"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust


'Imagine all my possible selves - thinner, fitter, organized, successful, etc. - as already within me.'

This is an excerpt from something I was reading at a site I was looking at a couple of days ago.

NLP techniques include visualizations as effective tools for change. Another technique or variation on this is affirmations such as suggested by Louise L. Hay in her highly successful book, You Can Heal Your Life. What is important though, in my opinion, is that when we do visualizations such as these that we KNOW it to be true vs. thinking it so.

I can visualize as much as I like but if my inner voices say – "Ya, right!" I can assume that all the visualization in the world won't work. Now when I can convince my inner voice that this is and can be the truth through enough repetition that is another matter. In the convincing though, I suspect that I may be employing new behaviours that make 'it' come true, sometimes at an unconscious level.

For instance, if I stand in front of a mirror (or not) everyday and repeat to my self that I am thinner, I am likely to make better decisions when it comes to what I eat. I may decide to go for more walks or exercise more.

The same applies when I do daily visualizations. Both techniques then can be effective IF done daily and with conviction. It will be important to become aware of our inner voices when we hear ourselves say "Ya, right!" or anything similar.

Once we become aware of those voices (or parts of ourselves) we can deal with them. Ask them what their purpose is in maintaining the doubt. What is important though, is having the skill to ask from an 'other than conscious' mind - because otherwise we are simply speaking to our conscious minds including the thoughts and belief systems that have brought to where we are in the first place.

How to do this!

Sit quietly and breathe very deeply and very slowly. Once you are completely relaxed, ask that part of you who doubts or questions the possibility for change what their purpose is. Relax and allow whatever comes, come, in it's own time. Do not judge it. Listen to it. Based on what comes up ask more questions or the same one "What is your purpose?" Avoid any judgment as to whether or not the information that surfaces makes sense or is valid. You will be surprised where you end up.

These I call AHA moments that create quantum leaps of faith. Such fun!

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. - Nelson Mandela


I was sharing with a dear friend the other day; someone I trust and care for. In our sharing I quoted a couple of people I have learned from and have impacted my life. She questioned why I do this - what makes them the expert? More importantly, why don't I simply state what I believe and honour that? This certainly gave me pause.

I realized I quote others because I felt that without crediting someone else I won't have credibility. "They" have stature and reputation that I in my mind, do not.

Hmm - so what does that say about me?

Perhaps it says I don't trust my own belief systems or perhaps myself. I didn't have faith that others might see my beliefs as having value. I wasn't walking the talk about owning my power.

In forming my beliefs I gather information and along with my current knowledge base, accept or reject the information that makes sense in my world. The information I accept must feel right and inspire me. Hands on experience, if available, will convince me, one way or the other. Life experiences, personal and sometimes those of others, are also measurements that are convincers for me.

With this new awareness of myself, I can now share what I believe with others, trusting myself, my gifts, my beliefs, my experiences. I can trust what I have to share has value, if not to all, certainly for some. I am good enough. I am credible. Whether or not others agree, is immaterial. I will listen to the opinions of others with an open mind. I will accept that what they believe works for them is as important as what I believe works for me.

So, folks - I have a voice and I own it! Now there, my dear, is an AHA!