The power of visualization

The other day I came across an old diary and was reminded how powerful visualization can be. In the diary, which was from 1999, I had clued in pictures of different things I desired and dreamed of. Like the view from my dream home: Soft hills with olive trees and the sea far below. I had written: I need an open view, a wide open sky. And what did I get? Yes, exactly that!

The picture of the view that I had clued into the notebook is so close to what I look out at every day that it’s almost scary. But that wasn’t the only wish that had come through: I got the car, clothes and even shoes that I dreamed of back then.

Those of you who’s seen The Secret will remember how one participant got out his old visualization board – a bit of cardboard where he clued pictures of what he desired – and discovered that he had bought and lived in the very same house that he had clued a picture of years earlier on his board. The other day I received the newsletter about visualization, and the author told of his wife and the image she had on her visualization board of her dream garden – and what it looks like in reality. A striking resemblance.

Some people have a great ability to visualize. They get a clear, exact picture on their mind. Whether it’s how to create a garden from a field or turn an old basement into a sauna and shower room, they don’t need plans or schemes, but can go ahead and just do it. Well, I better add – first of all they can see, visualize, that it actually can be done. These are often creative people that in addition to have the ability to visualize how earth can be turned into gold, also easily visualize themselves reaching new goals – whether it’s to settle in a happy relationship, write a book or drive across the States on Route 66. They don’t need pictures to help them moving towards their life targets.

rnBut you and I might do.You might find pictures in magazines and newspapers, but remember you can also look at the internet at for instance Yahoo images and download the picture to your own computer by right clicking on it. Then you can either print it out or keep it in a special visualization folder on your computer. If you know how to use Photoshop or another picture editing program you can also manipulate pictures. Have found your dream home, but don’t like the colour? Paint it! Not pleased with the garden? Add an old apple tree and some wonderful flowers.

rnWhether you’re in or out of a relationship you might want to add an image of a happy couple. Or you and the man in your life in your most happy moment. Want to travel more with your husband? Get a picture of a man and a woman packing a suitcase together. Add some photos of the hotels where you’d love to stay, the French café where you’ll have breakfast or that museum you’ve always dreamed of visiting.

There might be charities you’d like to work for or a good cause you’d like to get more involved with, whether it’s beating breast cancer or fighting against pollution. Add a picture of that pink bow and a healthy green forest – whatever symbolizes your good cause.

And don’t forget words! There might be just a short phrase that you find attractive, like “joie de vivre’ or “the good life”. Or it might be a poem that creates a certain feeling of happiness in you or the lyrics of a song. Anything, that helps you visualizing, to create, a picture in your head or a feeling in your heart of something you desire.

Don’t forget pictures of inspirational people! Many of us have issues that hold us back from achieving our dreams. You might want to take a Sabbatical to sail around the globe, but thinking that a person “like you” can’t do something like that. Get a picture, or several, of people “like you” who did just that – I know you’ll find someone! Or you’re 40 and want to go back to school, feeling too old. Well, you’re not the first one who gets an education at that age, so find a photo of a man or woman who fulfilled that dream – and that reminds you that you can do it, too. One of my favorite cuttings is a magazine interview with a British woman who moved to Egypt to become a professional belly dancer. I have no dreams about becoming a belly dancer or moving to Egypt, but I think the story is so incredibly inspirational. It shows that you can do anything. And then I mean anything.

Now, what to do with all those images? It’s up to you. You might want to make a visualization board, like mentioned above. Either to hang on the wall or to fold and store somewhere you can easily take it out, look at it, daydream and add new pictures. Or you might prefer a scrapbook or photo album. You might want to divide the images into several groups: Job and career, love and family, hobby, travels and spare time. You might want to scan everything and work with it on your computer. The main thing is that you can easily access the visualization book, board or file and spend some time with it.

Finally, some dreams expire. You change and don’t want the same things from life as you did before. And that’s ok! Find a more accurate image and clue it on top of the old one. And keep on visualizing it coming to you!