We're going to talk about this a lot. Most vision boards have pictures of your huge mansion on the beach with waves crashing into it. You've got pictures of cutout versions of the hottest people you know who are impossibly hot with the six pack abs all photoshopped, looking hot. Then you've got a picture of you maybe on Oprah or with your best selling book, something where you're famous. You basically just hit the three main points of extrinsic goals. Wealth, fame and hotness. And that's what our culture is all about. And that's what most self help books are trying to help us achieve. Not very wise because as we know from this great book, succeed on the Science of Goal Setting, Heidi Grant Halberson. This is our philosopher's note. She tells us all that glitters isn't gold. Goals that are all about obtaining external validation of self worth, like being popular, famous or rich, not only won't make you truly happy, but will actively diminish your sense of well being by interfering with the pursuit of goals that will really benefit you. If you have goals like these in your life, it's time to to rid yourself of them. Amen to that. All right, so not all goals are created equally. All that glitters isn't gold. And again, we got to remember extrinsic goals. These wealth, fame, hotness goals that we're pursuing not only won't make you truly happy, but will actively diminish your sense of well being. If you're headed in the wrong direction chasing these extrinsic goals, it's usually not wise to go faster. Yikes. Sad face, scary face. That's the first problem with vision boards. They're almost always focused on the extrinsic. The second issue is they tend to be focused almost exclusively on the outcomes. Now scientists like Heideggern Halvorsen tell us if you're going to visualize anything, visualize the steps involved in the process rather than the actual outcome. Now think about this for a second. John Wooden, greatest coach in history in any sport, according to ESPN basketball coach, Go Bruins. When he started his practices every day. Do you really Think he had his team visualizing winning a championship? Do you think they spent 15, 20, 30 minutes visualizing what it's going to feel like to cut down the nets and to accept the trophy? No. He reminded them that they needed to focus on making that practice perfect. Focus on the steps involved in achieving the outcomes rather than visualizing and focusing on the vision board that has all these outcomes that again, are usually extrinsic. We want to focus on the steps in the process. We want to try to make every day, every practice as perfect as we possibly can make it. So those are my two big issues with vision boards and why they might suck is extrinsic goals and a focus on the outcome rather than the steps in the process. Now, if we want to unsuck it, it's very simple. Move from an extrinsic focus on the fame, the wealth and the hotness to an intrinsic focus on relationships, growth, making a contribution to your community. Visualize those things. Put pictures of your, your family as happy as you've ever seen your family. Put that on a vision board, right? Just amazing moments in your family. Remind yourself of the importance of that. That's awesome. Think about growth rather than the hot people who are giving each other high fives on the beach of some other version of somebody or some hot person. Get rid of that and put in you looking as vibrant as you've ever looked. Maybe put in some fresh fruit and some veggies and the stuff steps that you're going to take to achieve the level of beauty and more importantly, the level of health that you'd like to achieve and that personal growth. Find ways to model and exemplify the steps in the process. And then making a contribution rather than all the money you're going to make and all of the fame you're going to achieve. Think about how you're going to contribute. Maybe cut out pictures of people you're serving or testimonials you've received from your work that remind you of the contribution that you're committed to making in the world. Really, really powerful. Shifting from extrinsic to intrinsic. Powerful way to unsuck it. And the second thing again is shifting from the outcomes to the steps. What steps will you take to achieve the outcome you're so excited about. Focus on that. Let the results be a byproduct of you taking impeccable steps day in and day out. There you go. It's a fun look at two reasons why your vision board might suck. What you can do about it. Hope you enjoyed it. Let's focus on the intrinsic goals and let's focus on the steps we need to take to get there. Have an awesome day. See you soon.
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