Category: Mind

Visualization: The Mental Rehearsal That Can Transform Your Life
Most of us are willing to admit that “positive thinking” can have a favorable influence in our lives. You can take that positive point of view one very significant step further with visualization. Visualization is like a mental rehearsal. Rehearsing the important events in your life can improve your outlook, turn the tides in your favor and increase your odds of a successful outcome.

Visualization, also known as mental imagery or creative visualization, is not based on luck or superstition; it’s not like wishing on a falling star. Science proves that visualization establishes a strong, identifiable connection between your brain and body.

The Power of Creative Visualization

Visualization has a direct impact on your motor control, perception, planning and memory. Professional athletes around the world have used visualization to improve their sports performance since it was revealed that the Soviets were using visualization to enhance their athletic performance in the 1970s.

Today, these techniques are used, not only to improve athletic performance, but to also reduce anxiety, battle depression and facilitate healing. The applications are endless. Visualization is a practice that you can learn to help you relax, heal emotionally, heal physically or cope with chronic pain.

The Effect of Visualization on Your Body

Studies reveal that your thoughts produce the same instructions throughout your body as your actions. When you repeatedly imagine the successful completion of a task, you condition your neural pathways so the imagined action feels familiar, this enhances your confidence and increases your motivation.

A fascinating study on the subject was performed at the Cleveland Clinic. Participants were divided into two groups to determine the effect of creative visualization on muscle strength. The first group participated in weight training exercises. The participants in this first group increased their muscle strength by 30 percent.

The second group did not go to the gym. They visualized themselves doing the same exercises, but did not do the physical work. Amazingly, this group of participants increased their muscle strength by 13.5 percent without breaking a sweat.

Incorporating Visualization into Your Life

While guided visualization has proven quite successful, you can use this simple technique to incorporate visualization into your life. This is not something that you need to devote hours to every day. You can begin by practicing just 5 minutes a day, either just before, or just after you sleep.

Start with gentle breathing and focus on relaxing all of your muscle groups. Imagine your scene. Imagine the details of your conversations. Create a picture in your mind that involves all of your senses with as much detail as you are able. Your visualization exercises should answer the following questions as intricately as possible:
- What emotions are you feeling?
- What do feel from your surroundings?
- Who are you with?
- What are you wearing?
- What do you smell?
- What do you hear?
- What can you taste?
Resist any negative urges and do not let self-doubt get in your way. If you find negativity or doubt getting creeping in, eliminate it. Start again. You may want to combine this visualization exercise with meditation or self-affirmation. Remind yourself that you are strong. You are capable. You will achieve your goals.

Visualization to Improve Your Health

There are many who believe that we can even heal our bodies and our minds with the power of our brains. An article in Psychology Today reports that visualization can be an effective tool in the arsenal of treatments available to those living with depression. Visualization can be used to resolve inner conflict. Many people have successfully reversed or improved their symptoms of depression by identifying the situation or situations triggering their depressive response, and using their new-found knowledge to adjust their belief system.

When living with a depressive disorder, Identifying your triggers can help empower you. You can re-address negative situations, think of new solutions and new options for living your best life. With renewed empowerment, the hopelessness or helplessness of depression can be replaced with hope and enthusiasm. To use visualization for this purpose requires only a few simple steps. Those steps include:
- Focus and relax your body
- Identify the source of your inner conflict
- Fill in the details, what do you see, hear, feel or think?
- Imagine yourself growing very tall, feel yourself growing larger
- Your newly imagined size will help you gain a different perspective
- Feeling more powerful, internal empowerment may replace negativity
- Your negative feelings may now be replaced by feelings of positivity and a new plan of action
Your Brain and Your Subconscious Mind

Your subconscious mind cannot distinguish between reality and imagery, so your subconscious takes over and acts upon the positive images you have created. The key to successful visualization is imagining that you already have what you wish to achieve. With time, the success you so intricately imagine becomes the life you live. The mental trickery builds your confidence and creates the connections between your body and your brain.

There are numerous accounts of people who claim to have visualized the healing of their skin conditions, autoimmune disorders and even cancer. Often reports of healing through visualization are beyond the explanation of the traditional healthcare community, but there has been some progress in explaining the phenomenon.

Your mind plays an integral part in your health and well-being. You can use the positive influence of your mind to implement positive changes in your life. To learn more about the impact and influence of your mind on your body and your spirit, visit Open Eye Wellness. You will benefit from the guidance and knowledge of a certified Natural Health Professional.

