Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.
George Bernard Shaw
Imagination: Your Key
to the Kingdom
All of the world’s great men and women have used the power of imagination to create their successful lives. They have become great because they dared to imagine grand achievements. They constantly pictured in their minds what they wanted, and the Creative Power Within, given these pictures to work on, eventually brought them into being. Whatever is occurring now in your life is the result of an image in your mind, and whatever will happen in the future will be the result of your images, not someone else’s. This requires you to make a correct image of what you want to see happen in your life or personality, and turn that image over to the Creative Power Within to manifest it. We are all directly or indirectly responsible for almost everything that happens to us, even though it’s often easier to blame someone or something else. Of course there are some circumstances beyond our control, such as natural disasters, etc. But, if we have knowledge of how the mind works, we will recognize that the way we think and feel has an intimate connection with what is happening to us.
If we get up in the morning thinking it’s going to be a bad day with nothing going right, that’s probably what will occur. Our thoughts go out into the universe in the form of vibrations and attract to us exactly what we are sending out. If you are always surrounded by difficulties, the solution is to change the picture in your mind and image a more positive, fulfilling life.
Creative visualization is the technique of using your imagination in a systematic, structured way to create what you want. Of course, we all use our imagination constantly, usually in an unconscious, haphazard, or negative fashion. Worry, for example, is an extremely powerful image, and worried thoughts are always negative and destructive. Every time you fret about not getting the raise you want, possibly getting laid-off, having a car accident, or not making your sales quota, you are programming your mind destructively. Since we have been taught so many negative concepts about ourselves, we automatically expect and imagine that we will have difficulties, limitations, and misfortunes, thus bringing it into being.
Properly directed, imagination is the key to the doorway to success, love, health, abundance, satisfying relationships, self-confidence, and greater self-expression. All we need to do is become consciously aware of what we are creating, and change the programming if we don’t like it.
Everyone has a basic concept about themselves, formed mainly by the ideas others gave us in early life, and also by the feedback we receive from people in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, many people’s basic concept of themselves includes ideas such as failure, rejection, inferiority, ill health, worthlessness, financial instability, and other destructive thoughts. Let’s analyze the type of suggestions many people have been given during the process of growing up. Some typical basic concepts I frequently hear from my clients are:
“I’m not capable of earning a good living.”
“I feel inferior to many people.”
“I’m too sensitive, everything upsets me.”
“I can’t get good grades in school.”
“I have a poor memory.”
“I’ll never be successful.”
“I’m not as smart as other people.”
“I can’t get organized.”
“I think I’m not very lovable.”
All of us have been exposed to negative ideas like these as we grew up. Do you remember your parents saying things like, “you’ll never amount to anything,” “you can’t do anything right,” “you’re really stupid,” “you’re so awkward and clumsy,” “you’re really not very bright,” “you’re lazy and selfish,” “you’re the pretty one, but Marsha’s the intelligent one,” or similar phrases? Or, maybe a teacher told you, “you can’t spell so you might as well forget it,” “you’ll never be able to do math,” or “you just have a rotten memory.” Statements such as these, though often intended to motivate, acutely impair our confidence and self-esteem. Constant reinforcement of such negative ideas may cause us to feel socially inadequate and unable to communicate with others.
Some time ago I facilitated a therapy group in which a woman stated that her mother constantly told her: “Oh Mary, you just don’t have any personality.” And she didn’t. This unfortunate woman was inhibited from developing her social skills, and her natural self-expression was thwarted by the dominant idea she was inadequate. If you feel this way, your self-concept is the cause of it all. We place our own limitations upon ourselves, and it’s nothing more than an idea operating in the subconscious mind. Granted, many of these negative ideas were given to us by others when we were too young and too helpless to reject them. But now that we are adults, we can change them and reprogram our minds by the same process.
