Let’s Talk Vision Boards
Manifesting has become more well-known in recent years. Like many people, I was first introduced to the idea through The Secret. I still remember how it happened: about a year after I bought my shop, I found myself sitting on the front porch, hating my life and wondering how I ended up feeling so stuck. I felt hopeless, with no one to turn to for comfort.
So, I did what any millennial might do—I Googled it. Something like “How to stop hating my life” or “Why does my life suck?” popped into the search bar. And as always, Google delivered. I went down a rabbit hole of how to not be sad, and that’s where I discovered The Secret. I watched the documentary, then ordered the book. I was hooked.
I made my first vision board shortly after. Looking back, I didn’t really do it “right.” I chose images that I thought looked nice, not things connected to real goals or feelings. I remember adding a photo of a bouquet of flowers—and not long after, I literally found a bouquet of flowers sitting on the sidewalk. It blew my mind a little.
Since then, I’ve made many vision boards. I lost my enthusiasm for them at one point and tried something new—a “vision jar.” I labeled it 2022 and, throughout the year, dropped in slips of paper with good things that happened and the dates. At the end of the year, I opened it and was amazed at how much I had forgotten. It reminded me how powerful intention and reflection can be.
In more recent years, I’ve played with virtual vision boards. At first, I didn’t love them—it didn’t feel “crafty” enough. But then Pinterest updated their features to allow collaging, and now I’m obsessed. I’ve created four mini boards: one for love & marriage, one for work, one for fitness & health, and one for friendship & travel. I change my phone background throughout the year, and honestly? It works. I check my phone many times a day (don’t judge me—it’s mostly for work), so my goals are always in view.
But that got me thinking: what else do I use daily that I could turn into a mini vision board?
Then a childhood memory popped up. I used to love collecting stickers. I’d walk to the corner liquor store and get one from the vending machine, hoping to score a new Spice Girls sticker for my collection. I still have my old Hello Kitty sticker book filled with scratch-and-sniff stars and tiny stickers shaped like dollhouse furniture.
So why had it never occurred to me to cover my water bottle—which I carry with me every day—with meaningful stickers? Stickers with affirmations. With high-vibe quotes. With beautiful imagery. What if I could turn my water bottle into a mini vision board?
It turns out, there may even be some science behind the idea. Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese researcher, explored how words, thoughts, and emotions can influence the structure of water. He photographed water crystals after exposing them to positive phrases like “love” and “gratitude”—and they formed beautiful, symmetrical patterns. In contrast, crystals exposed to negative words appeared distorted and chaotic. While his work is controversial and not fully embraced by mainstream science, it’s a fascinating reminder that words hold energy—and that maybe, just maybe, water responds to our intentions.
Now, I’ve started doing just that. I’m taking my time with it. So far, I’ve added just one big sticker that says “Manifest That Shit.” As soon as I saw it, I knew. It was bold. It was honest. It was me. Whatever “it” is—manifest it.
What do you think of the idea? Would you decorate your water bottle with intention?
If so, I’ve got just the thing. At the shop, I’ve curated a collection of uplifting, body-positive, and bookish stickers—perfect for journals, laptops, water bottles, and more. Most are just $2 each, and on Sticker Tuesday, you can grab 3 for $5. Come pick out the ones that speak to you, and turn your water bottle into a vision board you’ll carry with you everywhere.
