"To Do" Lists for The Soul

Aren't we funny little creatures?  I better just speak for myself, but I bet a lot of you do this too...  every night before I go to bed, I write on my little yellow lined pad of paper a list of all the things that I need to do the next day.  And boy-oh-boy does it feel goooooood when I accomplish one of the tasks.  No, actually the part that feels good isn't so much the accomplishment of the task but instead the actual marking off the task with my pen.

The words "wash Luna" (our dog) might be on my list.  I wash Luna, I come in smelling like wet dog, and then I go to my to-do list to cross it off.  Whew!  One task down, ten more to go.  I'm so happy I've accomplished a task, BUT the real thrill of it is sliding my pen over the words "wash Luna."  Yes, there's definite power in crossing the words off the list... I am queen of my domain, and I just took control of my day!

In fact, I am so anal, that if I have forgotten to write in the task, and I do the task, sometimes I'll write the task in JUST to run a line through it to show completion.  Yeah, I know... a bit ridiculous, and I'm working on that issue, BUT it is interesting how powerful putting pen to paper can be, isn't is?

The process of writing is really empowering.  You can read more about this in my recent blog "The Right to Write" here.  Words ground us.  They give our lives meaning.  They help us to define our surroundings and our feelings.  Words give us direction and often put us in motion.  We're directing our lives with words all the time, and we probably don't even realize it.  We make to-do lists to guide our days, we make out budgets to direct our finances, we make menus to coordinate our meal planning, we make lists of assets and liabilities to show our net worth, and we make wills to direct our belongings when we're not here anymore.  We even make lists of our friends and "likes" on Facebook and our favorite songs on iTunes!   

So my question today is.... If we create all these lists and words to steer our daily lives toward our needs and desires, shouldn't we spend a bit more time creating words about how we want the really important part of our lives to go?  Shouldn't we spend time contemplating what our souls want?  I'm not talking about washing the dog, I'm talking about our dreams, our joys, our big-daddy happiness goals.

Dreamboards are basically "lists" or "words" or "pictures" of what we want our lives to be... how we want our lives to go.  They are really just "to do" lists or "dream lists" for our spiritual lives.  There are  many articles on dreamboards and how imagining and envisioning what you want in your life actually manifests it.  I'm a huge believer in the Law of Attraction and that what we think about we bring about.  This is what dreamboards do for us.  They, like our daily to-do lists, place our intent and focus us towards manifestation.  

So why not try one if you haven't?  Or if you have, it might be time to re-evaluate what you want.  And by the way, dreamboards don't have to be amazing or beautiful.  They just need to be authentically you.  In fact, they don't need to have any words... they might just have pictures.   Your dreamboard can be made from a piece of cardboard and markers...  it's totally up to you.  You can hang your dreamboard in your closet or your garage, or you can kick it up a notch and create a more masterful piece of artwork that you want to hang in a more prominent area of your home. It's totally up to you.  The point is that the words and images affect you and empower your hopes and beliefs and dreams.

I created mine two years ago and hung it across from my bed so that it is the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night.  I hand- wrote the words, added some rhinestones to make it sparkle, embellished it a bit, and framed it in a thrift store frame.  And I LOVE IT!!!!  I love it not because it's a brilliant piece of artwork but because it is authentically me.  I chose the words.  They are my words... MY list for MY life.  And even though I've seen it over and over again, I never tire of it.  When I look at it now, I can feel the power in it.  The words give it power.  I've given it power.  

"Freedom"

"Contribution"

Last year, my friends and I decided to pick one word to represent our spiritual goal for the year...a word to steer our lives.  My word was "presence" because I wanted to concentrate  on being in the now... especially with my family.  My friend Laura's word was "Freedom."  She wanted to experience a sense of freedom in all aspects of her life.  And my friend Kristi's word was "contribution" because she felt it was her time to give back to her friends, family, and community.  I created artwork for Laura and Kristi that incorporated their "words," so that each time they look at their artwork, they find focus and power in their goal for the year.  It helps them remember what they have chosen to focus on. 

And it's never too late or early to create a dreamboard.  In fact, children are especially good at dreaming and wanting unabashedly.  It doesn't take much effort for them to conjure up their wants and desires, for they haven't forgotten how to dream. I customized this dreamboard for a teenage girl who chose her own words and colors.  It hangs in her bedroom and is helping to guide her probably without her even realizing that there is power in seeing those words every day.      

Perhaps you should give it a try, and if you don't want to create it yourself, I'll be happy to customize a dreamboard for you.  Just tell me your colors and your word or words. 

So, what are your words or word?  What do you envision when you really let yourself dream about your life?  No limits, no boundaries... just pure unbridled freedom to choose your future... Think on that this week.  If you feel comfortable, I'd love to hear what they are.  Thanks for taking the time to visit!  Have a wonderful week!

Stacey