Your future is determined by the thoughts you think today. What you think you are—you are! You can become whatever you would like to be. In his wonderful book The Crack in the Cosmic Egg, Joseph Chilton Pearce talks about the “statistical world,” the so-called world of reality. Many people are fond of stating that they are “realistic,” thus, they lock themselves into the statistical world, invariably bowing before the dictates of statistics and “facts,” and believe that what happens to them is just the result of random chance.
We are constantly being programmed to statistics, such as “So many people in this room will die of cancer this year,” “Five hundred people will be killed on our highways this holiday weekend,” “Jobs these days are hard to get because many companies are still laying off people.” Of course these may be facts. The statistical world is a reality because there are people who will make those statistics come true. They are people who have little control over their lives because they know nothing about the power of their own minds, and they are the helpless victims of life’s vicissitudes. One who is able to think positively, however, and control his or her thoughts, need not be caught in the trap of statistics. Such a person can consciously be superior to the “Slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” As Pearce states, “An ultimately serious commitment of mind, combined with the active use of imagination, can be the determining factor in any issue, overcoming all the odds against you, and overcoming chance.”
In making images for the things you desire, you must be careful not to discuss them with people who cannot share your vision. A negative person can totally destroy your image by causing you to doubt its credibility. Holding an image of your desire takes a great deal of energy, especially when the odds may be against your achieving it. You have to work hard enough at overcoming your own doubt without allowing others, who do not understand the power of the mind, to influence you. Pearce states that “nonambiguity is the shaping force of reality!” This is a tremendously important statement. It means that when you remove all doubt that you will receive what you have imaged, it is sure to come to you. Believe in your images with all your strength, and don’t allow nonbelievers to distort or destroy your faith by quoting statistics, or telling you all the reasons you cannot achieve them.
Creativity and Imagination
Creating what you want in life depends upon the use of the most potent force in the world: imagination. By sustaining mental images of any kind—good or bad—you will eventually bring about a physical effect, provided only that your images are logical. Unfortunately, our educational system stifles imagination by placing all the emphasis on rational thought. That’s one reason our young people are so bored with school. If you have a child with an active imagination, you have a potential genius, because all creative people have highly developed imaginations. That is the source of their ideas, the realm of the inner life. Einstein stated: “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” adding that many of his ideas came to him while he was daydreaming or fantasizing, and not while he was applying his intellect to a problem.
Since creativity—the ability to look at things in a different and original way—depends upon imagination, it follows that if we wish to be more creative, we can do so by developing our imagination. Artists, writers, and musicians appear to be born with a great imaginative ability, but this skill can be learned by anyone. Sometimes in my seminars people will tell me that they cannot visualize any of the things I suggest during the process. This is not really so; everyone can visualize things, but we all do this differently. Some people actually visualize an image projected before them when they close their eyes, but others merely “get a feeling” of the object, activity, or event. If you could not visualize things you would never find your way home, because you have a picture in your mind of what your house looks like, and what streets you need to take to find it. If you didn’t hold an image in your mind of the people in your environment, you wouldn’t recognize them the next time you saw them. Your mental picture matches the way they appear to you, and you could draw a picture of your loved ones, no matter how crudely, if you were required to do so.
Visualization and Psychotherapy
One of the early pioneers of visualization, Dr. Joseph Wolpe, a psychiatrist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, used imagery as a way to help people suffering from phobias. He believed that a phobia was a learned behavior, not a result of childhood trauma, and that the phobia could be “unlearned” if his patient could develop an opposite response to fear. He hit on the idea of teaching phobic people to relax deeply in the presence of the desired object; after all, one cannot be afraid and relaxed at the same time. There was a drawback to the procedure, however, because it was sometimes not practical to be present with his patients when they faced the thing they feared, such as flying in a plane. Dr. Wolpe then experimented with having his patients imagine the phobic object while relaxed. It worked. In a few short sessions, his patients were able to overcome phobias they’d had for years through this method, which psychologists call “systematic desensitization.” Imagery is now widely used in modern psychotherapy and has proven to be extremely effective in helping clients handle life crises.
