* IMAGINATIVE INSIGHTS * created and published by J. Shoop - Your Visualization Coach TM

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude - 7 Easy Tips You Can Start Using TODAY for Elevating Both!

You may have heard the statement before, "Your attitude determines your altitude"...

But what does that really mean?

When I think of altitude, I think of "cruising altitude".  You know, after an airplane takes off, it steadily climbs on a predictable trajectory until it finally reaches it's cruising altitude.

This is the place where gravity is no longer a factor.  The air is clearer.  Things flow easier.  The views are spectacular, and forward movement requires much less effort.  (Some might even say that you're that much closer to heaven!)

To get to YOUR cruising altitude, there is a process, and it all begins with YOUR attitude.

Your attitude is the one solitary thing over which you have total control.  You can decide how you are going to see the world.  You can decide whether or not your attitude is going to support you, or hold you back.  And ultimately, YOU can decide what meaning you are going to give the events that occur in your life.

The highly-respected motivational speaker Jack Canfield teaches a concept called E + R = O.

The "E" stands for Events. 
The "R" stands for Responses. 
The "O" stands for Outcomes.

Jack says that if you want to improve the quality of your Outcomes, you must improve and control your Responses to the Events that happen in your life.  (And believe me, in life, "events" will happen!)

I'd like to offer you 7 tips that you can start implementing today to help improve your attitude, and elevate your altitude.

1)  Pause - Remember the old saying "stop and smell the roses"?  Well...stop means pause.

2)  Breathe - Nothing helps to foster mental clarity more effectively than a few deep, meaningful breaths.  (Take a few deep breaths now.)

3)  Question better - You should ask yourself these two very important questions, and ask them often;  "What's good in my life right now?" and when events happen, "What's good about this situation?"  And then with an open mind, let your brain search for answers.  Your brain will come up with great answers, because these are great questions.

Do the math... Great questions + great answers = great attitude.  Bad questions + bad answers = bad attitude.  What other great questions could you and should you be asking yourself?

4)  Remember more things that matter - Close your eyes for a moment, and think about a time when everything seemed to be going your way... Really focus on that feeling.  Did you know that it's possible to experience that feeling again?  (Hint...you're doing it now!)

5)  Forget things that don't really matter - Spend your valuable time focusing on what you want, and simply forget about what you don't want.  Anything that you put energy into expands.  And if you forget about it, it magically dissolves from your experience.  What do you need to forget about and let go?

6)  Smile more - "A smile costs nothing but gives much.  It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give.  It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.  None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it.  Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.  Some people are too tired to give you a smile.  Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give."  ~Author Unknown

Smiles are free, yet pay big dividends.  Your attitude ALWAYS improves when you share a smile.  And if you can let it become a laugh, you'll take your attitude to a whole new level.  Laugh often.  What does it take to make you laugh?

7)  Dream big - When you were young, your dreams were BIG.  But somewhere along the line, you may have had your dreams mocked, ridiculed, doubted, or even crushed.  I'm here to tell you that your dreams and your imagination are the keys to a lifetime of joy, fun, and freedom.  Keep your dreams alive, and spend time daily thinking about them and what actions your can start taking today in pursuit of those dreams.

I'd love to hear from you and what works for you when you need an "attitude adjustment"!  Please use the comment section provided below, or send me an email.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

The Law of Attraction Versus The Law of Reversibility

Lately, I've been pondering which of these two laws is more relevant in these times... The Law of Attraction or the Law of Reversibility?

Unless you've spent the past few years in total isolation, its very likely that you've heard something about the Law of Attraction (LOA).

The basic premise of this Law, is that like attracts like.  In other words, the circumstances you are experiencing in your life are as a direct result of your dominating thoughts, both conscious and unconscious.  Therefore, the Law is at work at all time, regardless of your awareness of it or attention toward it.

In 2006, a cinematic release entitled "The Secret" helped to catapult the Law of Attraction into the mainstream.  Many people that were newcomers to the concepts of the Law mistakenly interpreted the content to mean that all you needed to do in order to fulfill your desires was to "ask" for something, focus your attention on it, and **POOF**, you'd magically get it!

...Just make a wish!

