Wendy Betterini

Improving our self-image may seem like a daunting task at
first. How do we overcome years of negative reinforcement that
has convinced us we are not skinny enough, smart enough, or
rich enough? How do we reverse our belief that we don’t possess
the characteristics needed to become successful? We have to
change what we think of ourselves, literally.
 

Where did our negative self-image come from exactly? Our
subconscious minds believe what we tell them. Especially during
our formative years, we may have been taught to see ourselves in
a negative light. Anyone who has gone through high school knows
the pressures our peers put on us with regard to dress, social
behavior, and academics. Add to that criticism from teachers
and parents, unrealistic portrayals of beauty and success in
the media, and it's easy to see why we feel we're not good
enough.

But it doesn't stop there, does it? What begins as an external
influence then becomes internal as we pick up the trend of
negativity and berate ourselves with negative self-talk. We
call ourselves stupid, hopeless, or a failure. We try to force
ourselves into an impossible cookie-cutter mold of what we
think we should be. We berate ourselves for not being good
enough, strong enough, beautiful enough, and successful enough.


Over time, this results in a negative self-image that can prove
difficult to change. Difficult, but not impossible! There are
tools available to help us turn it around, and one of those is
creative visualization.

Creative visualization is a process that can replace our
negative beliefs with positive ones. This process does not
happen overnight, but neither did the development of our
negative self-image. The key to creative visualization is to
stay consistent with the practice. The goal is to prevent new
negative thoughts from entering the subconscious, while
eliminating the ones already present.

Implementing creative visualization is simple. First, find a
quiet, safe place where you can sit, or lie down, for an
uninterrupted period of time. You may choose to create a
soothing atmosphere by lighting candles and incense, or putting
on some relaxing music. Take a few minutes to do some slow, deep
breathing and release all stress from your body and mind. Close
your eyes and visualize your true self, the "you" you are deep
down inside. See yourself as a strong, beautiful, vital
creation of God, glowing with light, love, and happiness.
Really zoom in and see yourself in glorious detail. Don’t allow
negative thoughts to enter your head and tell you it isn’t
possible. Simply push those thoughts aside gently and know that
if you can see it mentally, you can create it in your physical
reality.

Take your time with this exercise, and make an effort to do it
at least once daily, preferably twice. At the same time, begin
making a concentrated effort to turn your negative self-talk
into positive self-talk. Praise yourself, encourage yourself,
build yourself up with your thoughts and words.

Be patient! Remember that it took years to build up your
negative self-image, so you can expect it to take time to
replace it with a more positive one. But because you are going
about it in a purposeful, conscious way, your results will be
much more powerful.

Consistently imagining yourself as you want to be will create a
new "truth" in your subconscious, and as your mind replaces the
negative with the positive, you will begin to see the shift in
yourself. A new, more confident you will emerge, giving you the
courage to succeed at whatever you desire.

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Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer who
strives to motivate, uplift, and inspire you to make your
dreams a reality. Visit her website,
http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com  for more positive thoughts to
help you on your journey.