Additional Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/resolution-not-conflict/201110/visualization-strategy-rapid-treatment-depression

https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/how-to-use-visualization-to-heal-physically-or-emotionally

Visualizations
April 22, 2018
5 Questions to Ask to Discover Your Life’s Purpose

Searching to find our purpose in life is a lifelong journey. Purpose goes deeper than just what we do for a living; it’s what we want to do with our time, what makes us happy, and what fills us with a sense of accomplishment. Your purpose could be volunteering, writing, singing, acting, cooking, being a mother or father, being a loving spouse and the list goes on and on. When we find the thing we want to do the most, therein lies our purpose.

Rather than take years and years discovering the answers through trial and error, we can find what fills us with meaning by asking ourselves a few simple questions. These questions serve as the foundation for a greater understanding of ourselves as well as a springboard to our best life. By spending time to answer these five questions, you’re taking steps towards making your desires actualized.

1. How would you spend a day without limitations or restrictions?

Posed by Psychology Today as a “bonus day” unencumbered by necessary chores and tasks, this question is one of the most telling. It gets right down to the root of our individual soul, asking what lies there and what it requires to feel nourished.

The website recommends not focusing on leisurely activities to answer this question, but rather the things you would do if you were fully energized. What would you shift your focus towards on a day of endless possibilities? Hiking? Reading? Designing? Finding your purpose is finding your passion, so think about that perfect day and use your answer as your fuel to make it happen.

2. What do you want to be remembered for?

From the personal to the public, this question is geared towards the lasting impression you want to make on the world. You may want to do something for yourself at this moment, but how do you want people to feel inspired and enlightened by what you’ve done after you’re gone?

Success.com recommends writing an obituary for yourself (called an “autobituary”.) This allows you to take the perspective of someone close to you and describe in “their” words what you mean to them. Examples could be, “She was a wonderful wife and mother” or “He lived for his community.” Think about the role that most makes your heart swell with pride; that’s what you really want to be remembered for.

3. What values have shaped you over the years?

Oftentimes, we need to look to what we already know about ourselves to figure out what we don’t. Our values are the innate beliefs we hold dear to us that give us a firm grip on our reality. Without them, we’d be lost as to what makes us human. You may value trust and honesty, humor, creativity, openness, confidence, or compassion. There are many things which we consider to be at the core of what we want to see in ourselves and others. Look to your values to determine your purpose in life. If humor, maybe you want to start taking improv classes. If compassion, maybe you want to help an animal rescue. It all lies in what values you cherish most, so identify them and act on them.

4. What gets you in the flow zone?

Psychology Today defines flow as “being consciously in inner harmony with whatever you’re doing.” On their list of purpose-finding questions, they see it as an activity you do that makes you lose track of time. You’re not focused on anything around you; simply what you’re doing. It’s almost like the world doesn’t exist except to allow you to perform this task and enjoy it to the fullest. What grabs your attention so entirely that nothing else seems to matter? Is it swimming? Gardening? Photography? Find the thing that absorbs you for hours on end because that’s the thing you’ll want to stay absorbed in for hours more

5. What brought me joy as a kid?

It may be hard to know what we really want to do now, but what about then? Lifehack.org mentions that as we age, “we often stop doing the things we were passionate about as a child.” Do you still play with dolls or Legos? Do you still race cars or play dress up? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to “adult” those childish games. In other words, you can unlock the excitement of your childhood days by transferring the spirit of play into a mature form.

Dressing up in costume is a love of many cosplayers, so why not turn into your favorite superhero or princess? Building Lego structures as a kid could be turned into a love of architecture or building houses for the homeless. Come up with your own clever ideas using what all children possess in abundance — your imagination. Your purpose may have been right in front of your nose all this time.

These questions, and others, will help you find the purpose you’ve been seeking in your life. Your true purpose is a gut reaction so listen to your gut. It has a lot to say!

April 22, 2018
Should You Let Your Mind Wander When You Meditate?

Meditation is something that everyone experienced differently. When you first get into meditation, most people have a few preconceived notions about what it is, what it means, and how it should be done. These are ideas we’ve mostly picked up from TV, books, and movies that feature characters who meditate but, let’s face it, you can’t exactly trust screenwriters to define the world or we’d all be living a wild combination of action scenes and meet-cutes 100% of the time.

