Do you believe that you can use mental imagery and affirmations to produce positive changes in your life? That it is a choice to be positive or negative? Can you be taught to think positive thoughts and visualize positive life outcomes?
About 6 years ago I began therapy for Anxiety. And during my therapy sessions and doing my own research I was introduced to the ideas of creative visualization. Wikipedia defines it as - "Creative visualization refers to the practice of seeking to affect the outer world via changing one's thoughts." I recall thinking - no way can I change my world by controlling my thoughts. Visualization can help me worry less? Be more positive? Intrigued, I researched and read and tested some of the positive thinking teachings. From what I can recall it was easier to be positive when not thinking of anything in a negative way. However, for me without repetition the visualization of positive thinking would not last.
I am back here many years later planning to revisit this entire line of thought. Can we control our minds to the point we are healthier people? Is the key to any disease inside ourselves and our own minds? Will being more positive ensure me to living my best life and feeling fulfilled as a person?
These are questions I plan to figure out the answers too. I've been depressed as of late. I know it, I can tell by my postings (journaling is good for the soul), and now I am going to do something positive about it. We all have hard times, but, need to push on through and make the best of them. I admire how positive many of you are and I want to be positive too. Since I am currently not working, I am going to re-read and re-train myself if that is possible to focus only on positive outcomes.
If any of you have good stories or ever successfully used visualization to retrain your way of thinking, please do share! And here is to happier posts from me in the future! :)
4 comments:
Visualization is a great way to train your mind to think more positively.
I recommend "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" to anyone who is depressed or caught in the circle of negative thoughts. I have bought many copies of it over the years at flea markets and yard sales to pass on to other people who are going through anxiety or depression. It's an amazing resource.
One thing to keep in mind when reading other's blogs is that even the "happy" people have down days. Good luck to you.
S.
I've used visualization in many years of music training. Before something will occur in the outer world, it must first occur within.
It's possible to "fake" the outcome, but the result is less than genuine and all who pay close attention know that that is true.
I've not read the book which Shauna mentions. I should put it on my reading list. And just as she mentions, happy people/blogs have down days too.
I am someone who fluctuates between slightly above neutral in my mood to dipping below the surface. I only rarely reach the upper limits of positivity (euphoria) which I guess it good.
A book which is excellent (imo) is "Zen and the Art of Archery." An easy, short read which can be read several times and always reveal something else to the reader.
Good luck on your path.
well...I honestly don't know. I think it will help your mood and then that can help stop stress and that can maybe help you deal better with the MS. It couldn't hurt certainly.
Just stopping by to see how you are doing. Hope you are feeling okay.
Very interesting post think that anything that offers a different perspective is good for getting the mind to think more positively.
Visualization sounds a good way to achieve that result.
Thanks for posting this.
Love,
Herrad
my partnere/carers blog
http://screamingrichie.blogspot.com/
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