Barbara, a homemaker who had become so depressed she had great difficulty getting up in the morning, came to see me for therapy a few years ago. She could barely summon the energy to dress before her husband returned home from work, and it took all the stamina she had to come to my office. In the evening she would gather all her energy to prepare a simple dinner for herself and her husband, and then would sit in front of the television, sinking further into depression. In the course of her treatment, I asked her to make a list of “reinforcing events,” things she had formerly enjoyed doing, since it’s very important for depressed people to schedule activities each day that they enjoy. I usually ask the client to incorporate at least one of these activities into his or her daily regimen. But this woman was too depressed even to attempt small pleasures such as taking a walk in the park, getting her hair styled, or meeting a friend for coffee. Stymied, I asked her to spend some time each day mentally rehearsing the activities on her list. In a short time she was able to translate the fantasies into reality, and her life became more enjoyable.
There are many uses for structured visualization. Another client of mine, a young law student, was scheduled to take the bar examination in a few months, and she was terrified of failing. After years of hard study to acquire her law degree, Marilyn felt her entire future hung in the balance, and she would be devastated if she were to fail the exam and not get admitted to the bar. For several weeks I worked with her on visualizing herself being calm and relaxed while taking the exam, with her mind clear and alert, and the answers flashing to her readily. We also developed an image of the future in which she went to the local newspaper office and saw her name posted on the bulletin board, listed among those who had successfully passed. Additionally, she saw herself receiving the official notice in the mail, and imaged her family congratulating her on her success. Happily, her image came true; she passed in the top quarter.
Visualization and Sports
Many coaches today use the transformational technique of visualization as a significant part of their athletes’ training regimen. Charles Garfield, a former weightlifter and psychologist at the University of California in Berkeley, reported in Brain/Mind Bulletin (March 1980), that he had used visualization with Olympic hopefuls to optimize their athletic performance. “The key,” Garfield stated, “is to visualize with the clarity necessary to really feel yourself in the situation. The central nervous system doesn’t know the difference between deep, powerful visualization and the event itself, so the physical followup of the actual event is merely an after-the-fact duplication of an event already performed and completed in imagery.”
Visualization worked superbly for Chris Evert, now retired, who was a top-seeded professional tennis player. Before every match she sat down, relaxed, and visualized her every move, seeing herself return every one of her opponent’s volleys and eventually winning the match. Her impressive record validates the effectiveness of this approach.
Mike Spino, director of the Esalen Sports Center in Big Sur, California, coaches long-distance runners by using visualization. The runners image a big hand at their backs giving assistance during the race and providing something to lean into when fatigued. Spino believes that visualization techniques will be among the most important aspects of athletic training in the future. Edmond Jacobson, a psychologist famous for his relaxation technique, has demonstrated that if a person imagines himself running, small but measurable amounts of contraction actually take place in the muscles used for running.2
The Center for Accelerated Learning in Wisconsin conducted a study with students from four universities that proved that imagery improves learning and recall. According to the federally funded research, college students using mental imagery performed 12 percent better on immediate recall than students learning the same material without mental imagery. Furthermore, those using the imagery performed 26 percent better on long-term retention than those not using it.3
The Mind/Body Connection
Imagery works because the subconscious cannot tell the difference between something that is strongly imagined and something that is actually taking place in the physical world. Anatomists have proven there are pathways between the part of the brain where we store our pictures, and the autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary activities such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. There are also pathways from the autonomic nervous system to the glands, such as the pituitary and adrenals. This means that a picture in our minds has an impact on every cell in our bodies. Thinking is not only an action of the mind, but an action of the entire body.