And sadly, many people (maybe even you?) have discounted the validity of the Law because they've failed to achieve measurable results from their initial attempts at applying the concepts in their lives.

But it's not your fault...

The problem is that you weren't taught anything about the Law of Reversibility.  And without a working knowledge of THIS Law, your results are likely to be marginal, at best.

Yet it's likely that you've never even heard of The Law of Reversibility, right? 

It's somewhat difficult to describe, but when you officially "get it", your life may never be the same!

First, you must understand that all transformations of force are reversible.  (Heat is an example of a transformation of force, as is electricity, or controlled imagination, and so is cause-and-effect).

For example, if friction (a transformation of force) can produce electricity, then electricity can produce friction.  Is this making sense to you?

To put it another way, if a physical fact can produce a psychological state, then IN REVERSE, a psychological state can produce a physical fact.

And why does this matter?  Well...think of the implications...

If you knew exactly how you would feel if you were to realize your dream or objective, and could replicate that feeling mentally, physically, and psychologically (controlling your state of mind), then the Law of Reversibility would automatically cause your objective to be realized.  Make sense?

Your job then, is to assume and sustain the exact feeling associated with your dream or goal being fulfilled.  And in order to sustain that feeling, you must live, move, and BE in that state of belief...

The belief that you already ARE or HAVE that which you desire.

"Get it" yet?

Instead of just making a wish and concentrating on your desired outcome, I want you to assume the feeling of your dream fulfilled, and then continue to practice experiencing that feeling until that which you FEEL becomes your reality.

I'd love to hear how you are successfully using these Laws to accomplish your goals!  Please leave a comment in the comment section provided below.  For more information on combining the Law of Attraction with the The Law of Reversibility, subscribe to this blog, or send me an email. 

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

7 Ways to Have Faith! (Even When It Seems Like There Is No Tangible Result From Your Efforts)

One of my favorite definitions of Faith is, "Belief...without proof".

It makes me wonder, where along the line did we decide that in order to believe something, we must have proof?  I suppose that we've been conditioned to demand proof, because either someone or something has violated our trust in the past...and we continue to carry that memory into our present experiences, often to our detriment.

My intention for you today, is that you awaken your Faith in all things positive.  And I'd like to share some thoughts with you on how to accomplish this.

1)  Tune out negativity - Negative people, negative programming (television), and negative information of any sort only inhibits your ability to have faith.  Sometimes we can't avoid negativity, but we certainly can choose not to wallow in it.  Disengage from negativity whenever given the opportunity.

2)  Flood your mind with positive thoughts and images - I firmly believe that what we focus on, expands.  (For good or for bad).  You have ultimate control over your thoughts and how you choose to see things.  Focus on what you want.  Be the interpreter, not the interpretation.  How much time did you spend today thinking about who you want to become, and what you want to achieve?

3)  Remember that ALL progress begins with that elusive first step - As long as you are pointed in the right direction, steps that seem minuscule in the moment will still lead you toward your objective.  Most people tend to over-estimate what they can accomplish in a short period of time, and under-estimate what they can accomplish over a long period of time.  Be patient in the knowledge that even a small step forward is still moving you forward.

4)  Don't give up too soon - The majority of people give up far too soon, at the slightest sign of adversity.  Often, they were just inches short of accomplishing something great.  This approach is not for you.  Persistence and commitment, by law, will produce positive results.

5)  Link absolute certainty to your objective- Remember that our subconscious mind cannot distinguish the difference between events in reality and those occurring in our imagination.  Recall something that you firmly believe as fact, and replicate that feeling of certainty while envisioning that which you aim to accomplish.  This is known as applied faith, and is a little-know secret to fulfilling your desires.

6)  Be like a tree - In the early stages, most growth is occurring below the surface, invisible to the naked eye.  Rest assured that your applied faith and inspired action steps are causing the growth of some powerful and far-reaching roots.  And it is those roots that will support you as you break through the surface, growing tall and mighty!

7)  Remember that Faith is a state-of-mind - Subsequently, faith is totally under your control.  No outside force can overtake your thoughts, unless you grant permission to do so.  Knowing this, you can develop faith through the continuous repetition of thought.  And when the object of your faith becomes the dominant thought in your mind, it's physical equivalent will instantly materialize in your life.

