The past two Januarys, I've started the new year by selecting a word of the year and creating a vision board. There are many different takes on what a vision board actually is, how to create one, and what the purpose is. I've always tried my best to keep my vision boards fairly abstract and based on desired feeling states rather than specific objects and outcomes I think I need/want in my life. I've never been into the whole idea of posting a picture of a shiny new car on my board, for example, and expecting to magically have a new car enter my life in the coming year. Somehow, that approach doesn't sing to my soul. (If this approach works for you, by all means, rock it out.)

The open approach I've taken has served me well overall, but this year I felt the need to go even deeper into the energy of openness and discovery. As 2011 wrapped up, I noticed a little theme in my life: the call to move away from the energy of control and to step into my authentic power. I spent a good deal of time reflecting on what this really means, and I even created a free audio class on the subject.

As January 2012 began, I felt really good about my intention word for the year: TRUTH. I was excited about releasing my expectations of what that word would mean and what it would create in my life. I felt ready to dive into the wide open spaces of what TRUTH might teach me this year. But whenever I thought about creating a vision board to go with my word, I felt stuck. Even the open, abstract style of vision boarding I've used in the past felt too rigid. Too controlling. Too presumptuous. So I started getting curious about ways to create a visual representation of my my word that would fit with my desires to open myself wide to new discoveries.

And the discovery board was born! Let me tell you, I love what I've created for myself this year. It feels so fresh and exciting. It feels just right. So, I'm sharing my process with you, and maybe you'll decide to create your own discovery board. Or maybe it will give you ideas for creating something totally unique that fits with whatever you are steering toward in your life this year.

How I Created My Discovery Board:

1. I started with the same basic process I've used in the past for vision boards. I gathered a selection of magazines, lit some candles, played some soft music, and thumbed through each magazine looking for any pictures that felt like a YES in my body.

A little side note: For me, the YES sensation has become almost instantly recognizable, and that's come from a great deal of practice. It feels open, light, and free, and manifests primarily in my chest. Knowing my YES sensation is an incredibly powerful tool for decision making. It's brought so many wonderful things my way, and has helped me avoid some seriously icky stuff. Your YES sensation will be unique to you. You can discover it by recalling a specific memory where everything felt really right for you. Then check in to see how your body feels - what specific sensations are present. Want help? I love coaching people through this process, and it only takes about 30 minutes. Email me at joytanksley@gmail.com for details. 

2. I wanted to gather 24 images (more on why later) but after my first sitting I only had 12. So, I selected a few more magazines and went through the process a second time to get to my desired number of pictures.

3. I pasted each of my 24 images to an individual piece of card stock. Then I punched a hole in the top of each piece of card stock.

4. For my board, I used a piece of canvas because that's what I had available. Poster board, foam board, cardboard, etc. would work just fine. I attached two hooks to my canvas. (I used the type that have a sticky backing and are used to hang things on walls.)

5. I wrote my intention word for the year across the top of my canvas in large letters.

6. I shuffled all my images and randomly selected two to slide onto the hooks for the month of January. Each month, I will remove the current two images and randomly select two new ones. (This is why I needed 24 pictures.)

Why I Created My Discovery Board:

As I stated previously, I am feeling a deep soul call to lean away from control and toward my authentic power. For me, that means dropping assumptions and expectations, and creating opportunities for discovery and insight. Selecting two images randomly each month is an exercise in letting go, giving in, and allowing myself to be surprised.

Each month, I'll take some time for a bit of curiosity about the new images. Here are types of questions I will be asking myself:

- What do I notice about each picture individually? What stands out to me the most? What appeals to me the most?

- How are these two images connected? Is there a theme for me to discover for this month?

- How are these two images different? What discoveries are available to me in those differences?

-  When I look more closely at the pictures, do I notice anything I hadn't noticed when I originally selected them in early January?

- What can these pictures teach me about myself and my intention for the year?

I must say, one of things I'm most excited about is the aspect of interacting with my board in a very deliberate way each and every month. While I have loved the vision boards I've created in the past, I've noticed they very quickly blend into the background. It's easy to take them for granted or even forget about them entirely, even if I place them in a prominent place. But this year, I'm essentially recreating my board every month. I think that's going to be pretty powerful.

So, there you have it. My new approach. The discovery board!

Here's a picture of my board with the images I randomly pulled from my stack for January:

If you decide to create your own discovery board, I'd love to hear all about it!

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