The notion of using visualization to achieve a goal is not altogether new. Athletes and chess players have been using this technique to enhance their performance for decades. I have taught visualization as a tool to manifest a desired result, to clients and students all over the country for the past fifteen years. Wishing or hoping is the opposite of visualizing and planning. Visualization requires you to harness the power of your intention to create what you seek. Before you put energy into visualizing you have to first answer the question:

Are you more comfortable WANTING than HAVING? @Terri_Cole (Click to Tweet!)

That is really a topic for another blog, but worth looking at because if you’re more comfortable wanting, you will find ways (probably unconscious) to sabotage what you are seeking to create.

If, on the other hand, you want what you want, with all of your heart (as Danielle LaPorte might say) below is a quick three step exercise on how to use visualization as a tool to manifest.

Be Specific

The more specific you are in your visualization the better. Imagine your future; you have already achieved your goal. Imagine the scene with as much detail as possible. See a mental picture of it as if it were happening to you right now. Engage as many of the five senses as you can. Who are you with? What are you feeling right now? What do you smell? What do you hear? what are you wearing? What is around you?

Speak it

We speak things into being just as we visualize them into being. Be mindful of your words. Use positive language. For example instead of, “If I get a new job,” say, “When I get my new job.” All of the ‘ifs’ are designed to protect you from disappointment, which does not actually work. So why not go for it?

Practice It

Practice going over your visualization at night or in the morning before or after sleep or your meditation, when your mind is most open. Do not linger on any thoughts that are not aligned with your desired outcome while visualizing. Add an affirmation for example, ‘I am abundant, in love, joyful, healthy.” It is most important to feel the feeling of already having what you want.

Most people need to see something before they believe it. Therefore, when they think about getting their dream job, finding their true love or having a healthy body, they simply don’t believe it can happen.

Visualizing works when you allow yourself and your senses to go beyond what you know to be currently true, and dive into what you believe can be true.

We are in awe of visionaries for a reason. They see it in their mind’s eye way before it exists in the world. What most often hold people back from living their dream life, is an inability to see it or feel it happening. Visualization can help you get out of your own way by connecting you to your dreams and how they feel before they happen, which helps you make them a reality. I tell my clients to practice visualizing at least five minutes a day, every day. While this may not seem like a lot of time, when done properly this technique can help you manifest your dream into your reality.

Now I want to hear from you! In the comments below tell me, what you are going to visualize? And if you have used visualization before I’d love to hear about your experience.

Happy Weekend Friends and as always, take care of you.

Love Love Love,
Terri

Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, transformation coach, and an expert at turning fear into freedom. Sign up for Terri’s weekly Tune Up Tips and follow her on Twitter.

There is a guided Forgiveness to Freedom meditation on my Meditation Transformation CD if you need a little help getting started.

Image courtesy of Alexandra Galvis.