In his book The Body of Life, Thomas Hanna writes:
The nature of our thinking activity automatically determines the nature of our bodily activity. . . . When we think the same thoughts of revenge over and over again, we are activating the muscles and glands of our bodies over and over again. When we repeat the same thoughts of disappointment over and over we are repeatedly stamping their motor power into the tissues of our body until they sag in forlornness.
Understanding this intimate connection between mind and body, we can rejuvenate ourselves physically and mentally through positive images. The greatest proof of this is demonstrated by hypnosis. In my self-hypnosis seminars, I have been privileged to witness the remarkable powers of the subconscious mind. On several occasions I have demonstrated the amazing control of the mind over the body by simple experiments such as painlessly inserting a hat pin a half-inch deep into the flesh of a subject’s arm. When the hat pin is removed, there is no pain, no blood, and no aftereffect. The puncture hole is completely gone within a few moments, and often the subject is not even aware that the needle was placed into his or her arm.
The subconscious is God-like; it is all-knowing and all-healing, and it will take care of you if you give it a chance. It never sleeps; if it did, you would not wake up in the morning because your subconscious takes care of your breathing, the circulation of your blood, your digestion, and every other bodily function while your conscious mind sleeps.
All you have to do is repeatedly tell your subconscious what you want, and it will then set about producing it. Unfortunately, instead of working positively to achieve what they want, many people start worrying about not getting it. This sends out negative energy, and you end up holding a picture in your mind that you won’t obtain the desired result. You can add more negative energy to that by telling your friends you wish you could have this or that, but probably won’t be able to. Then they, in turn, also hold the negative image. In this way you keep constantly giving a message to your subconscious mind not to bring you what you desire. The subconscious is a fertile field; whatever you plant is what you will reap.
How to Visualize Creatively
The art of visualization is a transformation technique you can use to obtain anything you want in life: love, prosperity, self-confidence, weight loss, a new job or car—whatever you wish. Imaging is a very precise methodology that can transform your life, but there are certain rules governing it. Here, then, are the steps to follow to create your own reality through creative visualization.
First, find a quiet place where you will be totally undisturbed and can completely relax. As studies in hypnosis demonstrate, the subconscious mind is very suggestible when we are in a relaxed state; thus the more deeply you can relax, the more effective your visualization. If you are not accustomed to deep relaxation, refer to Appendix A, or use the technique described in the chapter on self-hypnosis (see page 56). Of course, never try to visualize when the radio or television is on, or when the kids are running through the house. If you can find no other place where you can be undisturbed for at least ten minutes, lock yourself in the bathroom.
1. Phrase It Positively
Before beginning your imagery, make up a short, concise summary of exactly what you want, and always put it in the positive. For example, if you are working on weight loss, never say, “I will not be fat.” This vibrates the cells in your brain connected with the image of obesity and reinforces the idea that you are overweight. Even though this may be true, don’t strengthen the image by reminding yourself. Say, rather, “I am always going to be slim,” or “I am becoming slimmer every day.” If you feel inadequate, don’t say, “I am overcoming my inferiority complex,” and thus convince your subconscious that you have one, which will increase your anxiety. Instead, say: “I am becoming more confident every day.”
A good friend of mine, who is overweight, invited me to her home for dinner one evening. When I arrived I found a picture of a huge hippopotamus pasted on her refrigerator door. “Ella,” I said, “look what you’re doing to yourself. You’re telling your subconscious mind that you think you look like a fat hippo, and you’re driving in the idea that you’re overweight every time you walk by that picture.” I suggested she clip a picture of a slender model from a fashion catalog, paste a photo of her own face over the model’s, and attach that to the refrigerator. “Let your subconscious know what you want,” I suggested, “not what you don’t want!”
Statements about your image should never be placed in the future, as, for example: “Soon I will be slender,” or “I will get a job.” Sure you will, but it may be another year if you phrase it so vaguely. Some practitioners of visualization believe that you should express your affirmations as though you already have what you want. I disagree, for that violates the next principle, which is that images must be logical to reach the subconscious mind. It is not logical to say “I am now slender,” if you currently weigh two hundred pounds. I suggest using the phrase, “I am becoming. . .” “Every day I am becoming more slender,” or “I am becoming more confident every day.”
