One Major Way to Use Visualization to Elevate Your Life Now!

Visualization is a tool that can help you move past obstacles to elevate your life now! Unfortunately, many times, change can feel impossible. But, when you understand why change is so difficult, you are better able to overcome obstacles that keep you stuck in undesirable patterns. 

Change is Messy

Change is messy and uncomfortable. Nature illustrates this perfectly. The unassuming caterpillar enters its chrysalis without understanding its future potential as a butterfly. But before this transformation can take place, it has to completely disintegrate in order to allow new structures to grow. Only then can it miraculously re-emerge as a butterfly.

This is an extreme example of change. But, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have the privilege of witnessing this literal process of letting go and allowing. Fortunately, change is not as messy for us humans. However, it can feel just as difficult!

One Major Way to Use Visualization to Elevate Your Life Now!

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Habits and Your Brain

In order to break the habits that keep you stuck, it’s important to understand a little bit about how the brain works. Your brain is an efficient organ. So, it will always find the path of least resistance. In other words, whenever we can function on auto-pilot, we usually do.

For instance, think about your commute to work. Have you ever suddenly snapped out of a daze, looked around, and realized you’ve driven all the way to your destination without really noticing it?

The Prefrontal Cortex 

When your brain repeats a habit, it doesn’t use a lot of energy. However, when you’re learning a new skill, making difficult decisions, or completing a challenging task, the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that becomes engaged. And, when the prefrontal cortex is activated, you can focus on creating new behaviors.

However, this takes a lot of energy. So, every time you want to do something new, you face resistance. And, over time, this resistance can wear you down causing the prefrontal cortex to disengage. 

As a result, you slide back into old habits and your brain finds the path of least resistance. And, you feel comfortable again. This is exactly why New Year Resolutions don’t often work.

Effective Visualization

In order to change your habits, you first have to change your brain. Visualization is an extremely effective tool to do just that, and it’s easier than you think!

Under deep relaxation, your brainwaves move from Beta (12 to 30 Hz) to Alpha (8 to 12 Hz), and sometimes even Theta (4 to 8 Hz). Both Alpha and Theta  are suggestible states which means that it becomes easier to reprogram patterns and beliefs at a subconscious level.

Therefore, if you repeatedly visualize yourself accomplishing something while in those brain states, you’ll begin to override the old  programming with the new belief that you can achieve your goals.

“You are more productive by doing fifteen minutes of visualization than from sixteen hours of hard labor.”

Abraham Hicks

Action Steps

You can’t achieve a goal if you don’t envision it. So, what do you truly want in life? It’s time to bring your vision into reality. An effective way to do this is to set aside 15 minutes per day to visualize your dreams.

• Disconnect from the outside world. Power down your cell phone and computer and turn off the television. Breathe deeply, relax, and find your center. 

• Get curious about your life. Ask yourself, “What do I want for my future?” Begin to visualize all of the wonderful things you want to attract into your life. (This simple act engages the prefrontal cortex, and actually begins to change your mind.)

• Experience the emotions you want to feel in your new life. Your feelings play a major role in creating your reality. So, feel all of the wonderful emotions you want to experience as your future self and stay in this elevated state for as long as possible. 

• Rehearse who you want to be in the future. Think about the different choices you’ll have to make as your future self. Then, live your life as if you were already that person. 

• Let go of the past. What behaviors and emotions do you have let go of in order to change? For instance, if you want to be wealthy, you can’t bring feelings of lack into your new future.

Vision Boards

A vision board is a key tool that you can use now to affect positive change! Creating your board will help you clearly define what you want. It will give you direction and purpose, and motivate you to take action toward achieving your goals.

“To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan… believe… act!”

Alfred A. Montapert

Mixed Signals?

The Universe is always responding to the signals you send it. However, we’re usually not very clear about what we want, so we often send it mixed signals. But, when you use a vision board, the Universe knows precisely what you want, and can work behind the scenes in your favor.

Create Your Vision Board

Creating a vision board is simple. Personally, my vision boards are pretty basic, but you can be as artistic as you’d like!

What You’ll Need:

• any size poster board
• markers
• glue
• scissors
• old magazines
• favorite quotes or song lyrics
• images and words that inspire

It’s important to decide exactly what you want to put on your board. You probably have some idea of what your ideal life looks like, but now bring your plans into focus.

Visualization Strategy

• Sit quietly and relax your breathing.
• Think of your perfect day. Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with? How do you feel?
• Take this image and expand it.
• Consider each area of your life: family, financial, career, home life, leisure time.
• Create a list of two or three things you want the most under each one. And, remember, you deserve all the joy and abundance life has to offer, so don’t hold back!
• Search for the perfect images by using magazines or sites like Pinterest or Instagram. Include photographs, song lyrics, quotes, inspiring words, and positive affirmations, as well.

For example, let’s say you want to update your kitchen. Under home life, cut out pictures of the new cabinets and appliances you want. Find images from a Home Design magazine that match the picture in your mind. Be as specific as possible, right down to the color, style, and even the brand name.

Remember, as you grow and change, you can add to it any time, or even change it. Your vision board doesn’t have to be completed all at once. The important thing is to get started!

“Meditate, visualize and create your own reality and the universe will simply reflect back to you.”

Amit Ray, Indian Author

My Results

This is the exact process I used to find my dream home. (In addition to using my vision board, I also kept a photo of my perfect home in my cell phone photos.) After about 6 months of searching, I literally found the exact home I had on my vision board!

However, it was about substantially more than we wanted to spend. That didn’t discourage me because I knew that this was the home I had manifested into my reality, and it was only a matter of time before it would be mine. I let go and allowed the Universe to work out all the details behind the scenes.

A few months after our initial viewing, a series of incredible events happened that allowed us to bid on the home. We were able to offer full price and our offer was quickly accepted! That was 7 years ago, and I am still in love with my “perfect” home. This is only one of many examples I could share with you. And, it’s my hope that you will follow these same steps to achieve your own personal dream life!

Final Thoughts

With the help of a vision board, you can see past your daily problems to focus on your bigger life vision. Whether you want to make sweeping changes or improve one area of your life, visualization is the perfect starting point!

Have you ever used this technique to make positive shifts in your life? What are your thoughts on using a vision board? Let’s get the conversation started below. I would love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Melissa Damiani is a participant in the Routine Probiotic Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to merchant, and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking amazon.com. Although I only promote products that I love, use, and have confidence in, always do your own research before purchasing any product or service. Read my disclaimer here.