Visualization is an important element in applying the Law of Attraction and in getting to where you want to go. You will read about visualizing that it is important to avoid negative images and especially when using affirmations negative words are to be avoided. But why is this so important? Does it really matter?
In visualization what you are really doing is imaging a picture of yourself, and this picture is all important. Raymond Hollywell in his book "Working with the Law" said that "the mind is a magnet and attracts whatever corresponds to its ruling state. Whatever we image in mind, whatever we expect and think about, will tend to bring into our lives the things and conditions that are in harmony therewith." It is the picture we hold in our mind that will ultimately produce what we experience and have in our lives.
The mind, including the sub-conscious mind, can only work with pictures. The sub-conscious mind cannot deal with words. We use words to communicate through speech and writing, but we use those words to build pictures. No matter what we talk or write about, the listener or reader will ultimately have a picture in their mind of what you are talking about. That is why negative words or images should not be used. If you think of what you don't want, you are holding the image of what you don't want in your mind.
The same applies to affirmations. If you state that you will stop smoking, or that you don't want to be fat, the image you are putting into your mind is one of smoking or being fat. If you insist in saying you don't want to be poor the image you are creating is one of you being poor. Even if you state that you want to be rich, and you make affirmations to repeat everyday saying, "I want to be rich", what you are in fact imaging is the "want to be rich" and not the being rich . You are only creating more of the wanting.
Understand that the mind works with pictures and be aware of the pictures you put into your mind and you are well on the road to self-determination. Control the images in your mind and you control the results in your life. See yourself as you want to be, hold that image no matter what your circumstances are presently, and soon your circumstances will begin to change and you will begin to see that image of yourself come into being.
Many people hold negative images about themselves and this is the reality they are creating and experiencing in their lives. They see the results and they think, "see, that is how I am. I can't expect better because I am what I am." This is true because it is the image that person holds in their mind about themselves. It is also NOT true because that image can be changed.
Maxwell Maltz wrote in his book "Psycho-Cybernetics" about Self Image, "The self-image is our own conception of the sort of person I am." He goes on to say that our self-image is constructed by the beliefs we have of ourselves and that these beliefs come from our upbringing and the influences and words from those closest to us, that is our parents, our siblings, our teachers, etc.. Then he says, "From all these we mentally construct a 'self'. . . Once an idea or belief about ourselves goes into this picture (of self) it becomes true'. . . we proceed to act upon it just as if it were true." Unfortunately a lot of people accept negative images about themselves and act on these images just as if they were true.
But just imagine (imaging in your mind) what would happen if you held a different picture of yourself, a picture of the kind of person you want to be, then according to Maltz you will begin to act on this image just as if it were true, and then it will become true. You will have created a new you in correspondence with the new image of you which you held in your mind.
Notice how I emphasised the word " held ". It is of no use just dreaming of something better if the self-image is still the same old you. To create a new future you must take those dreams and HOLD them in your mind. Keep these images in your mind by thinking about them constantly. Make vision-boards, goal-cards, screen-savers, visualization movies, affirmation sound tracks, or whatever will help you to concentrate your attention on what you want to become. Remember to hold the image as if it were NOW. Do not hold a picture of yourself in some future time as that will only give a future image to the mind which will stay in the future. Hold a present image, a picture of now, of how you want to be or of what you would like to possess. See yourself already in possession of the thing or the new you.
Jim Murdoch is a licensed LifeSuccess Coach and seminar speaker and offers coaching for individuals and businesses. Coming from a religious background, Jim has discovered New Thought and how our paradigms determine the results we get in our lives. With his wife, Katharina, Jim is writing a book to be published in Autumn 2008. He enjoys sharing his thoughts and ideas on his blog: www.jmurdoch.com.
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