|
 Overwriting Your Old Self-Image
by Chris Prentiss
Being happy is everyone’s ultimate goal. If we haven’t achieved it, it is due
entirely to what we believe.
The moment our brain became functional, we began to build an image of who and
what we believed ourselves to be. All the events of our life have helped create
the image of “Who we think we are.” Perhaps a parent told us from the time we
were very young, “You’re wonderful, and I love you.” Those words will remain in
our memory, supplying us with that information no matter what else happens to
us. Each time someone is critical of us, the words of our parent will still be
there: “You’re wonderful, and I love you.” It is a fortunate child who receives
that kind of positive image-building.
On the other hand, we may have had experiences that reinforced the opposite
belief. Perhaps when we were small, we were given a new toy that we broke
shortly after receiving it, and the parent who gave us the gift exclaimed,
“You’re so clumsy!” That criticism may have hurt us. Maybe we thought about it a
lot. Perhaps the following week we bumped into a vase, knocked it over and
someone said, “Watch what you’re doing. You’re so clumsy!” Afterwards, when we
dropped something or hurt ourselves, we may have thought, “I’m clumsy.” Although
many years have passed and we’ve forgotten the original incidents, those words
are there, feeding us from a subconscious level, saying, “I’m clumsy.” Our
parents were not the only ones who contributed to our self-image. Children,
siblings, friends, and other adults participated in our image-building.
The radiant being we truly are has likely become covered over with layers of
false images, misconceptions, and flaws that we have come to accept as the real
you. After a while, the outer covering—the seemingly real you—seems to be the
only you. Fortunately, we can correct that.
To give our perfect being the freedom to express itself clearly, we must replace
the perception in our mind that we are less than a perfect, radiant being.
Research has shown that our bodies and minds react to an imagined experience in
much the same way that they do to an actual experience. When researchers from
Harvard University tested subjects in a brain scanner, they found that seeing a
picture of a tree and imagining a tree activated the same parts of the brain.
One interesting study showed that people who just imagined doing a certain
physical exercise, without doing it physically, still increased their muscular
strength. We don’t need to be a scientist to know how powerful our imagination
is. I’m sure we’ve experienced our mouth watering when we’re hungry and we think
about certain foods. When we imagine a piece of chalk making a squeaky sound on
a blackboard, we may get a shiver up our back.
We can use our imagination to transform our subconscious mind, said to be 90
percent of our mental capacity, which in turn will transform us and our world.
Using techniques such as positive affirmations and creative visualization are
excellent ways to reprogram the subconscious.
Here’s one exercise you can do right now to help you be who you want and have
what you want.
For the next three nights, after you are in bed, lie quietly and imagine
yourself going through your day as the radiant, perfect being that already
exists within you, what I call your “perfect image.” Spend at least three
minutes doing this exercise. You may use more time if you wish. See yourself
reacting to events, talking with people, and fulfilling your goals as your
perfect image. See your goals being achieved.
Imagining your perfect day will powerfully influence your subconscious mind. As
you sleep, your subconscious mind is fully awake and functioning, creating, “Who
You Think You Are,” which will rapidly become, “Who You Are.” You will quickly
see the results of this simple but powerful exercise as you go through your day.
You will be more alert, more capable, more in charge, and more aware, producing
results that are more in line with what you want.
Chris Prentiss is the author of the book, Be Who You Want, Have What You Want:
Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. Visit:
www.PowerPressPublishing.com .
|
|
Advertisements
|