In dealing with specific things you desire, you can name a time limit: “By this spring I will have my new car.” “I am now losing two pounds a week, and by Christmas I will weigh 120 pounds.” “I will start my new job by the first of March.”
Your positive statements can be written on 3 x 5 cards and placed by your bedside, on the bathroom mirror, or on the dashboard of your car—any place where you can see them frequently and repeat them, thus giving your subconscious mind ample reminders throughout the day. I like to put my imagery cards next to the alarm clock on my nightstand so that they are the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning. If you can visualize your desire at bedtime and fall asleep holding that thought, your subconscious will be able to work on it all night long, without any interference, and the process will be more effective.
2. Make It Logical
The key to getting a message into the subconscious mind is: If it’s logical, it lodges; and if it lodges, you’re hooked! Remember, logical doesn’t necessarily mean true. If, when you were six years old, you were told by mom or dad that you were awkward, clumsy, and not as bright as your sister, that suggestion would probably have been logical to you. After all, a parent is like a god to a child, so surely they knew what kind of person you were. Our personalities are formed by what we are told about ourselves in the process of growing up, even if it wasn’t true. If something is said to you that appears to be logical and you have no way to refute it, it becomes accepted by your subconscious and becomes a part of you.
On the other hand, if a statement is not logical to you, the conscious mind will simply not accept it, or will refute it, and it doesn’t get past the psychic barrier into the subconscious. Thus, if your conscious mind cannot fully believe your image, it will not be accepted by your subconscious. For instance, if you wish to make some money, you should not say: “I’m going to earn a million dollars by the end of the year.” For most of us this is completely illogical, so the subconscious will not accept it. If you want to lose weight, you shouldn’t say: “I’ll lose thirty pounds by the end of the month,” because you probably won’t be able to convince yourself you can.
3. Be Specific
The more detail you can bring into your image, the easier it will be for your subconscious to carry it out. The subconscious mind is quite literal, and it needs to be given accurate directions. Of course, this is not always possible, but whenever it is, take the time to think out each detail of your image. If you are looking for a new job, you may not be able to specify the particular building you would like to work in, but you can image yourself smiling and happy as you walk around your new office.
For example, if you would like to move to a new house, think out in advance all the things that you want to have in your home. Would you like a garden or a small yard that needs little care? Do you want a two-car garage, lots of storage space, a large kitchen, three bedrooms, two baths, a fireplace, and a swimming pool? Be specific, but here again, make it logical. Don’t ask for a house that is obviously beyond your means, thus making it illogical for you to obtain it.
Years ago when I lived in San Francisco, I planned to move to San Jose to begin my postgraduate studies. I knew little about the city, having only driven through it a couple of times. I didn’t have any friends there, so I had no one to advise me on a good location in which to live. But, instead of just driving around aimlessly in my car looking for an apartment, I sat down one morning and typed the following:
I am going to San Jose today to find an apartment that—
—is quiet so that I can study undisturbed.
—is close to the university.
—is in a good neighborhood where I will feel safe.
—is spacious and clean.
—is bright and cheery and has lots of windows.
—allows pets.
—is in a price range of $____ to $_____.
I closed my eyes for a few minutes and imagined myself walking around in my new apartment feeling happy and content. Then I turned my image over to the Creative Power Within, knowing that it knew the area much better than I did and could lead me to the place I desired. By evening I had put down a deposit on an apartment that met my specifications exactly, except that the price was somewhat higher than I had wished because my range hadn’t been logical!
In the past when I had moved, I searched for weeks for places to live by trying to do it solely on my own without asking for help from the great powerhouse of knowledge within. But I had now learned that the method of directing and ordering my life by working with Spirit in a harmonious partnership is so much easier than doing things with my limited conscious mind. If you can learn to do everything in cooperation with the Creative Power Within, your life can be so much simpler.
