Create Your Vision Board & Word of the Year: A Guide to Setting Intentions & Finding Hope
As we step into a new year, many of us look for ways to set intentions, gain clarity, and cultivate hope. One powerful method to do this is through creating a vision board and choosing a word of the year. This practice is more than just a trendy activity; it’s a way to focus your energy and guide your healing, growth, and transformation throughout the year.
Why a Word of the Year Matters
Choosing a word of the year serves as a psychological anchor—a guiding principle that helps shape decisions and priorities. Instead of making rigid resolutions that often fade by February, a single word gives you flexibility and focus to grow in a meaningful way.
For example, after a difficult season with health challenges, my word was restore. Throughout the year, I found myself drawn to actions and opportunities that aligned with restoration—not only in my physical health but in my relationships and emotional well-being.
When you select a word that resonates deeply, your mind starts subconsciously seeking alignment with that theme, making it easier to notice opportunities, patterns, and progress.
How to Choose Your Word of the Year
If you’re new to this practice or struggling to find the right word, here are some helpful prompts:
What do I need most in this season?
Where do I feel God leading me?
What areas of my life require focus and transformation?
What would I like to cultivate more of in my life?
Your word might be something like rest, courage, trust, healing, freedom, or growth. You can also pray for guidance or spend time in reflection. Journaling or simply brainstorming words that resonate with your current season can also be helpful.
If you’re unsure, try writing down a few words and placing them where you’ll see them often. Over time, one may stand out more than the others.
Creating a Vision Board: The Power of Visualization
Once you have your word of the year, creating a vision board can further solidify your focus. Vision boards work because they engage the Reticular Activating System (RAS)—the part of the brain that filters information and helps you notice what’s important to you. When you visualize something, your brain becomes more attuned to recognizing opportunities that align with your goals.
How to Make a Vision Board
The beauty of a vision board is that there’s no wrong way to do it. Here’s how to get started:
Gather Your Materials
Poster board, corkboard, or a digital platform like Canva
Magazines, printed images, or hand-drawn pictures
Scissors, glue, markers, or anything creative
Center Your Word of the Year
Place your word in the middle of the board as a focal point
Surround it with images and words that align with your intentions
Choose Key Categories to Represent
Personal Growth
Relationships
Mental and Physical Health
Spirituality
Career or Creative Aspirations
Find Inspirational Visuals and Words
Use pictures that evoke emotions tied to your vision
Include scripture, affirmations, or meaningful quotes
Place Your Vision Board Somewhere Visible
Look at it daily to remind yourself of your intentions
Take a picture and save it on your phone for easy access
The Healing Power of Vision Boards for Trauma Survivors
For trauma survivors, the idea of setting goals and envisioning a future can feel overwhelming. Hope and desire might feel foreign or even unsafe. However, reclaiming the ability to dream again is a vital part of healing. A vision board offers a safe way to explore hope without pressure.
Even if everything on your board doesn’t happen exactly as planned, the process itself is valuable. It helps shift the mindset from just surviving to actively thriving.
Revisiting and Adjusting Your Vision Board
A vision board is not static. Life changes, and so do our needs and desires.
Check in with your board monthly—ask yourself, Am I moving in this direction?
Journal about your progress—how has your word guided your steps?
Make adjustments if needed—it’s okay to shift focus as the year unfolds.
A Final Encouragement: You Deserve to Hope
If hope feels difficult, I see you. Trauma takes so much from us, including the ability to dream for the future. But God is a giver of good things. He invites us to hope and trust, even when it feels uncertain.
This practice isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress and presence. Whether you create an elaborate vision board or simply choose a single word, know that you are taking a powerful step toward reclaiming your life and your dreams.
I’d love to hear about your word of the year and your experience with vision boards. Share in the comments or tag me on Instagram so we can encourage each other on this journey.
Want help choosing your word? Download my free Word of the Year Journaling Prompts here to guide you!
Want to hear this on Hey Tabi? Listen here!
