Some people walk around with their New Year’s resolutions in their heads and some have written them down in a piece of paper that is kept behind the bedroom door or in one of the notebooks for shopping. I applaud the fact that you’ve taken time to think about what you wish to do in the new year. Research has shown that only 5% of people that have achieved New Year’s resolutions are those that had them written down. And in that 5% of the achievers, they discovered that they only wrote a maximum of five things they would achieve in the year. But what the other 95% does is to write a long list of resolutions which makes the items on the list – a wish list – instead of goals to be achieved while deep down we already have doubts in achieving these goals.

A few years ago, I was like that. I remember the time I even added things that I have been doing on a monthly basis just to make the list of my resolutions look fully populated as the previous year and that year I met failure and threw the list in a rubbish bin. However, in my mind, I had that longing of making it better and feel good about achieving the goals/resolutions and I knew that giving up was not an option. I just needed to ask someone on how to make it better and I kept on asking people, I assure you that when you ask questions continuously you get the answers, the majority of the answers – may not be relevant – but when the right answer comes you can feel it in your gut.

Vision Board was the answer. Do you have a vision board? One of my colleagues asked me while discussing the future of our careers. At that time, I felt like it was the first time of hearing about this phrase, I trusted the gut. I like the sound of the word “vision” in that phrase. Apparently, in a vision board, you put things (pictures and words) that talk about your vision. My colleague went on to tell me more about it, “It’s a story about where one wishes and wants to be in the near future or in life in general. Your aspirations, dreams and achievements should form part of it.” At that time, I could see my vision board in my imagination and what I wanted to put in it. On that day I made a promise to myself that I will have it.

Needless to say, the length of time it took me to complete it and I can assure you that from finding the right pictures and cutting them out of magazines took me five hours on that evening. I could not wait to put my story down using the pictures. I knew I was ready and time did not matter (It was late, said the clock on my wall. My face responded, late for who?) as I put down the heading on my vision board “MISSION POSSIBLE” I just knew that everything underneath and surrounded that heading was possible. I carried on putting words and pictures that defined my vision and my future from shoes to cars, from speaking in front of an audience to walking with my lovely wife, saving money for emergencies to an abundance of incoming streams, whiskey’s I’d drink to watches I’d wear. All of it surrounded by positive vibes, POWER, BELIEF, FAITH, GOING LARGE and GOING GLOBAL…etc. I was done with my visual storytelling and that felt AWESOME. I went to bed satisfied and thankful that I had the determination to do it no matter what time it was.

These were not my New Year’s resolution but my goals and where I see myself in the future. I love the mantra that says, “Your thoughts create reality” because my thoughts were on paper. I know the lack determination it took putting my list of things to do as my New Year’s resolutions and that did not sit well with me. I can tell you that my vision board is in progress, the only pressure I feel is when I have to add something new. The beauty of the visions board is that it’s dynamic. My eyes are on the ball and knowing that it is all in my hands.

I challenge you to take time and look at the elements in your life that you don’t feel good about. Unless you enjoy that feeling, which I highly doubt. Yours may not be on a subject of a vision board, it may be about family relationships or your career. Unless you take time to look deep within, using the power of asking questions – you will get the answers. Better yet, I could be a person that can help you get out of that situation because sometimes all you need is a listening ear. I am known to be that person.

Lastly, you are meant to live your life to the fullest and shine – if you are not, you either living your life apologetically or playing very safe. You are meant to shine just like a light chasing the darkness away. Keep that light shining and remember that we shine because you shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…

Written by Mduduzi Mthanti