In the immortal words of Dr. Napoleon Hill, "Faith is the eternal elixir which gives life, power, and action to the impulse of thought".

Have faith in yourself, and have faith in the Infinite.

I'd love to hear how you've successfully applied faith in your life, especially at times when your faith was tested.  Please leave a comment in the section provided below!

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

The Key to Happiness Has Finally Been Found! (In a Cup of Coffee?)

I'd like to share this little story with you, from an unknown author, about how "Life Is Like A Cup Of Coffee".  I hope you enjoy it, and please remember to post your comments in the section provided.

"Life Is Like A Cup of Coffee"

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university Professor.  Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the Professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups...porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal...some plain-looking, some expensive.

He told his guests to help themselves to the coffee.

After everyone had a cup of coffee in hand, the Professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheaper ones.  While it's normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, THAT is source of your problems and stress."

"Be assured that the cup adds no quality to the coffee.  In most cases, it is just more expensive, and in some cases, even hides what we drink.  What all of you really wanted was coffee...not the cup.  But you consciously went for the best cups.  And then, you began eying each other's cups to see who had the best one."

Now consider this...

Life is the coffee.  the jobs, money, and position in society are the cups.

They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change, the quality of life we live.  Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee.

Savor the coffee!  Not the cups.

The happiest people don't always have the best of everything.  They just make the best of everything.

Live simply.  Speak kindly.  Care deeply.  And love generously.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

"Not Only Do I Knock 'Em Out, I Pick The Round!" - Muhammad Ali

Athletes have known it for decades... Visualization is the secret key to championship performances.

And interestingly enough, championship results are not exclusively reserved for athletes.  You can successfully use the very same creative visualization techniques in your own personal and business life.

When I read this incredible quote from Muhammad Ali, "Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round!", I felt compelled to dissect it. 

This brief, yet insight-packed statement embodies vision, confidence, faith, and even humor.

The first part, "Not only do I knock 'em out" presumes that Ali already knows the outcome...a knock-out.  There is an air of confidence in his words that almost suggests that there is no other option.

Then he backed his words with faith, desire, and action, and a knock-out was the usual result.

But the REAL power in this quote is in the second part, "I pick the round!" 

This is the purest example of creative visualization.  Ali visualized the round in which the fight would end.  The precise round!  And prior to every fight, Ali would use his imagination to mentally rehearse how the fight would go, when and how it would end, and finally, he envisioned the referee raising the champ's arms in victory.

But was visualizing the victory enough?

No.

What if Ali entered the ring, with all of his creative visualization and positive expectations, but failed to box?  You can bet that the fight would end pretty quickly, and Ali would likely end up on the canvas wondering what day it was!

Don't make the error of thinking that visualization is enough for you to accomplish your goals. 

Visualization is the starting point, yet to successfully achieve your goals, you must blend those positive mental images with faith, desire, and a plan of action.

Many mistakenly think that the "Law of Attraction" will magically kick in, and somehow effortlessly deliver their wishes.

Sorry, Charlie... It doesn't work that way.  In order to achieve your desires, you need to complete the formula.

The formula works for athletes, and it will work for you.  In ANY endeavor.

Imagine a result or outcome that you want and the believe that it can be accomplished.  Hold that vision with positive expectancy, decide how bad you want it, and then get into action!

Then, knock 'em dead, kid...

And don't forget to pick your round!

I'd love to hear how you have used creative visualization to accomplish goals, solve problems, or improve your circumstances. Please leave a comment in the section provided below.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

Obama says; "The Future of Our Economy Relies on the Imagination of Entrepreneurs."

Now I'm not one to regularly talk about politics, but this particular statement from our President really grabbed my attention!  

That's not to say that I don't have educated opinions on political subjects, but for the most part, I like to keep those opinions private.

The sad truth is that sometimes people may pass judgment based solely upon one's political affiliations.  I prefer to form character assessments by basing them on my personal or relational experiences with someone...not necessarily whether they are Independent, Republican, or Democrat.

Recently, our President made this profoundly accurate statement; "The future of our economy relies on the imagination of entrepreneurs."