If you haven’t spent much time meditating yet, it’s probably not what you think it is. Meditation isn’t the immediate key to enlightenment and it won’t automatically fix all the problems in your life. What it can do is empower you to achieve your goals and solve your problems by focusing the mind and taking away the stress that slows you down.

There Is No ‘One Way’ To Meditate

When you see people meditating on TV, there’s usually some special pose, special breathing, and they may seem to have very strict rules about how and when to meditate. While it’s true that meditation is an important part of several organized religions, faiths, and philosophies, there’s no one way to meditate and it’s pretty hard to ‘do it wrong’. One of the best parts about meditation is that anyone can do it and it can be used to accomplish a nearly infinite number of goals.

You don’t need equipment, furniture, money, or a teacher to learn to meditate and you don’t need to join any particular religion or culture. If you choose to look into a few traditional meditation practices, these can help you and enhance your experience, but no particular technique or structure is required. Anyone can meditate and any time simply by sitting down and clearing the mind.

What Should You Think When Meditating?

There are many schools of thought on what the mind should be doing when you meditate. While everyone can agree that sitting quietly is the first step, what do you do afterward? Count your breaths? Count imaginary sheep? Is it more like falling asleep or focused thought?The answer is that it can be any of these things for you depending on what you’re meditating on. If you’re trying to solve a problem, start by clearing your mind of everything but what you want to be thinking about.

If you’re looking for answers or help making a decision, focus on the circumstances at hand and examine the situation from a calm, objective point of view to see if new solutions present themselves.Of course, if you’re just trying to relieve stress, you may simply want to clear your mind, relax, and let your thoughts go where they will.

Is It Okay If Your Thoughts Wander?

If done without focus, meditation can absolutely put you into that pre-sleep state where your mind is active and thinking but the thoughts are undirected and seemingly random. If you close your eyes and try to meditate and this is what happens to your thoughts, that’s okay.

What this really means is that you have a tangle of unresolved thoughts seething just under the surface of your conscious actions and meditation is the perfect way to sort yourself out. Let your thoughts wander but stay aware of what you’re thinking. Remember the thought path and follow trails that feel right or unsettled to start unraveling the knot of feelings and worries.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of different ways to meditate and to use meditation to your benefit. While you can definitely focus your mind to a knife’s edge and cut through problems and solutions with meditation, it’s also completely alright if your thoughts tend to wander instead. Either guide them back to your goals or use that wandering to explore your inner self and settle issues that have been wanting to rise to the surface. After a few weeks of sorting your thoughts, you may find yourself calmer, more collected, and able to focus more clearly because you and the meditation have cleared away the mental clutter of unsettled worries.

April 22, 2018
Five Ways to Help You Beat Depression

Overcoming depression is a long road, and often a difficult one. We understand! But we also know that it is not impossible. We want you to beat your depression and enjoy the beauty of your personality. So, to help you get started, here are five simple ways that you can start the fight against depression.

1. Talk to someone on a regular basis. Depression is something you can’t fight alone. Our natural tendency is to hide what we truly feel inside and hope no one notices. You may be ashamed of feeling depressed, you may think that no one will understand, or you may just feel uncomfortable opening up. However, you need someone to come alongside you. You need someone who will listen to you and encourage you. You need someone who will stick by you through thick and thin. Find a close and trusted friend or a mentor that you can chat with. Talk to a counselor if you feel it would be beneficial for you. Let them know how you feel. Don’t be afraid to truly express yourself. You need to be able to talk about what you are feeling.

2. Keep a journal. It is helpful to keep journal for many reasons. Firstly, journaling can help you express your thoughts and feelings even in a completely comfortable setting. A journal provides a space for you think through and sort out your emotions. Also, journaling helps you track your progress as you attempt to rise above your depression. You can write down how you feel and then write down what you know to be true, and compare the two. Sometimes we simply have to realize that our emotions are lying to us. When you journal, you can see how your emotions have changed or stayed the same over time. Journaling provides an amazing way for you to assess your emotions and compare them with reality.

3. Try to eliminate harmful situations from your life. Let’s be honest. Some situations, or even friendships, are simply not good for us. If you are finding yourself in situations that constantly make you feel unhappy, worthless, or guilty, you definitely want to consider removing those situations from your life wherever possible. Of course, we cannot get away from every unpleasant or difficult part of life. But if something – or someone – is continually tearing you down instead of helping you become a better person, that is a warning sign. Instead, you need to invest in friendships and situations that will encourage you and help you become a better person.

