🔮 The Vision Board of the Last Thirty Years of My Life
I hope you’ll enjoy meeting my Future Self as much as I did!
Hello there 💜
How are you feeling today?
I've been in Paris for a few weeks, spending time with friends and family for the summer and soaking up every moment of the Olympics.
But after being swept up in immense waves of positivity, electrifying excitement, and overwhelming pride for my hometown, not to mention experiencing the most spectacular live show I've ever seen (the closing ceremony), this is what was left of me yesterday.
The only thing that lifted my spirits?
Staying creative, channeling my energy into something positive and aspirational (and a lemon tart).
As part of our series on the Future Self, I decided to finish the vision board of my life as I imagine my older self, specifically the life I would like to lead when I no longer want to work or rely on work to sustain my lifestyle.
But it’s more than just a vision board:
It’s a great first step recommended by financial psychologists when planning for our future—not just financially, but holistically.
It’s a testament to how you can choose to see retirement planning: as either a daunting task or a fulfilling, emotional, and creative journey.
It’s still considered witchcraft by the finance bros, which in itself is a very good reason to do it.
I hope you’ll enjoy meeting my Future Self as much as I did!
👋 But first, if someone forwarded you this email, Money Feelings is your 10-minute self-care routine that blends psychology & finance to:
Kiss your limiting money mindsets and behaviors goodbye.
Grow your financial wisdom in style: less jargon, more emotion.
Increase your financial well-being, one feeling at a time.
If you don’t want to miss one:
If you’re tempted to roll your eyes at the thought of a vision board exercise, trust me—I used to be just as skeptical.
That was until I dove into extensive research showing how powerful this practice can be, including Hal Hershfield’s The Future Self. But what really changed my mind was doing the exercise myself.
Doing this exercise brought me:
A profound sense of clarity.
A peace of mind about the future.
A deeper connection with my partner.
Making it wasn’t all sunshine and roses.
At first, I felt overwhelmed. Imagining my Future Self—where do I even begin?
My mind naturally drifted to darker thoughts: death, aging, illness, disability, separation from my partner, losing him—the list goes on.
I also had to confront my own limiting beliefs: “Do I really deserve this?” “That’s too much to ask for,” or “This is too extravagant.” I felt a twinge of shame revealing my ambitions visually, which led to the hardest part of this exercise for me:
Sharing it with all of you.
Sharing my vision exposes so much of my personality, aspirations, and beliefs. I worried it wasn’t humble enough, but also too ordinary or predictable. “She wants to travel the world? Groundbreaking.”
But in the end, I reminded myself of a few simple truths:
It’s my vision. It’s my ideal scenario. It’s not meant to please or convince anyone else that it should be theirs.
The freedom to create comes from ignoring the fear of judgment!
It can inspire others to take better care (financially) of their Future Self, and if nothing else, it will help me stay more accountable to my own Future Self.
So here it is :)
The Vision Board of the Last Thirty Years of My Life
What I’m Doing Now For My Future Self
A bit of a jolt back to reality, as simply putting something on my vision board doesn’t make it magically happen.
But creating that vision board is, for some of us, a brilliant first step to bring focus to the more technical aspects of financial planning.
For example, it’s helped me clarify that, beyond the usual essentials my future self will need—like food, transportation, and healthcare—I also need to plan and budget for the following:
A spacious house with a garden and studio space (location TBD).
A cozy studio for two in my hometown.
My creative projects (mosaics can be pricey).
Being there to support my family whenever needed.
Regular adventures around the world with my husband.
While it’s not yet a fully fleshed-out financial plan (we’ll get to that!), it’s a great way to add clarity to the process, and it keeps me motivated to start planning for my future.
If you’re thinking about doing something similar, here’s some guidance:
Your Vision Board Exercise
📍 For the Analog Enthusiasts
If you prefer a hands-on approach, gather magazines, newspapers, and brochures from around your home, along with a large sheet of paper, glue, and scissors to create your vision board.
provides detailed and clear instructions to guide you through the process.📍 For the Digital Creators
Your vision board doesn’t need to be a work of art. It can be as simple as a collection of photos in a Google Doc, a photo album on your phone, or a “My Future Self” board on Pinterest.
If you’re more advanced, you probably already know you can use any program in the Adobe Suite or Procreate.
Personally, I love using Canva. It’s incredibly user-friendly and offers tons of free templates for vision boards, which can save you a lot of time.
📍 If Words Speak to You More
If visuals aren’t your thing, words can be just as powerful for envisioning your future!
Some people, for example, write letters to their Future Selves.
I’m particularly inspired by this example from
:📍 If You’re Unsure Where to Begin
Here are some questions to help get you started:
What hobbies or passions would you love to explore once work is behind you?
How do you imagine your perfect, relaxing day 30 years from now?
What epic adventures does your Future Self have on the bucket list?
What kind of home will bring your Future Self the most peace and happiness?
What causes or volunteer work will your Future Self be passionate about?
How do you see your social life when you're no longer working the 9-to-5 grind?
What mantras will define this chapter of your life?
What’s your Future Self's favorite way to stay active?
📍 If You Need Accountability and Motivation
Consider sharing your Future Self vision board with me and the Money Feelings community!
Give it some thought, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
🔒 For Paid Subscribers of Money Feelings
Do you need help envisioning your future or translating it into clearer financial goals? Do you have specific questions? Asking for professional help can be life-changing. Asking questions too.
This month, I’m featuring the work of Gabbi Cerezo, a financial planner and financial coach based in L.A.
Gabbi is a former teacher and second-generation woman of color who switched careers into finance to help other teachers and people like her put their dollars to work just as hard as they do.
She’s a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), and Trauma of Money Certified Practitioner who believes in a holistic approach to your money.
📌 I'm excited to share that all paid subscribers of Money Feelings can enjoy a 25% discount on financial planning and coaching services with Gabbi.
You can learn more about Gabbi and her exceptional work on her Money Feelings interview, website, or LinkedIn page.
If you're interested in taking advantage of this offer, simply contact me, and I'll provide you with your exclusive discount code.
Don’t forget to check out your list of discounts on other services over here:
👏👏👏 Well done to you for dedicating this time to your financial self!
What did you think of this session? Did you find some value for yourself or someone you know? If you did, let me know in the comments or by clicking on the 💜 at the bottom of the newsletter, or invite your friends to discover Money Feelings! (3 friends who subscribe = 1 month of free paid subscription access for you).
Pauline 💜
These vision boards are so good! 🌼🌞
Thanks for linking my guide, how fun! xx
I love doing vision boards but yours is something!! The Atelier 😍