BASIC STEPS FOR VISUALIZATION

BASIC STEPS FOR VISUALIZATION
1. Set Your GoalDecide on something you would like to have, worktoward, realize, or create. It can be on any level — a job, ahouse, a relationship, a change in yourself, increased pros-perity, a happier state of mind, improved health, beauty, abetter physical condition, solving a problem in your family orcommunity, or whatever.At first, choose goals that are fairly easy for you tobelieve in, that you feel are possible to realize in the fair-ly near future. That way you won’t have to deal with toomuch negative resistance in yourself, and you can maxi-mize your feelings of success as you are learning creativevisualization. Later, when you have more practice, youcan take on more difficult or challenging problems andissues.2. Create a Clear Idea or PictureCreate an idea, a mental picture, or a feeling of theobject or situation exactly as you want it. You should thinkof it in the present tense as already existing the way you wantit to be. Imagine yourself in the situation as you desire it,now. Include as many details as you can.You may wish to make an actual physical picture of it aswell, by making a treasure map (described in detail later).This is an optional step, not at all necessary, but often help-ful (and fun!).3. Focus on It OftenBring your idea or mental picture to mind often, both inquiet meditation periods, and also casually throughout theday when you happen to think of it. In this way it becomesan integrated part of your life, it becomes more of a realityfor you, and you project it more successfully.Focus on it clearly, yet in a light, relaxed way. It’s impor-tant not to feel like you are striving too hard for it or puttingan excessive amount of energy into it — that tends to hinderrather than help.4. Give It Positive EnergyAs you focus on your goal, think about it in a posi-tive, encouraging way. Make strong positive statements toyourself: that it exists; that it has come or is now coming toyou. See yourself receiving or achieving it. These positivestatements are called affirmations. While you use affirma-tions, try to temporarily suspend any doubts or disbelief youmay have, at least for the moment, and practice getting thefeeling that that which you desire is very real and possible.Continue to work with this process until you achieveyour goal, or no longer have the desire to do so. Rememberthat goals often change before they are realized, which is aperfectly natural part of the human process of change andgrowth. So don’t try to prolong it any longer than you haveenergy for it — if you lose interest it may mean that it’s timefor a new look at what you want.If you find that a goal has changed for you, be sure toacknowledge that to yourself. Get clear in your mind the factthat you are no longer focusing on your previous goal. Endthe cycle of the old, and begin the cycle of the new. Thishelps you avoid getting confused, or feeling that you’ve“failed” when you have simply changed.When you achieve a goal, be sure to acknowledge con-sciously to yourself that it has been completed. Often weachieve things that we have been desiring and visualizing,and we forget to even notice that we have succeeded! So giveyourself some appreciation and a pat on the back, and be sureto thank the universe for fulfilling your requests.