I could not agree with this sentiment more completely!

Economic recovery will never result from watching the evening news.  It will not result from blaming the policies of our former or current administrations.  And it will definitely not result from "doing what we've always done".

New and innovative ideas will be required.  Optimism will be mandatory.  And imagination will be relied upon more than ever.

It is true that our past failures have got us to this point, but they do not have to dictate how we respond going forward.  In a down-turn, it can be easy to throw in the towel, but we must not! 

We need to look at our mistakes, examine them closely, and ask ourselves, "What is another use for this failure?"

Only then, can we activate our imagination - The key to creating positive changes for our economic future.  When President Obama referred to entrepreneurs, he was talking about you!

Even if you do not consider yourself to be an entrepreneur, you certainly possess characteristics that are entrepreneurial in nature.  If you will be willing to take risks and do things differently than you have in the past, you are by definition, an entrepreneur.

If you will be accountable for your personal responses and actions in this down-turn, you are an entrepreneur.

But are you relying upon your memories, or your imagination?

It's easy to get caught up in what's happening now, or what happened yesterday.  But it will take your vision and imagination to determine what will happen in the future.

Imagine if you will, that all of your needs are met.  Imagine that you have limitless resources at your command.  And imagine what you would be doing if there were no one telling you that "you can't do it".

When you have a clear mental picture of the way that you want things to be, hold that picture in your mind and focus upon it with intensity.  As you visualize your intended outcome, think back to a time in which you felt prosperous...a time when money flowed to you freely, and you were confident in your ability to produce and provide for yourself and your family. 

That time will certainly return, if you will commit to doing your part.

Wake up your inner entrepreneur.  Use your imagination.  The future of our economy depends on you.

I'd love to hear from you and how you are using your imagination and/or creative visualization to insulate yourself from the effects of the current economic situation.  Please use the comment section below, or send me an email.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

Hollywood Reveals The Secret to an Oscar Winning Performance...Creative Visualization!

When you think of The Oscar's, what comes to mind?

Glitz, glamour, and red carpets?

Stretch limousines and the best-and-worst dressed?

In all honesty, my fascination with the Academy Awards is limited to one very specific insight;

Oscar winners rehearse a lot.

Not just a lot, but perhaps more than you or I could ever imagine. 

Through dedication and persistent practice, the best actors actually seem to become the characters that they portray.  And they FULLY understand the importance and significance of "the dress rehearsal".

And when stripped of its mystique, creative visualization can be accurately described as a "mental dress rehearsal".

In the dress rehearsal, an actor will play out their part, exactly as if it were their actual performance.  They see the action, use the same words, and instill the same emotion and physiology in every scene...just as they would in the final take.

Likewise, with creative visualization, you will think of an intended goal or outcome, and then you will imagine how things will be if that outcome were already achieved.  You want to see it as being achieved, using the same words that you would use, while instilling the same emotion and physiology as you would if your goal was realized.

And then you rehearse.  And you rehearse some more.  Not occasionally, but DAILY.  Not once in awhile, but literally as often as time will permit.  The repetition is where the skill and the magic are created.

Try this exercise...Take a moment to think of an outcome that you aim to experience.  Specifically, fix that outcome in your mind.  (Let's say, if you were an actor, that outcome might be to "win the Oscar for Best Actor").

If I were that actor, I would close my eyes and imagine arriving at the auditorium in my stretch limousine.  I'd see myself stepping out of the limo onto the red carpet in my Armani tuxedo while the paparazzi snapped off dozens of photos of my arrival.  I'd hear hundreds of fans cheering and calling out my name.  I'd then go on to picture myself sitting in the audience amongst my peers, in eager anticipation of the main event...the nominees for best actor in a motion picture! 

And finally, as the crowd roared, I would gracefully make my way to the stage as they announced "and the Oscar for Best Actor goes to..."

Can you picture this scene in your mind? 

Now try to visualize an outcome that YOU want to achieve.  Add as many specific details as you can.  Hear the sounds that you would hear.   See the faces that you would see.  And feel the emotions that you would feel.  When you can blend emotion and certainty with your visualization, you trigger the Law of Attraction, and your goals are literally attracted to you like a magnet.

