“Take advantage of the luck you handed

Or the talent, you been given

Ain’t no, half steppin, ain’t no, no slippin”

-Jay-Z  from “My 1^st Song”

This weekend I started creating my vision boards (I like to create a few). Vision boards provide me with visual cues and mental images of concepts that keep me motivated, inspired, and focused. It’s a great activity to get lost in. The process of going through magazines and finding words and images that bring positive energy can make for good stress relief and improve your mood almost immediately.

One way that I like to think of vision boards is to think of it as creating a (your) story of the future. We all have stories of the past that we tell ourselves day in and day out (almost without notice). But how many of us tell the story that is yet to come? The one that we have a creative power over. The one in which we are creators of our destiny. The one that reminds that we have purpose, or else we would not still be here.

I love these lyrics from Jay-Z because it reminds me that we all have a choice to use or waste our God given talent and gifts. And even more so, there is no “half-steppin” when it comes to doing the work to nurture them. You have got to be willing to be “all in” when it comes to using your gifts. Because when you do that is when you really shift into your power.

Sure we can all “get by” just doing enough. Get by with just enough at work, just enough training, just enough healthy food, or just enough honesty (ooooh keeping it real here). But when it comes right down to it what message are you sending yourself and the world about your dedication to get what you really want out of life. Or more so, how much you are willing to give to life?

Are you nurturing your gifts day in and day out? Or are you being a half-stepper just doing enough to get by?

On a training note: We are 17 weeks out (3 weeks into IM training) for IM Texas and training it is coming along strong, steady, and patiently. This year my mentality towards training has changed a bit, maybe because the first big race is an Ironman? Maybe because it’s a different training plan/routine? Either way its been inspiring to know that I have teammates and friends across the country training and keeping the motivation fueled.Thanks Wattie Ink’ers!

TIP: A vision board can be created for any thing, not just sports. It can have one theme or several themes such as, job, family, dreams, goals, moods, relationships, travel, inspiration, motivation, self-love, etc. It’s really all about you and what makes your heart smile. Have fun with it! Please share in the comments section if you do vision boards or how you keep your vision, goals, and dreams mentally fueled.

The process of my creations.