4. Stay healthy physically. When we are going to a huge amount of mental and emotional stress, it becomes very easy to ignore our bodies. But our bodies’ health and our minds’ health are inextricably linked. You need to make sure that you are getting enough sleep, drinking water, eating well, and staying active. If you don’t have much time for exercising, try little things, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking farther away from the shopping center. It would be a great idea to get your friends involved as well. When you are accountable to someone else – and when you have someone who will regularly check up on you – you are far more likely to take care of your body like you should.

5. Reach out. Working with depression makes it very easy to only focus on ourselves. But this will actually only make the problem worse. You will be far happier and feel much more fulfilled if you reach out to the people around you! Start by helping people in small ways – smile at a stranger, hold the door for someone, and say thank you whenever you can. As you become comfortable helping others, do so in bigger ways. You have the unique ability to relate to other people who may be struggling with depression as well, so use it! Encourage other people to talk about their mental and emotional state. Let them know it is okay to struggle and encourage them not to give up. Be a mentor.

Depression does not have to be a lifestyle. These five tips will go a long way in helping you break through and beat it!

April 22, 2018
Setting Goals Improves Self-Esteem and Confidence

There is nothing better for your self-esteem than setting and achieving your goals, it is also a fantastic confidence booster. Think about what made you happy and proud as a child, for many people the list includes: earning good grades in school, learning and mastering a sport, achieving an award, and doing the things you set out to do. All of these things include setting some kind of goal and achieving it. According to self-esteem-experts.com,

“Setting and achieving goals builds positive self-esteem. You send a clear message to your brain that says I am a person who is successful. The interesting thing is the message that the brain gets is the same whether the goal is large or small. When you achieve a goal you are building the neuro-pathway that says to the brain I AM A SUCCESS and the more you tell your brain this, the more you build feelings of confidence and positive self-esteem.”

The message of success and the feeling of self-esteem that is sent to your brain is the same whether you complete a very large goal, or even a very small one. You can give yourself doses of self-esteem whenever you need it by setting and accomplishing even small tasks. According to selfgrowthhacker.com, “By first accomplishing small wins, you’ll start building self-confidence in your ability to finish goals. This will build up your momentum which will allow you to take on larger goals.”

So how do you go about setting and accomplishing your goals? Here are some tips to complete your goals whether they are big or small:

Write Them Down

Emmitt Smith said, “It’s only a dream until you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.” Write down your thoughts, your ideas, your dreams, your goals, your inspirations. Writing them down helps you focus and it gives concrete evidence and support to your goals – it makes them more real and tangible because they are not just thoughts in your head. According to positivityblog.com, “A written goal brings clarity and focus. It gives you direction.”

Be Specific

A goal to do something big like graduate college, write a book, or learn a new language is a fine and admirable thing – but it likely won’t happen if you do not establish specific smaller goals that lead to that big accomplishment. Be specific and create a plan of action for your goals.

Be Realistic

If you have never been running a day in your life and you set a goal to run a five-minute mile in two days – you will probably be disappointed and fail to reach your goal. You must set goals that are realistic and attainable – setting hard goals is fine, but make sure you give yourself the time to work on it in order to achieve them.

Tell Others

According to Forbes.com, “Making yourself accountable to your friends and family is one of the best ways to reach your goals… When you tell people your goals, they will jump in the boat with you and help you get there. You will be shocked by the support you’ll get from your network.” Tell your friends, family, and co-workers of your goals and your plans – some may join you, and others will help be your cheerleaders in achieving your goals.

If you do not achieve some of your goals try to remember what psychologytoday.com says, “You can gain confidence simply by taking action towards your goal even if you don’t get the result you were looking for. Keep in mind that success is in the doing and not necessarily the result.” You will gain self-esteem and confidence in the setting, trying, and achieving your goals – all you have to do is get started.

April 22, 2018
Beauty and Aging: Defining and Refining the Beautiful Woman Within

It seems that we live in a youth-obsessed, appearance-obsessed society, yet if you ask a woman who is a few decades beyond young, she does not wish to go back to her twenties. We learn, with time, that beauty is not defined by the number of years we have lived or the size of a dress. True beauty is an almost indefinable quality, not even determined by the features on our faces. True beauty is a force that radiates from within.

