* IMAGINATIVE INSIGHTS *

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