Do This Before You Vision Board

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Introspection

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Every year, as December rolls around, I watch social media explode with “vision board season.” And every year, I feel like the auntie gently reminding everyone: December might not be the best time for planning, setting intentions, or creating vision boards.

There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to approach it, but there is a more impactful and decolonial way to make these practices truly transformative—one that aligns with your deepest needs and ensures your visions actually manifest.

I learned this lesson years ago when I started decolonizing my approach to wellness and life. Like many of you, I used to run into the new year with a fresh, shiny vision board filled with things I thought I wanted. But as the year unfolded, I struggled to stay consistent with the habits and actions needed to bring those visions to life. By spring, I’d find myself drained, slipping back into old patterns, and wrestling with the same mindset blocks that had held me back before.

Everything changed when I slowed down.

Instead of rushing to set goals or create visions, I allowed myself to pause and reflect. I turned the process into a ritual—one that was rooted in clarity, introspection, and truth. This shift helped me identify what I needed first, which then shaped what I wanted. Suddenly, my desires aligned with my truth. — the universe and I became besties.

Now, maybe vision boards and intention-setting in December work for you, and that’s beautiful if it does. But for many of us, we create from a place of lack, chasing desires that are often disconnected from our true needs. What if, instead, we began by reflecting? By slowing down and asking:

• What blocks do I need to address first?
• What lessons do I still need to fully understand?
• What truly belongs in my journey moving forward?

2024 has been HARD. For so many of us, it cracked us open in ways we never imagined—leaving broken pieces that need mending and pointing us toward a new direction. This isn’t just about dreaming for ourselves anymore. We are being called to envision for both the self and the collective.

I don’t know about you, but I have no desire to repeat another year like 2024. Instead, I want to honor it. I want to respect its lessons and let them guide me forward with intention, clarity, and care.

So, before you start gathering magazines, printing pictures, or mapping out your goals, let me ask you something: How often do you pause—not just to dream about what you want, but to understand why you want it?

The truth is, manifestation doesn’t begin with a vision board. It starts with something much deeper: introspection.

Too often, we rush to map out our intentions without asking ourselves the most important questions:

• What patterns am I repeating?
• What nourished me this past year, and what drained me?
• What do I truly need—not just what I think I want?

Skipping this step is like planting seeds in rocky soil and hoping they’ll grow. The foundation isn’t ready. Introspection is the process of clearing the soil, tending to it, and making it fertile. It’s the magic that ensures your manifestations take root.

The Magic of Rest and Reflection

In many Indigenous teachings, winter is a time of rest—a sacred pause before the renewal of spring. The earth doesn’t rush to bloom; it retreats, restores, and reflects. The same is true for us.

We live in a society that glorifies productivity and forward motion. But growth isn’t always about doing. Sometimes, it’s about being. Before you set your intentions, give yourself permission to rest and reflect.

This isn’t laziness. It’s preparation. Just as the earth gathers strength beneath a blanket of snow, you, too, need this time to gather your inner resources. In the stillness, clarity emerges.

Ask yourself:
• What parts of me are tired?
• What parts of me feel neglected?
• Where do I need healing?

This is the work that nourishes your spirit. Without it, your vision board becomes just another checklist—disconnected from the deeper needs of your soul.

What Introspection Reveals

Introspection is a sacred ritual. It’s where the magic truly happens, where the roots of your manifestations begin to grow.

When you take time to reflect, you uncover:

• What worked: What habits, routines, or relationships nourished you?
• What didn’t serve you: What drained your energy or pulled you out of alignment?
• Where you need more care: Is it your mental health? Your creativity? Your connection to others—or to yourself?

By sitting with these questions, you align with what you need rather than what you think you want. Wants can be fleeting, shaped by external pressures or comparisons. Needs are rooted in your soul’s true desires.

And here’s the thing… When you honor your needs first, your wants naturally align with your future vision. You create not from a place of lack, but from a place of wholeness.

Restorative Writing for Introspection

Let’s dive in. Grab your journal, light a candle, and sit somewhere quiet. This is your time to reflect—not with judgment, but with curiosity and care.

1. What nourished me this past year?
Write about the moments, people, or habits that made you feel alive and whole.

2. What drained me?
Be honest. What patterns, relationships, or commitments took more than they gave?

3. Where do I feel a sense of longing?
Longing often points to areas that need attention—whether it’s rest, wellbeing, or even joy.

4. What am I carrying that isn’t mine to hold?
Reflect on any burdens, expectations, or roles you’ve taken on that don’t belong to you.

5. What do I need to feel balanced and grounded?
Imagine the roots of a tree. What nourishment do your roots need to grow strong and steady?

The Ritual of Visioning

Once you’ve done some introspection, something shifts. You see not just what you want, but what you truly need. This is where your vision board becomes a living ritual.

Think of it like planting a garden:

1. Start with your roots: Add images or words that represent what you need—healing, balance, rest, connection. These are the foundations.

2. Add the blooms: Once your roots are in place, layer in your wants—the dreams and goals that align with your deeper needs.

3. Leave space for growth: Your vision isn’t static. Leave room on your board to add, change, and grow as the seasons shift.

When done with intention, creating a vision board becomes more than just another project—it’s a spell, a ritual of alignment. Each image, word, or symbol you place carries energy. It’s not just about what you see; it’s about what you feel.

So take your time. Sit with your reflections. Honor the pause before the planting.

Because when you root into what matters, your manifestations don’t just grow—they flourish.

I hope you carve out time to rest, go inward, and slow down.

With love, Juliet

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