Life! By Design_ 6 Steps to an Extraordinary You - Laura Morton [70]
Since your subconscious mind is most receptive to new information first thing in the morning and in the evening before you go to sleep, I suggest practicing your visualization skills at either (or both) of these times every day. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Take deep, rhythmic breaths through your nose and then exhale through your mouth. Try to feel each breath as it enters and then leaves your body. I tell my clients to think of a lake they’ve been to and then imagine the rippling water as they toss in a pebble. Once you’re in a relaxed and peaceful state, you can begin to visualize in the present tense, as if whatever you’re seeing is already happening. See your image, hear it, taste it, smell it, and really feel it. The clearer the picture, the clearer your vision will be.
VISUALIZATION
EXERCISE #2
Imagine yourself in the perfect relationship, in perfect shape, or in the perfect job. What does it look like? How does it make you feel?
The process of visualization is the beginning of creating positive change. If you can’t yet answer the questions in Visualization Exercise #2, don’t panic. You are not without hope. You can and will be able to answer them in no time. You need to get connected with the picture you are creating in your mind. This is called creating your vision. The important thing to remember as you talk yourself through the visualization process is to create good feelings while you’re doing it. This emotionally anchors you to your vision. The hardest part for most people is holding the thought as they want it to be. Many times, people allow their thoughts to drift away from the vision, causing them to see more of what they don’t want.
6 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE VISUALIZATIONS
1. Get over your fear, addictions, and drama.
2. Get relaxed.
3. See things as you want them to be.
4. Engage as many senses as possible.
5. Feel good while holding the result in your mind.
6. Stay energized by seeing your vision throughout the day.
For more powerful guided visualizations, check out Kelly Howell, www.brainsync.com. I really admire her work and use her visualization technique myself.
Make sure you keep your visualizations positive and energized throughout the day by staying enthusiastic and believing in the possibilities. Resist connecting any negative feeling to your visualizations by reinforcing them with positive self-talk, believing every word you speak. You will gain the most benefit from your visualizations when you confidently and clearly expect them to happen. The more you practice, the easier it will be to continuously put yourself in a state of already being there. You’re creating a strong emotional anchor and a pull toward the accomplishment of your vision. See it everywhere you go. If you’re consistent and persistent, you will be amazed at how effective visualization is. You will notice that you are making things possible in your life that you once doubted. With practice and patience, you will find that your success rate will dramatically increase by utilizing visualization techniques. Remember that the process takes time, so don’t get frustrated if you don’t see results right away.
Step 6: Create structure and accountability by telling others around you about your plans.
Creating structure and accountability is a powerful tool that can keep you on the right track. There are two kinds of people in the world: people who will support your new choices, and people who will love to see you fail (the defaulters). Both can be terrific motivators. Remember, success is the best revenge! The more people you tell about your plan, the more accountable you become to succeed. Since most people are addicted to the opinions of others, they don’t want to be perceived as a failure by family, friends, or peers. That is why creating accountability is one of