How to Create a Digital Vision Board Using Canva
Images have the power to represent and connect us with our most inner desires. Vision boards are a creative tool that can help clarify our vision. It’s not just about setting a goal, its about using imagery to deepen our understanding and purpose for setting a goal in the first place. It gives our desires shape, colour, form and helps connect our goals in an emotional way to inspire taking actions towards it. If we can tap into how we would feel when we’ve reached our goal then we have a better sense of if we for moving towards or away from it.
This blog is for you if you don’t feel like getting out your art supplies or you don’t have access to images. Why not create your vision board with Canva; a fantastic free digital tool for creating a custom vision board that you can use as your phone wallpaper, desktop background, or print out. In this blog, I’m using the example of creating a vision board for morning ritual, but you can use any theme or vision you like. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Set Up Your Canva Project
Go to Canva (www.canva.com) and log in or sign up for a free account.
Canva has templates, so you can search Vision Board and use a template OR
Click on “Create a Design” and choose a size:
Phone wallpaper (1080x1920 px) for easy daily access.
A4 or Letter size if you want to print it.
Custom dimensions if you want something unique.
Step 2: Gather Your Vision Board Elements
For most people, vision is their primary sense for navigating the world. However, if we want to bring a vision into our reality we need to take into our other senses like smell, sound, touch and taste.
Imaging our vision through our senses bring a whole new dimension and depth to our dream.
Example: “I want to enjoy a quiet morning, scattered with bird sounds, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sensation of fresh air on my skin.” This example gives a very clear image of what that desired experience. It’s almost like creating an image for yourself to step into.
Reflect on the sensory elements of your ideal morning and start collecting visuals that match your intentions.
Images: Use Canva’s built-in image search (or upload your own) to find pictures that represent how you want your mornings to feel—cozy blankets, sunrise, a cup of tea, stretching, journaling, nature, etc.
Textures & Colors: Consider what colours you associate with the way you want to feel eg calming backgrounds, soft pastels, warm golden tones, or textures.
Icons & Shapes: Use simple icons (like a sun, a cup of coffee, walking shoes) to visually reinforce what your vision could look like in reality.
Words & Affirmations: Use Canva’s text tool to add phrases like:
“I create a morning routine that supports my energy and well-being.”
“My mornings are slow, intentional, and nourishing.”
“I create space for a mindful start to my day.”
TIP: Stick to using present tense statements and avoid using statements that are out of your control e.g.
“I will wake up feeling energized every morning.”
(You can’t always control how rested you feel—unexpected disruptions, health, or stress might affect this.)Instead: “I create a morning routine that supports my energy and well-being.”
(This focuses on the actions you can take, like adjusting your bedtime, hydration, or morning movement.)
NOTE: Affirmations are statements to reinforce positive beliefs and are a type of mindset programming. So if affirmations don’t feel right for you, try focusing on an intention you’d like to cultivate.
Eg. “I intend to begin my mornings slow and gently.” Intentions are about setting a purpose for your actions and mindset. They are about what you are committing to doing or focusing on in the present moment, with a more grounded sense of action. Intentions reflect what you're going to try or plan to do—setting a course of action that is within your control.
Step 3: Arrange & Design Your Vision Board
Drag and drop images and text into place.
Experiment with Canva’s grids and frames to create a neat layout or go for a free-flow collage style.
Use transparency & layering to create a dreamy, overlapping effect.
Play with fonts—choose one that feels aligned with your energy (soft script for gentle mornings, bold text for structure).
Play with negative space; empty space around your images will help your images stand out clearly. If your vision board is feeling overwhelming or cluttered create more negative space. This could be by resizing or getting rid of images/elements that don’t feel necessary.
Play! Play! Play! Muck around with with canva image effects and see what magical things you can come up!
Step 4: Personalize & Finalize
Upload a photo of yourself or something personal to make it feel truly yours.
Try Canva’s animation feature if you want a digital, moving version of your board.
Download your vision board as a JPEG (for wallpaper), PDF (for printing), or MP4 (for animation).
Step 5: Use & Revisit Your Vision Board
Set it as your phone or desktop wallpaper so you see it daily.
Print and stick it near your bedside, mirror, or workspace for motivation.
Check in weekly—does this vision still resonate? What small steps can you take to bring it to life?
Ok, I’ve made my vision board. Now what?
A vision board is a great first step—it helps bring clarity to what’s important to you and the direction you want to move in. But vision alone isn’t enough—action is what brings it to life. The good news is that you don’t have to do it all at once. Regular check-ins, whether weekly or monthly, can help you stay aligned with your vision and adjust as needed.Here are some journaling prompts to support your reflection:
✨ What small step have I taken toward my vision this week/month?
✨ What challenges have come up this in relation to my vision?
✨ What is one action I can take next that feels both doable and meaningful?
✨ How has my vision evolved or deepened since creating my board?
Taking the time to reflect helps you stay connected to your vision and make intentional choices to bring it to life. Enjoy the process, and remember—every small step should be celebrated.
I’m stuck…
As you create your vision board, you may notice moments of resistance arising; negative thoughts or feelings of overwhelm. These moments often reveal blocks, limiting beliefs or patterns that have been preventing you allowing you to believe in your vision. It’s an opportunity to pause and reflect on what’s holding you back, so you can shift toward creating the life you want to move towards.
A vision board, from a transpersonal perspective, is more than just a collection of goals—it’s a soul map, revealing deeper desires, symbols, and unconscious patterns. It invites you to tune into your inner wisdom, explore the meaning behind your choices, and notice any resistance that arises. This process isn’t just about setting intentions but also about self-discovery, transformation, and aligning with what truly calls you forward.
Here’s some journalling prompts that can help reveal what’s going on:
What am I noticing in my body right now as I feel stuck in this process?
What belief is coming up that’s telling me I can’t do this?
What does this belief sound like in my own words?
These prompts help bring awareness to internal resistance, allowing you to work through the blocks that might be preventing you from fully engaging with your vision. If you’re still feeling stuck and you are curious and willing to work through them, I offer 1:1 Transpersonal Art Therapy sessions where we can work together to explore this. Through creativity and compassionate reflection, we can work to uncover and transform what’s keeping you from stepping into your vision. Get in touch with me.
Happy visioning!
