My husband and I take turns planning our monthly date night. For my last turn to plan, I was stumped for ideas on what to do. This was around the time for me to start preparing my annual vision board, and while I was going through my magazine collection, a thought came to me. I realized that creating a vision board was something I only ever did alone. My husband and I talk regularly about what needs to get done to keep our household running smoothly (the budget, important events, chores, etc.), but I hadn’t really sat down with him to ask what his dreams, goals, and aspirations were.
I figured, “Why not include him in this project and make a date out of it?” I wasn’t exactly sure how he would respond to sitting down for a night of cutting and pasting, but I went for it anyway.
A vision board is simply a visual collection of pictures, images, and text that reflect your written goals. They can be done on paper, poster boards, or even electronically with sites like Pinterest.com. They serve as a visual reminder about what you are working towards achieving in life.
This felt like a valuable project that would have a positive impact on our marriage because there is power in goal setting. It has been proven that people who write their goals down are more likely to achieve them. A study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University of California found that people who write their goals down, along with action steps and then sharing those action steps with a friend achieved 64% of those goals, compared to those that did not.
Additionally, the Bible reminds us to write the vision down (Habakkuk 2:2), because without one, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). With these scriptural references, we can understand the importance of having a vision for our lives, while trusting God for His plans.
During our date, I shared over dinner what we would be doing for the evening. After we ate, I poured some wine, turned on some soft music, and handed him a pair scissors! We sat down on the floor in the living room and got to work. I asked him about what he saw for us in the coming year and what he hoped to achieve for himself as well; and he asked me the same. It was great to slow down and truly take the time to listen to each other share our hopes and dreams. We also talked about what steps we would take to execute our goals.
As we flipped through the magazines looking for pictures, we continued to talk, laugh, and enjoy each others company. This was a simple, yet fun way for us to connect and get to know each other better. When we were done, he shared with me that although he didn’t think he would at first, he actually had a good time creating his vision board. I look forward to reflecting on our progress as time goes on and hopefully making this an annual tradition for the both of us!
To plan something similar for you and your spouse, remember these key things:
Vision boards are a helpful tool for creating the life (marriage, family, career, etc.) you want to have, but you also have to be willing to do the work. Remember that teamwork makes the dream work!
Take the time to talk and listen to each other about your goals and dreams. This will also let you know what to pray for concerning your spouse and your family.
Have fun with it! All you need is some scissors, glue, magazines, poster boards, and a positive attitude! Wine and good music helps, too!
Finally, always remember that date night doesn’t have to be expensive or take place outside of the home. This is super easy date night idea that is shockingly simple and takes little to no planning. Get creative with finding ways to spend that ever-so-important quality time together to build a strong and healthy marriage!
BMWK Family, will you be creating a vision board with your spouse?