Accepting the progression of time does not mean the beautiful woman is giving up on herself. It means she has accepted that she is uniquely beautiful. The beautiful woman puts her insecurities aside while she engages herself in life beyond external appearances. While engaged beyond the superficial, her light illuminates the worlds around her, enhancing her unique, natural beauty.

A Beautiful Woman is Her Own Best Friend

As a woman matures, she learns that she can choose to be her own worst critic or her own best friend. As her own best friend, she reminds herself that happiness is not an experience that will magically appear in the future. She finds happiness every day by living in the present rather than a past that cannot be changed, or a future that cannot be predicted.

The older, confident woman, has learned that life is a journey, and there is happiness to be found whenever she opens her eyes and her heart. She lives positively and attracts people with her positive energy.

A Beautiful Woman is Strong and Confident

A woman of a certain age has learned who she is. She no longer struggles to fit a mold created by someone else. She has gained experience and strength by living her life. She has learned to be comfortable and confident in her own skin. A beautiful woman knows there is no one else just like her. She is unique. She first heard this proclamation when she was very young, but did not truly understand until she gained wisdom.

A Beautiful Woman is Compassionate

The Beautiful woman is a good friend. She is reliable and willing to help others whenever she can. She treats people with kindness. She offers encouragement, and she cares about her community. She gives freely of herself to benefit others, and respects those whose views are different from her own.

A Beautiful Woman Chooses a Healthy Lifestyle

A beautiful woman understands that she will continue to age. She also realizes that many of the choices she makes in her life will determine how she ages. She can choose to remain youthful, or she can simply grow old. She decides to stay as youthful and healthy as possible because numbers do not explain who she is. Numbers do not define who she will become.

She chooses a healthy eating plan; she stays hydrated to protect her health and her skin. This woman exercises nearly every day, because she knows it will keep her body healthy and strong. She knows that her choices will allow her to feel younger than her years

A Beautiful Woman Knows Which Styles Work for Her

The beautiful woman is true to who she is, and this shows in her appearance. She has a style all her own. She has learned what works for her and what she should avoid. She knows how to dress for her shape and knows that she does not need to wear the smallest size to be beautiful.

She does not try to dress as if she were still in her twenties, but if there is an item she adores, she will not let her age stop her. The beautiful woman understands that fashion is an expression of self and will adopt the new trend if she feels it suits her.

A Beautiful Woman Chooses Wisely

The beautiful woman appreciates the difference between retaining her youth and looking younger. Accepting the progression of time, does not mean the beautiful woman has given up on herself. It means she has accepted that she is uniquely beautiful. The beautiful woman puts her insecurities aside while she engages herself in life beyond external appearances. While engaged beyond the superficial, her light illuminates the worlds around her, enhancing her unique, natural beauty. The beautiful woman chooses to live a life filled with health, harmony and happiness. The beautiful woman thrives within her beautiful life.

Sources:

http://www.bestselfatlanta.com/best-self-articles/beauty-anti-aging/embrace-your-beauty-at-every-age-and-love-yourself.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-carol-morgan/outer-beauty-vs-inner-bea_b_9585726.html

https://www.powerofpositivity.com/5-things-that-make-a-woman-beautiful-besides-her-looks/

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/inner-beauty

April 22, 2018
Small Visualization Techniques Which Lead to Big Results
Nowadays, most people who are looking to improve their lives have heard of the concept of visualization. However, most of us still have doubts about whether something so simple can actually work. By just thinking about, focusing on and visualizing the things that you want, can you attain them?

And then, consider the fact that sometimes, it’s actually quite difficult to pull up the images you want in your mind. The mind doesn’t necessarily want to move in the direction that you want it to move in. You might want to focus on the car that you want to buy but your mind starts thinking about whether you’ve turned off the stove or what you’re going to say to so-and-so when you meet them or what you should wear for your date that evening.

So how do you turn your mind towards the things that you want it to focus on? Here are a few tips:

Vision Boards

One great way to focus on the things you want is by using vision boards. This technique involves taking a board and putting pictures of what you want on it using thumb tacks. Then put the board in a place where you’ll see it every day.

This way, you don’t have to force your mind to think about the things that you want. They’ll just be in front of you.

