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Using
Creative Imagination to Get Results
by Mitch Meyerson
What if we told you there was a technique which in five minutes
three times a day could rid you of bad habits, curb negative thinking,
and increase your self-confidence and motivation? It's called
creative imagination.
Athletes have used the technique for years, picturing a flawless
performance in their minds prior to an event. World class runner,
Rodger Banister states that the reason he broke the four minute
mile was because he visualized it many times before this historic
race in 1954. Yet you needn't be performing in an athletic competition
to harness the power of this technique.
In simplest terms, creative imagination is the process of actively
creating an image in your mind of something you want to accomplish
and holding that picture over a period of time. By shaping this
mental picture repeatedly in a relaxed and receptive state you
can reprogram the software in your mental computer.
It's well known by now that we only use 10% of our minds, and
the other 90% is the unconscious portion. Creative imagination
allows people to tap into this unconscious portion of their minds
and harness its potential power.
We already have pictures and images in our minds. Trouble is,
so many of them are self-defeating. For example, early on in life
we might have experienced our best creative efforts being met
with criticism and our minds hold onto these memories vividly.
We tend to generalize, losing sight that this was an event, not
who we are, (i.e. "I'm not very creative") because these
pictures are emotionally laced with pain.
In creative imagination, you take control. You visualize images
and pictures of success, confidence and the completion of goals.
Or you can build inner support by embracing the the child within.
The creative healing potential of guided imagery is amazing.
You say you can't visualize? Try this simple test. Close you eyes
and see your bedroom. Notice the windows, the color of the floor
and walls. What color is you bedspread? Any pictures on the walls?
Lamps or books? If you are able to answer any of these questions,
you can be successful at creative imagination.
For the most effective visualization experience, it is first helpful
to relax or be guided into an alpha state. This can be done with
soft music, progressive relaxation or a guided imagery by a trained
hypnotherapist. After achieving a relaxed and receptive state,
you not only picture the result you want, but feel the emotions
of the result. For example, you see yourself at your year-end
review. You hear your voice speaking confidently. You feel your
back straight in your chair, your feet solid on the floor, your
breathing relaxed. By using all the senses, it becomes a more
powerful, impactful way to reprogram one's mind.
Janet, 29, used creative imagination as part of her weight loss
program. "I pictured myself twenty pounds thinner. I could
feel myself walk, and my step was lighter, I moved with more energy.
I saw myself eating slowly. I'd picture myself running on the
beach, feeling healthy, enjoying it not because it was part of
a diet, but because it felt good on its own.
Mark, 43, used imagery to complete the book proposal he had been
procrastinating on for six months. "In my first few imagery
sessions I found it difficult to get a clear picture in my mind.
The images were foggy and I felt vague sense of resistance. It
became clear that something scared me about finishing. But rather
than analyze it, my therapist gave me an imagery tape to use at
home twice a day for fifteen minutes. Within two weeks the pictures
in my mind became clearer, I saw myself handing in the finished
product while feeling an incredible sense of pride and purpose.
Amazingly enough, my writing became more focused as well".
How can you make visualization as powerful as possible?
Include
as many details in your vision as you can. If your goal, for example
is to increase your income, see the balance in your checkbook,
breathe in the scent of new-car upholstery, feel the sun as you
lounge on the beach or the heat as you sit in front of the fireplace
of your new home. What would you be doing, seeing, thinking, if
you were more affluent?
At the point you feel most connected with your result, touch your
thumb to your middle finger on your dominant hand. Then when you
return to consciousness you may touch these fingers together to
recapture that positive emotional state.
Therapists
who specialize in visualization can teach you techniques to quickly
attain a relaxed, responsive state, and move you through the steps.
They can also help you design a visualization that will help you
achieve your goal and help you explore any resistance that comes
up. For example, one man who was using visualization to help increase
his confidence in making sales calls, kept hearing a voice saying
no while he tried to imagine closing a sale. It's important to
explore resistance, to ask yourself, "Why am I in conflict
over this? Do I think I'm going to have to pay too high a price
for what I want? Tapes are available in most bookstores, but a
specialized recording can be made to your special needs.
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To find out more about our Guerrilla Marketing
Coaching, Personal Breakthroughs Coaching and Creating Passive
Income Program
call or e-mail us at :
www.MitchMeyerson.com
480-718-5939
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© 2006 Mitch Meyerson
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