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Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life

What if you can create the future of your own choosing using nothing more but the power of your imagination?

In 1978, Shakti Gawain became one of the very first people to posit that question, contemplate it thoroughly, and, fascinatingly, adorn it with an affirmative answer.

“Creative Visualization” is the book-length solution to the quandary.

Who Should Read “Creative Visualization”? And Why?

“Creative Visualization” is basically “The Secret” three decades before “The Secret.”

So, if you like Rhonda Byrne’s classic – or any of the many self-help books which aim to help you make positive changes to your life by teaching you how to think positively – you’ll certainly like Shakti Gawain’s pioneering book as well.

Read it if you want to find an encouragement and revolutionize your life.

Especially if you need some helping hand to take you out of the gutter.

About Shakti Gawain

Shakti Gawain is an iconic personal development and New Age thinker and author.

Born as Carol Louisa Gawain, she obtained a degree in fine arts and dance from the University of California in the mid-1970s.

Soon after – in 1978 – she published her debut book, “Creative Visualization” which has been a bestselling book ever since.

She went on to write few other classics of the similar kind, such as “The Path of Transformation,” “Living in the Light,” “Four Levels of Healing,” “Developing Intuition,” and “Creating True Prosperity.”

All in all, her books have sold more than 10 million copies and have so far appeared in editions in no less than thirty countries and languages.

Gawain is the co-founder (with Marc Allen) of the New World Library Publishing Company.

“Creative Visualization PDF Summary”

Remember Des’ree?

Of course you do.

And remember her 1994 hit about “the affirmative powers of self-confidence” titled “You Gotta Be”?

If not – here’s a reminder:

There’s a reason why we started our summary with Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be.”

Because that song is basically “Creative Visualization” put to music.

Uncoincidentally, we may add, since Des’ree actually wrote it while drawing inspiration from this very book to get over a painful break-up.

But, then again, she’s not the only one.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, numerous sports superstars – such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Carli Lloyd, Kerri Walsh Jennings… – use visualization techniques to improve their game.

And swear by its effectiveness!

Well, “Creative Visualization” is the book where it all started.

You already know the basic premise: think positively and positive things will happen; envisage what you want to do, and your body will move you forward to do it; visualize the finish line before the starting pistol has even fired, and you’ll get to it first.

But why should something like that work?

Well, think of it this way!

If you are a painter and you want to paint, say, a group portrait of some historical figures, you first have to see the final image in your head, then sketch their positions, and only then move to its execution.

Just the same, you can’t start writing a book if you don’t know how it will finish and it’s basically impossible to assemble correctly the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle if you don’t have the big final picture in your head at all times.

Well, the same is true with your life:

Let us imagine that life is a river. Most people are clinging to the bank, afraid to let go and risk being carried along by the current of the river. At a certain point, each of us must be willing to simply let go and trust the river to carry us along safely. At this point, we learn to ‘go with the flow’ — and it feels wonderful. Once we have become accustomed to being in the flow of the river, we can begin to look ahead and guide our course onward, deciding where the course looks best, steering the way around boulders and snags, and choosing which of the many channels and branches of the river we prefer to follow, all the while still ‘going with the flow.’

But – you may wonder – how does it work?

Or, in other words, does creative visualization has a surer scientific or philosophical foundation?

Well, according to Gawain, it does.

The key is to use the power of your “alpha waves” which originate from your brain’s occipital lobe during the minutes of “wakeful relaxation with closed eyes;” or, in more practical terms, just before you go to sleep, the few moments after you wake up, during meditation, or while you’re calmly listening to a flowing river or the wind rustling through the forest leaves.

Well, these alpha waves, according to Gawain, are the ones which connect us with the energy waves controlling the future, emanating and streaming through the universe around us.

And when we creatively visualize, we are actively participating in the dialogue between the energies.

Just like in love, the more you give, the more you receive back. Send care and affection, and the universe will respond to you caringly and affectedly.

As the Bible says: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Key Lessons from “Creative Visualization”

1.      Creative Visualization is the Art of Changing Your Life with the Power of Your Thoughts
2.      Three Prerequisites: Affirmations, Self-Love, and Belief
3.      Tips for Successful Creative Visualization

Creative Visualization is the Art of Changing Your Life with the Power of Your Thoughts

Picture this:

A colleague of yours is constantly taunting you in the office about minor things and it is obvious that he doesn’t like you.

But, do you: a) play out in your mind the quarrel you’re inevitably going to have with him in the near future; or b) think about a peaceful conversation you’re going to have with him after which you’ll transcend your disagreements become best friends.

B is, obviously, the better-case scenario, but, if you are like us, you are probably obsessed with A.

Well, the “creative visualization” technique says that you’ll reap what you’ve sowed, i.e., if you think about A, you’ll unavoidably get A in the end.

So, why won’t you start thinking about B?

Three Prerequisites: Affirmations, Self-Love, and Belief

If you have problem visualizing, then start with daily affirmations. You don’t have to see images. You can just talk yourself up. Think of Des’ree’s song and the way it sometimes makes you feel.

An important prerequisite for a successful creative visualization, is love. If you don’t love yourself first, you won’t get in touch with your energy. So, accept the outcome first – and then start visualizing.

Also – believe!

Because doubt is creative visualization’s greatest enemy.

Tips for Successful Creative Visualization

Few things you can do to make sure that your creative visualization will succeed.

First, quiet down your mind and set a clear goal before yourself. You can even play some music if that “quiets down” your brain.

Use all five senses and be as realistic as possible.

Also, don’t repress the bad thoughts that will inevitable come. Acknowledge them and try to meander around them. Otherwise, they will emerge victorious.

Finally, say it out loud: “I’m going to make this thing happen. You just sit and watch!”

Like this summary? We’d like to invite you to download our free 12 min app, for more amazing summaries and audiobooks.

“Creative Visualization Quotes”

Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart truly desires must come to you. Click To Tweet

We always attract into our lives whatever we think about most, believe most strongly, expect on the deepest level, and imagine most vividly. Click To Tweet

The clearer and stronger your intention, the more quickly and easily your creative visualization will work. Click To Tweet

We have to understand in a deep way that having what we truly want in life contributes to the general state of human happiness and supports others in creating more happiness for themselves. Click To Tweet

Once we have become accustomed to being in the flow of the river, we can begin to look ahead and guide our course onward. Click To Tweet

Our Critical Review

When it appeared in 1978, “Creative Visualization” launched a movement which, if not the phrase itself, made the philosophy behind it one of the most popular and most well-known in the personal development field.

Four decades – and countless of imitators – later, the book is still widely read and used in almost every single field of human endeavor.

And when a personal development book is as popular half a century after first seeing the day as in the first few years after it was published – then it’s undoubtedly a book which has struck a profound cord of the human nature.

So, even though we think that it’s just too New Age to tickle our fancy, we won’t try to discourage you from reading it.

Emir Zecovic

Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.