Most importantly, mentally rehearse OFTEN!  Visualize your successful accomplishment again, and again, and again.

The secret to your best performance is the effective use of creative visualization.  And the clearer you can make your visualization, the sooner it will materialize in your world.

Have you utilized creative visualization to achieve a goal or realize a dream?  I'd love to hear your experiences, so please leave a comment in space provided below.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

Trust - How To Create and Sustain Trust In Your Business and Personal Relationships

The dictionary defines trust as;  the reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc.,of a person or thing, confidence.

Wow!  Let's break that down...

Wouldn't YOU like to be known as being reliable, having integrity and strength, combined with ability and surety?  Those are all excellent, positive character traits that you would be well advised to adopt and incorporate into your daily experience.

We each have our own individual and unique definition of trust.  One's trust level in others will be shaped by both their past experiences and their future expectations.

I define trust as the positive expectation that the person I am entrusting will do the right thing (without being told to do it) and not just because I WANT them to, but because in their heart they know it it the RIGHT thing to do.

In this article, I will share some ideas on how you can become more trusted and trustworthy, and it all starts by giving trust.

You've heard before that if you want more love, give more love.  If you want more happiness, help others to find happiness.  The same approach to trust will help you create and sustain trust in your business and personal relationships.

Here are some more ideas to help you to be more trustworthy, starting today -

1)  Be likable.  A pleasing personality creates a foundation for building trust.  Treat others as you would like to be treated, and do it with sincerity and a smile!

2)  Be interested.  Displaying genuine interest IN others makes you more interesting TO others.  And reciprocal interest is a key ingredient for sustainable trust.

3)  Keep your commitments, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem at the time.  Be consciously aware of your words and what you commit to doing - AND THEN DO IT!

4)  Be honest.  When you tell the truth (even when the truth hurts) you position yourself as credible and trustworthy.  And if you will practice telling the truth FASTER, others will appreciate your integrity and be more willing to share their feelings and desires with you.

5)  Be compassionate and empathetic.  When you seek to understand PRIOR to seeking to be understood, you open a channel of communication that allows trust to easily flow back-and-forth.

6)  Be fair and consistent.  When others understand and realize that you care and that they can count on you for predictable, reliable, positive behavior...everytime, you will be viewed as one to be trusted.

7)  Be accountable.  Hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone might even expect from you.  When you follow through at this level, trust develops naturally and effortlessly.

You can increase the likelihood of positive future outcomes by visualizing and expecting the best from others, and by being your best.

Your personal character is a perpetual work-in-progress.  Practice being trustworthy, and when faced with ANY decision...DO THE RIGHT THING!

I'd love to hear ideas on how you've effectively built trust in your relationships, or how you have overcome any trust-related issues!  Please use the comment section provided below.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization CoachTM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

Your Net-Work Affects Your Net-Worth! How to Identify and Connect With The Right People to Help You Upgrade Your Network!

The legendary personal development guru Jim Rohn coined the phrase, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with"...

Yikes!  Now let me think about that for a minute...  Who are the 5 people that I'm spending most of MY time with?

When YOU think about your current network of friends and co-workers, who among them is supporting your personal development and growth?  Any of them?  None of them?  All of them?

For most of us, there are a least a couple of people in our daily experience that we could easily label as less-than supportive.  (Heck, they might even be living under the same roof!)  And I'm not suggesting that you immediately stop associating with anyone that does not support your personal or spiritual growth...(Or wait...maybe I am?) 

Yet what I am suggesting is that right now it is easier than you may have ever thought possible to improve the quality of your network, and your associations.

But exactly HOW do you "increase your average" and elevate the quality of your network?

Quite simply, by associating with more educated, more intelligent, more talented, and more supportive people.  And by spending more and more of your irreplaceable time interacting with them.

The virtual explosion of social networking has helped to create an exciting new era of transparency - and there is no end in sight. 

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. are literally obliterating the gap between YOU and the people and mentors that could help you to upgrade your personal or business networks.

And even more important than the incredible access and transparency that exists today, is the blinding speed with which you can begin the upgrading (or overhauling) of your network!  And the place to start is in your current sphere of influence.