At this point we must be caution about dealing with cosmic laws. Using mind-power and imagery means calling upon all the forces of the universe to attain what we want. These forces are extremely powerful and can create problems if used for wrong action, for this invariably brings suffering to the user. Those who use their mind-power to bring harm or adversity to another will find that misfortune eventually comes to them. There is really only one life and anything we do to others eventually comes back to us. We are all familiar with “black magic,” which has been used for centuries to hurt others through mental powers. We might say that positive visualization is “white magic,” and it works on the same principle. When using creative imagery therefore, heed this cosmic law: Never manipulate the will of another! If you do, it will boomerang on you and cause serious trouble in your life.
For example, if you want a new house, you can certainly visualize one similar to an admired house of neighbors or friends, but never visualize specifically for their house. If you want money, never use imagery that a specific person will give it to you. Simply imagine it coming to you: receiving a check in the mail, putting a deposit in the bank, buying something that you want with the money. Leave it up to Spirit to select the means whereby the money will come; you don’t need to concern yourself with that.
Ron, a salesperson, attended my seminar on imagery and immediately went home to image a potential customer signing a contract with him the next day. Ron relaxed in a living room chair and visualized himself driving to the customer’s house, greeting the man as he opened the door, making his sales presentation, and seeing the man sign a contract for a very large deal.
This is a direct violation of cosmic law, for Ron was deliberately manipulating his customer’s will. But, what is the difference between a salesperson’s trying to persuade a customer to buy, and visualizing him making that purchase? The difference is that persuasion is done at a conscious level. We try to persuade people to do what we want every day of our lives, and there’s nothing wrong with that, simply because people know what we are attempting to do and they can consciously resist it and defend against it if they want. On the other hand, when you visualize someone carrying out your desire, they are defenseless. They are your helpless victim and, without any conscious knowledge of why they are doing it, can easily fall under the power of your concentrated thought. In short, it isn’t fair.
What Ron should have done in this case was visualize himself reaching a certain sales goal that month, telling his wife he had increased his commissions, winning the company award for topping the sales quota, depositing money in the bank, or even buying things he wanted with the extra cash. This would not have involved directly manipulating the will of another, but would leave it up to Spirit to provide the means whereby he achieved his desire.
A few years ago the tabloids reported the story of a man who saw a woman every morning on the elevator in his apartment building as he went to work. He found the woman attractive and, although he had never spoken to her, decided he was going to marry her. Obviously, he was not interested in her qualities as a person, merely in her physical appearance. Since he had taken a course in mind control, he decided to visualize himself walking up the aisle with the woman and being married by his minister. The next morning he introduced himself to her and began a courtship, all the while imaging, without her knowledge, that he would marry her. Sure enough, within three months, his proposal and engagement ring were accepted and they were married. This marriage will probably come to a disastrous end because this man deliberately manipulated the woman’s unconscious mind and violated the cosmic law of noninterference with the will of another. Such misuse of mind powers can create great havoc in an individual’s life and in the lives of his or her unknowing victims. It is tantamount to a criminal act to take advantage of people without their consent.
This certainly doesn’t mean that you can’t visualize a happy marriage. If you want to get married or be in a relationship, imaging for that is not only appropriate but desirable; just be careful not to image for a particular person. If you want to be in a relationship, the sensible action to take would be to make a list of the qualities you desire in a partner. This is something people seldom think of, and often they don’t even know what qualities would be most compatible with their own personality. Sometimes people get married because they both like dancing or old movies, or some other inconsequential reason that doesn’t mean much after the initial glow of romance has dimmed. The more similarities people have, the more likely it is they will have a harmonious relationship. The more dissimilarity, the greater the potential problems because every difference can be a point of conflict.
