Envisioning Wellness
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I am a person with a mood disorder. I have benefited greatly from having support groups and good medical care, things that are not available to many of my peers. I wish I could fix that, but I can't. What I can do, what I am doing, is to become a peer specialist so that I can help other folks with diagnoses to move beyond their perceived limitations. To move in that direction, I propose leading a vision board workshop.
What is a vision board?
A vision board is like a poster that reminds you what you want to achieve. It's usually a piece of poster board that a person has covered with images and maybe words that represent their dreams and goals. It could be, for example, as specific as a particular kind of job they want to have or as broad as a lifestyle they want to reach. It's a visual reminder of your end goal.
Some people find it helpful to post affirmations around their house. They write motivational sentences on sticky notes, for example, and stick them to the bathroom mirror. But not everyone's thinking is based on words. Some people are more image based. Additionally, images speak to a part of the brain that goes deeper than language. When we are talking about dreams and goals, it helps to activate the deep brain in bringing them to light.
What has this to do with mood disorders?
Well, let me be honest. Those of us with mood disorders or other mental health concerns are not usually invited to dream big. We are basically told the goal is to be average, to fit in, frankly to pass for neurotypical. But we are individuals and one goal does not work for all of us. We also want a life that we find fulfilling and which makes us happy. Often we are not encouraged to envision it. I want to change that.
My goal is to lead a one day workshop on vision boards for people with mental health concerns. I am working with a local agency to find a facility to host us. I'll post more about that as it becomes settled. I want to walk my peers through a process of focusing on a goal and creating a vision board as a tangible reminder.
What do I need money for?
This is a process that takes mostly time and workspace. However it does need some art supplies too. I am not financially able to provide supplies for, say, 15 people at a time and I want to offer the class for free. Many of us with mental health concerns don't have a big income, and even a nominal $10 might be too much for some. I want to reach the largest audience possible and I want to reach people who are usually not targeted by this kind of project.
I figure we need poster board, glue sticks, safety scissors and markers. I prefer sharpies but any broad marker is probably fine. I have a stack of magazines for images though acquiring some others for variety would be nice. Participants can of course bring their own magazines or photos, or any medium they'd like to work with within reason (paint may not be reasonable in a carpeted room, for example).
I would really appreciate if you could spare a couple of dollars toward this project. I am looking at a mid-May presentation date, so I have about a month to raise some money. Any contribution is greatly appreciated!
What is a vision board?
A vision board is like a poster that reminds you what you want to achieve. It's usually a piece of poster board that a person has covered with images and maybe words that represent their dreams and goals. It could be, for example, as specific as a particular kind of job they want to have or as broad as a lifestyle they want to reach. It's a visual reminder of your end goal.
Some people find it helpful to post affirmations around their house. They write motivational sentences on sticky notes, for example, and stick them to the bathroom mirror. But not everyone's thinking is based on words. Some people are more image based. Additionally, images speak to a part of the brain that goes deeper than language. When we are talking about dreams and goals, it helps to activate the deep brain in bringing them to light.
What has this to do with mood disorders?
Well, let me be honest. Those of us with mood disorders or other mental health concerns are not usually invited to dream big. We are basically told the goal is to be average, to fit in, frankly to pass for neurotypical. But we are individuals and one goal does not work for all of us. We also want a life that we find fulfilling and which makes us happy. Often we are not encouraged to envision it. I want to change that.
My goal is to lead a one day workshop on vision boards for people with mental health concerns. I am working with a local agency to find a facility to host us. I'll post more about that as it becomes settled. I want to walk my peers through a process of focusing on a goal and creating a vision board as a tangible reminder.
What do I need money for?
This is a process that takes mostly time and workspace. However it does need some art supplies too. I am not financially able to provide supplies for, say, 15 people at a time and I want to offer the class for free. Many of us with mental health concerns don't have a big income, and even a nominal $10 might be too much for some. I want to reach the largest audience possible and I want to reach people who are usually not targeted by this kind of project.
I figure we need poster board, glue sticks, safety scissors and markers. I prefer sharpies but any broad marker is probably fine. I have a stack of magazines for images though acquiring some others for variety would be nice. Participants can of course bring their own magazines or photos, or any medium they'd like to work with within reason (paint may not be reasonable in a carpeted room, for example).
I would really appreciate if you could spare a couple of dollars toward this project. I am looking at a mid-May presentation date, so I have about a month to raise some money. Any contribution is greatly appreciated!
Organizer
Allison Leonard
Organizer
Hutchins, TX