Today, commit to asking the people in your world this question..."Who do YOU know that I need to know?"

If your closest friends or colleagues don't have any immediate suggestions, visit www.google.com and begin searching under topics that interest you.  Find out WHO is teaching them.  Visit the social networking sites listed above to locate experts in your field of interest.  Request to be added as a "friend". 

For some fantastic ideas on some of the the do's and don'ts in social networking, visit Mari Smith's outstanding blog www.whyfacebook.com .

Before long you'll be on your way to making the perfect connections to upgrade your network!

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM

J. Shoop, aka Your Visualization Coach is an expert in the field of creative visualization.  He is a personal coach and the author of "The Other Secret - The Secret Key to The Life You Want by Creating, Attracting, and Connecting With Your Ultimate Mastermind Group".  His mission in life is to help others to find happiness.  For more info on his services and to connect with him, send an email to jshoop@jshoop.com.

Creative Visualization Doesn't Work...Unless You're Doing It Right, and Doing It Often!

The "right" way to visualize is a very personal thing.

The basic elements are to:

1)  Start with the right mindset,
2)  Create a clear mental image or picture of your intended outcome and hold your focus upon it,
3)  Allow your body and mind to experience the emotions and feelings that would be associated with achieving your desired outcome, as if it had already happened.

Every now and then, when I'm interviewing a new coaching client, the topic of creative visualization will come up.  They sometimes tell me things like "Creative visualization doesn't really work for me", or "I don't really believe in creative visualization".

Does this sound like you?

Before I discuss the key ingredients for success with creative visualization, I want you to consider those two responses -

- "Creative visualization doesn't really work for me"
- "I don't really believe in creative visualization"

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to quickly realize that both of these responses are actually a mindset problem, and not a creative visualization problem.

Let's think back to the immortal quote by Henry Ford - "If you think you CAN do a thing, or think you CAN'T do a thing, you're RIGHT!"

If you are adopting the limiting belief that creative visualization doesn't work, then that will become your reality.  But the best news is that the opposite is also true...

If you believe that creative visualization works, then it ABSOLUTELY will work for you!

But HOW do you adopt this new belief, (or for that matter, any new belief)?  You must start by observing and then experiencing proof...both social and physical, and then by practicing creative visualization often.

First, let's tackle proof...

You already know that ALL things are created twice, first in the mind and then in our physical reality.  This is the EXACT formula for success with creative visualization.  Just try to think of anything in your existence that did not originate from a thought in someone else's mind...it simply cannot be done.

And here is some social proof...

Everywhere around you, you are hearing about the Law of Attraction.  And there is certainly no shortage of people or information available on the subject.  Some of the discussions are clever marketing and hype, but the baseline premise is that YOU ATTRACT WHAT YOU FOCUS YOUR MIND UPON.

That part is definitely true. 

And therein lies a critical key to success with creative visualization...adopting the mindset that creative visualization DOES work, and then by practicing visualization often. 

If you are relatively new to creative visualization, I'd suggest that you take up a bit of study on the subject.  There are many excellent resources available, and one of my personal favorites is a book written by Shakti Gawain, simply titled "Creative Visualization".  You can find it on www.amazon.com or on her website www.shaktigawain.com .

This little book provides numerous tips and techniques that you can begin incorporating into your daily routine.  I highly recommend it for helping you to learn how to create clear mental images, understanding the relationship between your thoughts and your outcomes, and how to clear your mind of limiting beliefs which may be inhibiting your success with creative visualization.

Finally, you must emotionalize your visualization in order to create a vibrational match between your imagined desire, and the physical equivalent of that desire.  For more insights on adding emotion to your visualization, jump to the archive section of this blog and review "Supercharge Your Visualization, Parts 1 and 2".

So today, adopt the new mindset that creative visualization DOES work, and that you are going to practice often.

Create first with your mind.  Think about what you truly want to do, be, or have.  Then focus your attention upon that thought, and finally, mix mental pictures and physical feelings with your thoughts.

I'd love to hear about the successes that you've had with creative visualization and any other techniques that you are using to improve your skills.  Please leave any questions or comments in the area provided below.

Until next time, be creative!

J. Shoop
Your Visualization Coach TM