Although it is a violation of cosmic law to use imagery for a specific person, you can imagine yourself being in a relationship and doing things with a loving partner. You can feel your happiness at being with a person who really loves you, and you can imagine coming home after work and being greeted affectionately by such a person. If you wish to be married, it’s perfectly fine to imagine yourself in a wedding setting and feel the happiness you expect to experience at that event, provided you don’t imagine a particular person as your mate.
But, what if you’ve already met someone to whom you feel tremendously attracted? Let’s say it’s a man at the office. Though you must not specifically image him asking you out on a date or walking up the aisle with you, you are certainly free to send him all the positive, loving thoughts you want. There is nothing wrong with thinking loving thoughts because you are not manipulating someone by doing that, as long as you don’t visualize him actually doing something with you. But you can be sure that he will pick this up, at least on the subconscious level, and will begin to respond warmly to you. You can visualize him surrounded by a lovely, soft, warm cloud of pink (the color of love) and see that color flowing from you to him. You can do the same thing if you’re already in a relationship and want to create a harmonious feeling between you and your partner. You’ll be amazed at the results!
Some years ago I taught Concept-Therapy classes in the Bay area with another instructor, Dr. Charles Craig. Mr. and Mrs. K came to every one of our classes and usually sat in the front row. One day, one of the students mentioned to me that Mrs. K had told her she enjoyed the lessons, but didn’t care for the way I presented them. Mrs. K couldn’t seem to identify specifically what it was about my presentation that bothered her, but I strongly suspected it was Mr. K’s intense interest in the classes, and his habit of coming over and discussing the material with me at every coffee break.
Realizing the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with all the students, and knowing my teaching would be disrupted if anyone were sending me negative vibrations, I thought it wise to rectify the situation. I liked Mrs. K and had no adverse feelings toward her, and certainly wasn’t interested in her husband, so it was easy for me to mentally send her positive, loving thoughts. I found a class photograph with her picture in it, put it on my bureau, and began talking to the photo, telling Mrs. K that I liked and respected her and that she had no reason to feel threatened by me. I would say positive things like this aloud every time I walked by the picture.
At our next class, two weeks later, Mrs. K brought a beautiful flower arrangement for the podium, which she handed to me, and she sat beaming throughout the class. Later she told Dr. Craig that she had been feeling very positive about my presentation and realized I was really a good instructor. Transformation had occurred merely from thinking positively, without any direct attempt to manipulate her will or get her to do something!
4. Take Enough Time
How long will it take to manifest your image? This is a variable that depends on your ability to concentrate and visualize, and also on the severity of the problem. Naturally, if you are trying to change lifelong feelings of inferiority, it will take some time; five minutes of visualization won’t erase thirty years of negative thinking.
It has been established that it takes at least thirty-three seconds, as a bare minimum, for a suggestion to reach the subconscious mind. That’s why television commercials are usually at least that long. Also, psychologists have determined that, on the average, it takes about twenty-one days to change a habit. The same principle applies to images. But, as your ability to visualize becomes perfected through repetition, you will find that many of your images will manifest sooner. Some people have reached a point where, through continued practice, some of their images come true within a few days, or even hours. How often should you visualize? A good goal to set is two or three times a day for ten to fifteen minutes per session. The more you practice and develop your power of visualization, the faster your images will come true.
Feeling and emotion profoundly affect the amount of time it takes to get an idea into the subconscious mind. When something is said to you that has an intense emotional impact, it slams into the subconscious the instant you hear it. If, for example, a parent or teacher or boss says, “you’re really stupid,” that thought immediately penetrates your subconscious mind. Unfortunately, when you begin working on changing a powerful suggestion like that, the same emotion is not behind it that was there when you originally heard it, so it takes longer to change, and requires repetition of the opposite concept.
