Quick Visualization

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This is a very useful technique when you want to relax-before an interview, a party, or any stressful situation. Simply say to yourself: 'It's the end of this event and I feel really good about it. What is this good feeling? What did I do to bring it about?'

Or: 'It's the end of this event and I feel really bad about it. What is this awful feeling? What did I do to bring it about? With this hindsight, what steps can I take to avoid it?'

If you have decided on a life change or goal that you want to achieve, a useful exercise is: The Cinema Exercise Clear a space and relax, as above.

Now imagine that you are in your own private cinema. You are sitting in the middle of the cinema, with the screen in front of you.

Allow a picture to emerge on the screen as you are now, before you have achieved the goal. Examine the picture. How do you feel about the person? Allow yourself to accept and support him or her, even if you do not completely approve of his or her behaviour. Recognize they are doing their best at the moment, until they are able, with your help, to move on. Now let the picture move off the screen, to the left, into the past. This is how you were, but no longer are.

Now allow a picture of yourself to emerge as you will be, after you have achieved your goal or made this life change. Look at this new picture. How is it different from the old picture? In your imagination, leave your seat, walk up to the screen and step into the picture. How does it feel to be this person? How is it different from the other person you were? Become clear how you act and what it is that makes this form of action so successful. Spend a day as this person, noticing all the details of your life, from how you get up, through the day of work and leisure, to going to bed.

Still living as the new person, imagine that you have two helpers, who may be real or imaginary people. One is a supporter, who cheers you on, and one is an expert at what you are doing who can advise you. Who are they? Ask them whatever you like and see what they say. Step into their image, to experience the feeling of operating expertly, and of loving and supporting the new person you have become.

Look back and see what led up to this point. Look at the person you were before. What steps did you take to become this new person?

Now step out of the screen and go back to your seat. Look at the person on the screen and realize that this is really as you could be and will be. Make a decision that this goal is possible, desirable and one to which you have a right. Decide that you will put all your energy and intentions into becoming that person. Put the image on the screen into a bubble and say to yourself, 'I fully intend for this to happen, and I release it.' Send the balloon off, out of sight.

Before and after emerging, reflect on the concrete implications of what you have learned, and look forward to see what you intend to do in a practical sense to make your vision come true. Spend some time every day practising being the person you will be after having made the life change.

When you want to do something that has been weighing on your mind, and about which you have been procrastinating, allow an image of yourself doing it to emerge on the screen, put the image in a bubble, and intend and release. This cuts down anxiety and gets the problem out of your mind and into the area of potentials waiting to be actualized.