The Power of Guided Imagery
These visualizations are so vivid that they actually bring about positive changes in your body and mind. Guided imagery visualizations are usually tailored to help you accomplish specific goals, from sporting achievements to physical healing, to personal transformation, or deep relaxation...whatever your goal may be. One of the things I find fascinating about the use of guided visualization and guided meditation is that it is one area where modern science and ancient spiritual practices find some common ground. Guided imagery has been used for thousands of years by shamans and mystics around the world, but it also features in the more recent teachings of eminent psychologists such as Freud and Jung. In the modern era, guided imagery is the focus of a great deal of scientific investigation, and it is now widely used in the medical professions as an alternative healing technique. It is not a substitute for traditional physical or mental care, but it is often used to reinforce traditional healing practices. In fact, scientific study on the effects of guided imagery has been undertaken for conditions such as cancer, HIV, anxiety, wound healing after surgery, depression, memory, congestive heart failure, eating disorders, insomnia, pain management and osteoarthritis.
The use of imagery for relaxation and meditation causes the brain to release natural tranquilizing chemicals, which make guided imagery meditation a wonderful natural method for reducing stress related conditions such as headaches, high blood pressure, pre menstrual stress. Of course, guided imagery can be used for much more than psycho-physical healing. It is commonly used for deep relaxation, for experiencing a deeper spiritual connection, for accessing the subconscious mind and for unleashing one’s full potential. Almost any aspect of one’s life can be improved by the use of positive guided imagery.
Most people begin to salivate when they imagine this sensation. You literally have a physical reaction to the imagery. Here’s another great example. Imagine the sound of fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard (sorry to do that to you, but I’m trying to make a point). Bringing this to mind for just one second is enough to make most people cringe. These two simple examples reveal how mental imagery can affect you on both an emotional and physical level. If quick visualization exercises like these can bring about physical changes so easily, imagine how much you can benefit from say, a 30 minute guided imagery meditation, in which you listen to relaxing music and are guided to vividly experience pleasurable and positive experiences!
“The mind is everything.
"What the mind of man can conceive
The consistent use of positive guided imagery leads to far deeper changes than common daydreaming does...changes that can result in real healing, and real improvements in your quality of life.
"You can bring into your life more power, Unfortunately, many of us inadvertently use our minds to conjure up negative images. So much of our day is consumed with worrying about the future, or by mentally re-living uncomfortable events that are already in the past. Just as positive imagery can lead to positive results, negative imagery can lead to negative results such as increased stress levels, increased blood pressure, insomnia, a weakened immune system...the list goes on. This is why it is so important that you find time to introduce positive imagery into your life. By putting just a little time aside to experience a guided visualization, you can eliminate the effects of stress and negative thinking, improve your health, and boost your quality of life in many ways. Please click on the image below to download guided imagery meditations for total relaxation and peace of mind.
Learn more about the benefits of guided imagery meditation
This article is copyrighted, however you have permission to reprint this article on your website, in your e-zine or in your newsletter provided that that you include the following footer whenever you do so: Article by Christopher Lloyd Clarke from www.The-Guided-Meditation-Site.com. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
|
Imagine for a moment that you are biting into 