5. Get the Feeling
An important aspect of an image is the emotion behind it. The more feeling you can get into your visualization, the more convinced your subconscious will be that this is actually happening to you. Act as if you actually have the thing you desire and let your body experience the feelings you would have if you did. For example, if you wish to lose weight, get the feeling of how happy you will be wearing clothes that were formerly too tight for you, hearing people congratulate you on your weight loss, looking at yourself in the mirror and feeling very proud of yourself.
If you want a new car, imagine how good you will feel driving it down the freeway or pulling up in front of a friend’s house in it. Remember, the subconscious can’t tell the difference between something that is vividly imagined and something that is happening in reality, so very soon it will make it a reality for you, provided, of course, that it’s logical. The more capable you are of living in the feeling of the dream fulfilled, the greater your capacity to actually receive your desire.
6. Take Some Action on the Physical Plane
You must impress your subconscious that you mean business. If, for example, you are working on weight loss, cut down on your food intake. If you’re eating like a horse, you can visualize all day, and nothing will happen, because your subconscious is getting a double message. If you wish to get a new job, begin looking at the classified ads, sending out résumés, and networking with well-placed friends. If you want to be in a relationship, go out to places where there is an opportunity to meet the type of person you want.
One evening I visited with Doris, a young student of mine, and found her living room full of boxes containing most of her belongings. Doris was working her way through college and could only afford to live in an apartment building filled with other students whose stereos blared day and night. She told me she could no longer put up with the noise and she was planning to move to a quieter building and get a room by herself. I asked how that was possible on her limited income.
“Well,” she replied with a slight smugness, “I learned in your class that if you want something to happen in your life, you first make an image, so I’ve been visualizing a new apartment every day. I decided packing up everything I don’t immediately need would be taking action to convince my subconscious mind that I’m serious, so that it will help me find a better place to live. Even if I have to stay here a few more months, I’m acting as if I’m moving, and that makes me feel better!”
Indeed, her subconscious got her message and did carry out her image shortly thereafter. Within a few weeks of my visit, Doris found an apartment a few blocks from the college at only slightly more rent than she had been paying.
The Effect of Concentration
In order for an image to manifest, you must concentrate on it, and that is a protection. It means that any little fleeting thought we have will not automatically manifest in our lives—fortunately! If they did, we’d all be sorry for many of the things we created for ourselves and others through careless thinking. When something doesn’t happen on schedule, our tendency is to indulge in negative thinking. For instance, if our partner doesn’t arrive home at the usual time, often our first reaction is to begin worrying that he or she has been in an accident. Most of the time, we tend to think the worst, not the best. This sends out negative energy to the individual, and although it doesn’t actually create the situation, it certainly doesn’t help things. The best action under such circumstances is to sit down and take a few moments to visualize the person completely surrounded by a beautiful white light protecting them from any adverse forces. This is an ancient metaphysical method of psychic protection used for centuries to insulate a person from negative thoughts and forces. Then, visualize your loved one smiling, perfectly safe, coming in the front door.
Strong concentration is necessary to manifest an image, and the greater your ability to concentrate, the sooner your images will manifest for you. Concentration is an ability that can be developed; it is a learned skill just like any other. Training your mind day after day to focus on a particular image is a good way to develop your ability to concentrate.
In summary, here are the steps for creating your own reality through imagery:
1. Phrase it positively.
2. Make it logical.
3. Be specific.
4. Take enough time.
5. Visualize the end result.
6. Get the feeling that you already have your desire.
7. Take some action on the physical plane.
8. Never manipulate the will of another.
9. Repetition and concentration will manifest your desire.
Imagination is the key to all creativity and to all changes in your life and personality! It’s not faith that makes all things possible, it’s imagination. If you can imagine it, you can have it, provided only that it’s logical. By sustaining mental images of any kind (good or bad), you will eventually bring about their manifestation in the physical world. You are what you imagine yourself to be! Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re always right. As Richard Bach wrote in Illusions: “Argue for your limitations, and you get to keep them.”