You can make a collage of several things you would like to have in your life on your vision board. Decorate it with shiny stars and ribbons. Make it something you like to look at. Visualization should never be a chore or else it won’t work.

Paintings and Photos

Another great way to visualize is by putting up paintings and photos of things that you want in your home. Try to think of a way in which the paintings fit into the décor as well as represent what you’re looking for.
- Many people put up happy photos of themselves with their families. They may not realize it but these are visualizations of a happy family life.
- If you’re trying to attract a relationship into your life, try putting up paintings that speak to you of romance.
- Even something simple like a still-life of fruits can help you in your aim to eat healthy and lose weight.
Workspaces

Many of us decorate our homes to the best of our ability but we forget to do the same with our workspaces. Consider the fact that your workspace is where you spend the majority of your day. Then pick and choose the items with which you want to decorate it.

Many people only have cubicles. So their space is limited. Try to infuse this space with as much meaning as you can. Each piece that you use should speak to you of one of your aims.

If you want to make it as an artist, put up a miniature print. If you want to be a writer, keep copies of your favorite books. If you’ve published a few things, you can cut them out and frame them. Even if you’ve received some compliments along with your rejection letters, you can cut these out and put them where they’ll be visible.

The idea is to surround yourself with positive energy as much as you can.

Clothes and Accessories

Another great way to visualize is to wear clothes and accessories which remind you of your aim. Many people will tell you that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have. This is one great way of constantly reminding yourself what you’re aiming for.
- Wear suits if you want to move up the corporate ladder.
- Dress like an artist if you want to be one.
- To attract a relationship, wear all your great date-night clothes even if you’re just going to the mall or for a movie.
Even making just one of the above adjustments at home, at work or in your wardrobe can lead into powerful visualizations which will help you to achieve what you want.
November 16, 2017
Creating Financial Goals

In a perfect world, money would grow on trees and every financial obligation would be a breeze to overcome. Unfortunately for most, money is something that leaves our hands as quickly as it arrives, which can create stressful moments when unexpected situations arise. With trying financial times these days, how can we stretch our dollars to meet our needs and save for the future? My book, Trading Pain for Purpose, overviews successful strategies you can use to meet your financial goals as well in both short-term and long-term. It is incredibly easy to set yourself up for financial success if the proper planning and strategy is the baseline to your money transactions. By taking a look at these easy and structured steps, you can help save for your future financial goals.

Budget (if you haven’t already) – Before understanding what money you have to meet financial goals, you most importantly need to understand how much money you have to work with. Budget your paycheck and other income vs. rent, car payments and other non-negotiable bills. Determine where you can cut back (do you really need that extended sports package on cable?) and shop around for better offers (cell phone companies are always offering lower competitive rates).

Determine your goals – An obvious step, but what exactly are you aiming for financially? It can be one large goal like saving for a brand-new car, or it can be multiple objectives like paying off student debt while getting a new refrigerator. To start your financial planning, writing out all of your goals is the first step to meeting your needs.

Create a timeline- When do you expect to meet these goals? This doesn’t have to be a specific day, but break up your goals into short term (less than 6 months) vs. long term (1+ years) and be as realistic as possible. Prioritize the most important and time-sensitive goals that can affect you if not dealt with (mostly debt-related).

Establish an amount – How much do you need to meet these financial goals? Create a higher amount of savings for your short term goals, and a smaller amount for long-term if possible at the time. If paying off debt, take note to pay off the principal amount and not just interest. Many banks offer monthly auto-transfers to other accounts, which can be easier to manage for some.

Re-work your budget – Does this plan make practical sense? Add in another column to your budget to include financial goals. If you see your savings as an obligation, your future self will be thankful! Ensure that all costs are covered and that some extra money is available for emergencies. That extra cash can be spent on unnecessary items, or could build your future.

Be sure to monitor and re-visit your financial plan from time to time, as life can throw curve balls and change financial needs. As goals are met, there will be room to create newer and bigger ones. These simple steps will create a basic plan for meeting financial goals, and will allow you to work your dreams into a wonderful reality.

July 21, 2015
The Proven Power of Visualization

Have you ever had an imaginary argument with a friend or colleague? Often a reflection of an actual event, our brain will replay a scenario where we say what we wish we could have said – or we visualize what we will say next time. I find sometimes these imaginary conversations can get me so worked up, and I forget how long I’ve been in the shower or how I managed to not lose a finger while chopping a vegetable. Our brains are much more powerful than we know! The fact that adrenaline can build so much over a non-existent event proves so.

