Creative Visualization – Techniques for Manifesting What You Want

There are a number of books that have been written about creative visualization (and even some movies, including the recent The Secret), but all of them share one central assumption: that our thoughts, beliefs and feelings create (or at least influence) our reality. Proceeding from this assumption, the techniques are designed to make use of this creative power and direct it in a purposeful way. Most of them involve little more than imagination and will, or intent.

If you hope to have any success manifesting the things you want through visualization, however, you have to sincerely believe in the power of your mind to affect the world around you. Ultimately it is you, and not any formula or exercise, that achieves the results. It is also often helpful – necessary, even – to examine one’s beliefs in a lot of areas before growing frustrated with the techniques. For example, you may desire more money in your life while at the same time you’re convinced that it is dirty, unspiritual, or that any wealth coming to you will deprive someone else. You might also be convinced that you’re not a worthy person who deserves it. Any of these kinds of beliefs can sabotage the work because they inevitably create a stalemate: we state that we desire something while also maintaining, with equal conviction, that we musn’t have it. Visualization alone cannot bring bounty into our life if our own beliefs forbid abundance or fear it.

The most straighforward creative visualization technique simple involves setting aside a short period of uninterupted quiet time in which to focus, exclusively, on what we desire. A block of ten minutes works well; sessions of a longer duration can begin to feel forced. During this time we should remove all distractions. Noise, uncomfortably tight clothes, the concerns of the day, all these things can make our minds stray from the work at hand.

Begin by making some kind of statement of your intent. If you’re trying to bring more abundance into your life, you could say “I will now set aside my belief that I am poor and envision myself with all the money I need”. This sort of ritualized beginning helps us to focus and quiets the distracting inner voices. Then, spend the remainder of the time focusing on the object(s) of your desire. Feel the fulfilling events as if they were happening in the moment. Accompanying emotions of joy, relief, and victory can strongly reinforce the effect of what you imagine. Every effort should be made to create in image in your mind that is as close to actuality as possible.

Once the ten minutes or so have elapsed, let the images go but allow the emotional state to linger. You can judge the success of a visualization session by the feeling of satisfaction you may have afterwards. This is the sensation of energy being directed out into the universe with positive intent. At this point, let the work go and give it no more thought. Obsessing about it, or constantly examining your life for the results of your efforts, can promote an inner fear that the things you desire aren’t going to manifest. Let go of the exercise after you’ve completed it, as a demonstration of faith.

Some people find that they have an easier time visualizing things when they use words to accompany their imagination. This might be referred to as the mantra approach. If you try visualization this way, experiment with a few simple statements about what you’re trying to achieve. Go with the mantra that evokes the strongest feeling response; this is a sign that the words are inspiring, helping your mind to concentrate and allowing the energy of manifestation to flow unimpeded.