Use a Treasure Map to define your goals

A Treasure Map, a Collage, a Vision Board are just some of the names used to describe this same thing.


What is it?

Basically it consists of putting pictures and words and page, to represent your goals.

It can be done with a sheet of Bristol board, and cut outs from magazines, papers etc.

It can be done electronically on your computer with a simple graphics program, or even with a Word Processor and clip art.

But which ever you do, the idea is the same.


How to make one

Picture in your mind what your goals are for a specific period of time.

Then find actual pictures to represent these goals.

As you go you may find yourself expanding on your original pictures, and you can add words as you wish to further define what you want in your life.

A variation on the theme of a Vision Board, as described by Chrystyanna Queensley of Communication House, is to buy a small photo album.

On all the left hand pages, put pictures, one on each page, of the things you want to have, the goals you want to reach.

As you achieve each goal, take a picture of the actual thing you have achieved, or something appropriate to represent it should it not be something concrete and able to be photographed.

Place the photo on the right hand page of the photo album, directly across from the picture you put in as the goal.

By looking through your album you will be able to see at a glance how far you've come, and what you still want to do.


How to use it

Once your treasure map is completed, pin it up somewhere in your home where you will see it every day.

On the fridge.

On the bathroom mirror.

If it’s an electronic version, as well as printing it out you might want to have it as your desktop graphic or make it into a screen saver.

Look at it regularly and note what areas are coming along well, and which are waiting till later.

As you look at it, visualize that all these things have already happened and what that will feel like.

Visualize and feel it as intensely as you can.

If you like, you can purchase some tiny Post-it notes, and each time a specific item is completed, you can draw a red checkmark to show it’s completed and stick it over that picture.

If you don’t like the idea of covering up the pictures, you can make a list of things as they are completed.

But do pay attention to what you have achieved. It will help push you ahead to achieve the rest.

When you create a new set of goals, make a new treasure map for these.

You may well have more than one treasure map on the go at one time, if you have goals in entirely different areas of life.


Why this works:

This system works because your subconscious, which determines how you actually live your life, is programmed by spaced repetition.

Each time you look at your treasure map, your subconscious registers again that this is what you have.

As it becomes familiar with the picture, your subconscious, begins to believe what you have posted there.

And as it cannot differentiate between what IS and what is VIVIDLY IMAGINED, it does everything it can to make real what it believes is true … which is what you want and need to push you on to achieve these things.

Try it.

Treasure Maps really do work. They give you a wonderful lift as you look at them and can be revised and updated at any time if your goals or direction change.

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