So one of the places I currently work is a residential behavioral health facility. It is a 28-day treatment center for anyone struggling with substance abuse. There is a men’s unit and a women’s unit, and I usually work on the women’s unit (which I also did yesterday). Yesterday, for our group time, we had the clients create vision boards for themselves, to remind them of why they are in recovery and what their goals are for when they leave this treatment center. I originally was not going to make one of my own and planned to just watch the clients do theirs, but my co-worker kept encouraging me to participate, so I finally [although somewhat reluctantly] agreed to do so.
At first, I was nervous, because I wanted to make sure my board looked “perfect” and I am also notorious for being really bad at art (particularly drawing, painting, or any other sort of “crafty” thing). I was afraid mine would look terrible, and, even though I did tell my co-worker I would make a vision board, at that moment I was so overwhelmed to start that I regretted saying I would make one at all.
I was also hesitant to start this board because I could not think of WHAT I would want to put on it. Should I include pictures of a house I want to live in someday? Clothes I like? Food I enjoy? Places I want to travel? Inspiring quotes and/or Scripture verses? I had only ever made one vision board before this which was about 4 years ago, so I really had not had much experience doing this sort of thing.
After looking through various magazines and scrapbook materials, I found what I wanted to start my vision board: a quote that says “Life is all about creating balance.” I knew this was the foundational quote for my board because all throughout my life, I have struggled to find ‘balance’ in just about every possible area (balancing school/work with home/social life, balancing spending money on bills/other necessities with spending money on fun things, balancing eating healthy with allowing myself [unhealthy] foods I really enjoy, balancing time I spent on schoolwork with time I spend doing fun things, etc. – you get the idea). Balance is very hard for me to maintain steadily in my life, and I knew that a quote like this would focus my mind and heart on the guidance, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit, which I am in desperate need of in order to truly live a life of balance.
After I finally got started, I was a lot less intimated because I started to get some ideas for the kinds of things I wanted to include on my board. I wanted to include things that inspire me, goals I have for my life, places I want to travel, things that make me smile, and any other thing no matter how small that bring joy to my life and peace to my heart.
The Holy Spirit gave me so much peace and gratitude in the midst of making my vision board. I listened to His voice within me and sought to only put things on my board that would draw my heart and my soul closer to Jesus Christ. I am so happy with how my board turned out because I know the Lord has allowed my mind to be renewed and refocused through the process of making it, and has used it to graciously remind me of all the little things in life that bring me joy. It can be so easy for me to get caught up in the seemingly “mundaneness” of everyday life that I forget how much there is to be thankful for, and how even the smallest of things can bring true joy to our hearts.
I smile because I am reminded of the beautiful things that God has blessed me with in this life, and now I have this vision board as a tangible reminder of the goals I want to achieve in life and the dreams I have for my future. I can be reminded of what I feel the Lord calling me to in my life which is to travel the world and preach the gospel for His name’s sake. I can be encouraged that life is not so bad when sometimes it feels like all I do is school and work. I simply need to take more time to “stop and smell the roses” and appreciate the little moments/things in life I very often take for granted. Looking at this board reminds me that I am striving to be a better person every day, just like the clients I work with at the residential treatment facility. While I certainly understand that not all of us are/need to be seeking recovery from drugs, the reality still holds true that all of us have things we are working towards (the specifics of those things might just look different for each person). We are all trying to be a better person today than we were yesterday, and while some people may not realize it, we all need the Holy Spirit in our lives to work inside of us and transform us into the best version of ourselves we can be – which is someone who reflects the deepest, most gracious love of Jesus Christ.
I encourage all of you, if you can/have the time, to make a vision board for yourself. It takes your focus away from all of your worries and refocuses your mind on positive, uplifting things. It forces you to ask yourself questions like: what kind of person do I want to grow up to be (or, if I am grown, what kind of person do I want to be in the here and now?)? What things in life bring me joy? What could I look at on this board that would put a smile on my face and make me an overall happier and more grateful person? What kind of [inspirational] quotes are encouraging to me and awaken a deep longing within me to strive to be the best possible version of myself that I can be? What goals am I currently working towards in life? What do I want to be remembered for? Am I truly making the most out of each and every day I am living? Am I rejoicing in the Lord each day, or do I spend most days complaining and/or wishing my life was somehow different? How can I be more grateful and joyful in my life?
I encourage you, friends, to take more time to smell the roses and to appreciate the small things in life. Smile more, and laugh often. Ask the Lord to instill in you a heart of gratitude and to transform the way you see your current circumstances. Ask Him to give you true joy and to help you be more thankful.
Psalm 118:24: This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it”, (NLT).
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”, (NIV).
Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”, (NIV).
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