It never ceases to amaze me how much power the imagination holds.
Last night, I was watching the latest episode of I Can Make You Thin, a new show on TLC where Phil McKenna talks about his methods for losing weight. This time he discussed how to use the power of your imagination to lose weight! As much as my creativity plays a role in my life, it never occurred to me to use it in this way. More often than not, we use our imagination to tempt us by wondering how delicious that chocolate cake will taste, but he suggests dumping worms on it (in your mind's eye) and then seeing how tempting it really is.
After thinking about this concept for a bit, I remembered ways I've used my powerful imagination for things other than just writing. I took a hiatus from reading popular fiction during college, because I barely had time to breath on top of my full course load and 2 part-time jobs. But I returned to it in full after my first miscarriage. That ability to escape for a while, to allow my mind and emotions to heal, proved to be wonderful medicine, but I think the most powerful help was being able to imagine a world where love and happily ever after still existed. Light to the darkness.
The technique of visualization, using your mind's eye to visualize a positive healing process, happy outcome, or your own special place of rest and rejuvenation, is widely encouraged by mental health professionals. The power of the mind can heal not just our mind but our body as well. It can work in the opposite direction too. Obsessively worrying about problems and imagining a bad outcome, while great for a book, is not so helpful in real life. In fact, it can prove to be extremely harmful in the long run.
Have you used your imagination for good lately?
Angel
PS Don't forget to check out the winners from last week below!
13 comments:
Angel, it was great seeing you this weekend!
Cool idea on the diet. I think I'll imagine a layer of poo on the next candy bar I want to eat and see if that works for me. :-)
I'm using it for bad right now. I'm imagining my health insurance company has an illness and they call the number on the back of their insurance card only to be told that number doesn't apply to them and they have to call a different number. In my scenario, their coverage will be denied.
In my own case, I'm imagining they'll precertify my physical therapy right away with no argument and I can keep the appointment I made for this afternoon before I realized I had to get them to agree to something their brochure says they cover. Grrr.
PM
You mean I can imagine my book done?! Is that all it will take?
Right now, I'm going to close my eyes and imagine a classroom full of students who read the assignment and won't roll their eyes at me. ::snort:: Talk about wishful thinking...
Right now I'm imagining that the room magically stops spinning. And that my doctor's appointment goes quickly and ends with a prescription that stops the merry-go-round. I'm in serious trouble if it doesn't. I have a bid proposal due today.
Instigator
Yay! I don't need precertification after all and my PT center is a preferred provider, so it's only a $15 copay. I am SO relieved. I can keep my 1:45 appointment this afternoon.
Now to call the pharmacy and get my prescriptions transferred. I'm imagining that going smoothly too.
PM
I'll have to give this diet a try. I can imagine worms or spiders on candy and chocolate and I know I won't eat it.
Eww! Poo on a candy bar? I guess I haven't thought of that, Rhonda. :-) Will have to try it.
Get well, Instigator!
Woo-hoo! Way to get your appointment straightened out, PM! Good luck with PT today.
Great post, Angel. I'm trying to imagine so much right now my brain is going numb. Lots of stuff going on. But... I truly believe in this process. Suggestion works miracles. I use this technique whenever I start to feel sick and convince myself that I'm not.
One thing you can do that really helps is give thanks for all the things you have yet to receive... things you wish for, things you long for... Bring the mountain to you. The more you do this, the more the things you imagine will come true. Right the mind. The rest will follow.
Hugs on being sick, Instigator! How did this happen? You were fine on Saturday!
Poo on candy bars. Hmm, Rhonda may be on to something. ;)
I too am imagining my book done. And imagining my revisions to the GH book finished. Somehow, I don't think it's going to work. :(
I'm a big believer in the power of creative visualization. If you imagine yourself thin, healthy, successful, finished with the book (that seems to be a popular choice here :-)), or whatever, then does the universe help you out or are you just mentally prepared to do what has to be done to make it so? I don't know, but it sure can't hurt. ;-)
LJ
It happens every so often for me :-( I get fluid in (on?) the middle ear and I get dizzy. Last time it happened Baby Girl was 1 and I had to call my dad and mom to come get us at the office because I couldn't get up off the floor let alone drive. I didn't want to let it get that bad this time :-) I have some decongestants and valium now though so if I can stay awake I should feel better soon.
Instigator
Along the same lines, I highly recommend that everyone read the Oprah pick called A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. It talks about how much damage we do to ourselves and others with the voices in our head.
Well, visualizing your book as being finished may not make it so, but visualizing how you'll feel when it is finished might motivate you to work on it when you don't feel like it. :)
Angel
Hi,
You have a really great blog. To grow to be a productive person the standard factor is always to have positive thinking.
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