What if we could take the same concept of thought process and direct it towards something healthy? The power of visualization is a proven factor in achieving any goal – in relationships, in work and in health.

My book, Trading Pain for Purpose, takes a good look at the link between the power of visualization and obtaining your goals. For an overview, we will go over some cold hard facts on the effectiveness of the power of visualization.

Mental studies have revealed that mental imagery stimulates brain processes, such as perception, muscle memory and motor control. In laymen’s terms, this means your brain reacts to thinking about a task, just as if you were actually doing it. This phenomenon pays off for many, such as:

Athletes: Michael Jordan always visualized goals before playing out the same movement thanks to muscle memory activation. Many athletic teams stress mental imagery before facing competition to “warm up” muscles and activate the brain.

Gaming Champions: The reason chess players take a long time per turn? Visualization of the next move. Their brains exhaust every possible move until finding the one that works.

Public Speakers: Visualization of delivering a speech or heading up a business meeting can actually boost confidence, while assisting with reciting at the same time.

The power of visualization is directly related to one’s success. A huge difference between currently successful people and those striving for it lies in how to dream; successful people live life based on where they want to be, not based on current poor circumstances. If your goal is to climb the corporate ladder, let the visualized confidence and affirmation become proactive today as a part-time receptionist.

So how do we proactively use visualization to achieve goals?

-Continuity: practice makes perfect. Spend a few minutes a day to visualize your goals and where you want to be, and keep holding onto that dream each day.

-Associate affirmations with your goal to establish a positive belief system. Reminding yourself that you are powerful and intelligent can help you get to where you want in your career faster.

-Lastly, recognize the steps needed to get to where you want to be. Remaining stagnant never helps anyone, you need to create movement.

For a better perspective on the proven power of visualization and achieving goals, take a look at my book titled Trading Pain for Purpose. Before you know it, the power of visualization will become prominent in your life and will direct you to a life of success – all starting with your mind.

July 21, 2015
Overcoming All Odds: Beating the Obstacles Blocking Achievement

Obstacles come in all shapes and sizes, and can surface in every aspect of life. All of us are fighting a different battle of some kind that is trying to keep us from achieving goals and gaining success. Some are smaller and fixable (communication breakdown with a colleague or a highway closure on the way to work), and some seem impossible to overcome (physical limitations from an accident or rejection from several job interviews). Fortunately, whenever we are struggling with our own demons, we can always look to others who have beat all odds to achievement as a shining example of hope. Sometimes looking at another’s struggles can shed perspective on our current situations, and reassure us that anything is possible.

One of my favorite examples of someone beating all odds is none other than Albert Einstein. Einstein was a globally recognized American scientist who wrote the most profound and complicated scientific theories known to man, and changed the face of science forevermore. Even though he passed away in 1955, Einstein’s theory of relativity is still one of the two pillars of modern physics.

The best part of Einstein’s story is not quite in his successes, but the hurdles he had to conquer to achieve goals. Ironically, family and school professors thought Albert was a stupid and effortless child. Not speaking until the age of 4, Albert’s parents thought he has mentally slow. In school, Albert did not often speak or make effort in his homework, forcing teachers to believe he was lazy and would amount to nothing.

Einstein’s hurdles in education did not end in childhood – he failed an entrance exam into a Swiss polytechnics school the first time around and was accepted only because of an “acceptable” understanding of math and science. After graduation, Einstein searched fervently for a teaching career and did not land a job for two whole years.

Remove self doubt – you CAN do it!

The most amazing testament of Albert Einstein’s story is that for over 20 years he was a misunderstood individual who was deemed as unintelligent, when in reality he was working through equations and theories in his mind since an early age. Einstein later judged the teaching system as it did not allow for creative thinking.

If Albert Einstein had quit and believed he was useless, we would not have Quantum Physics and the Theory of Relativity today. Einstein’s theories changed the world, and fortunately he was alive to experience the fruits of his success in his latter years. His story is a beacon of light for those of us currently facing trials in achieving goals.

I strongly believe that any complicated trial we face means success is just around the corner. For more inspiration of overcoming obstacles and achieving goals in your life, take a look at my book titled Trading Pain for Purpose.

July 21, 2015