Manifestation: How to Create an Action Board and Why You Need One to Reach Your Goals

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird sleeps in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities…” – James Allen Poe

When you first think of a new idea or set a new goal for yourself, it’s exciting!

Your heart races. Your thoughts swirl. And you feel pumped up and ready to GO. 

Then a few minutes, days, or weeks later “reality” sets in. And suddenly it feels like that idea or goal of yours is impossible.

You feel overwhelmed. Your head fills with thoughts of why you CAN’T accomplish it. And your grand vision has since turned into a terrifying nightmare.

This is the stage where most people give up. And it’s a stage I’ve found myself trapped in many, MANY times in the past.

But, that all changed once I created an “Action Board” for myself.

“Action Board? What’s that?” You’re probably asking yourself.

An action board is when you take your vision board and create a plan-of-action (POA) for it (if you haven’t made a vision board yet, click here to get started). It allows you to figure out what’s holding you back from personally achieving your dreams, and then begin the process of actioning your dreams by outlining the steps you need to take to reach your goals. And TAKING those steps.

Every. Single Day.

Because a goal without a plan is just a wish. And today, it’s time to move forward with that goal or idea of yours.

Ready to get started? Here’s how: 

1.) Identify Your Procrastination Point

Before you create your action board, you’ll first need to identify your procrastination point. Your procrastination point is the thing you dread doing the most so you put it off and try to avoid doing it. Meanwhile, you expend a ton of energy dreading that thing you know you need to do, and then feel guilty when you don’t do it because it’s a necessary step in achieving your goals.

For example, imagine your goal is to write a book in six months. You know exactly what you need to do, how much time to set aside to get it done, what the book will be about, and you even have your outline created.

Each day, you’ve decided to spend two hours before bed writing. But, when it comes time to write you have all of these other things you suddenly need to do like clean your house, organize your closet, do laundry, grocery shop, etc. And before you know it, you’ve spent all of the time you could have been working toward your goal in other ways.

For many of us, this is the STORY of our lives. And this is what keeps up stuck because we don’t put all of our focus on the thing that will move the needle for us, and in the process, we shortchange ourselves and our potential.

When we procrastinate what we should do, we end up turning the possible into the impossible.

When we procrastinate what we should do, we end up turning the possible into the impossible. Click To Tweet

That’s why identifying your procrastination point is so important. Because once you know HOW you hold yourself back, you can work to overcome this habit so you aren’t sabotaging your dreams in the process.

2.) Identify the Habits Holding You Back

We are what we do. And it’s the little decisions we make daily, over and over again, that determine the quality of our lives.

The decision to not wake up on time.

The decision to eat fast food rather than cook at home.

The decision to spend two hours scrolling on social media instead of working toward your goal. 

These small decisions that seem insignificant on their own, actually add up to massive results – or lack thereof. And it’s these decisions that either help us align with our goals and achieve them, or keep our dreams out of reach.

Which describes you?

If small decisions are holding you back from greatness, you’re not alone! And you don’t have to stay stuck where you are any longer. Take action today by making a list of the things you do daily that hinder you from reaching your goals. Be honest with yourself as you go through this process because it will allow you to identify how you can shift your routine to work in your favor.

3.) Create a Plan-of-Action 

Now that you’ve identified your procrastination point, and the habits holding you back, you can create your POA to set yourself up for personal success.

Your POA should be actionable, realistic, timely, and achievable. This means you’ll want to organize it in a way that’s doable and not overwhelming so you’re able to commit to it fully as you work toward your goals.

For example, if I’m an artist and it’s my dream to turn my passion for art into a thriving business then my POA might look something like this:

1.) Work for 60 minutes on art after work every day from 6:30 to 7:30 pm

2.) Read at least one article per day during morning commute about how to build an e-commerce art store

3.) Create a website to showcase and sell art

The above POA is an example of how you can structure your vision to become a reality by working towards its achievement daily. Remember, we are what we continually do and the more you dedicate yourself to your vision, the more you’ll grow personally and the quicker it will come into fruition.

4.) Create Your Board

Now, it’s time for the fun! Using your vision and your POA, create an action board for yourself.

Get creative, and make this your own. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, so long as it works for you and your board will inspire you to take daily action. For some people, this might mean having an actual board (similar in size and layout to your vision board) that you hang in a high-traffic area of your house, and reference daily.

For others, this might mean keeping a goal journal like this one you can work through daily, and keep with you wherever you go. I created this journal for myself, and I use it as my action board and goal journal because I like having something portable, and I also like writing down my goals down daily. If you’d like to learn more about it, click the image below!

5.) Keep Yourself Accountable

Accountability is key in reaching your goals, so create a checks and balances system for yourself. Ideally, you’ll have an accountability partner you can connect with on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis to ensure you’re following through, and making progress on, your goals.

If you don’t have an accountability partner but would like one, email me at hi@cajspirituality.com and I’ll help you get set up and ready for success.

Lastly, as you go about this process of working towards achieving your dreams and goals, remember that you are an infinite, powerful being with limitless potential. Progress takes time, and sometimes your dreams will take longer than expected to bloom but don’t give up – with continued dedication nothing will be out of reach for you. 

Remember that.

Xx,

Antasha

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About Antasha Durbin: Antasha is a spiritual writer, life-long student of the universe, and psychic tarot card reader. Her website, cajspirituality.com, is dedicated to casualizing the spiritual experience and making it attainable for anyone, anywhere, anytime. Follow her for free, easy-to-digest and highly actionable advice on spirituality, mindfulness and empowered living.