How To Use The MindBody Techniques On This Site For Maximum Benefit
We have 15 imagery techniques for you on this Web site - from anxiety to
spiritual connection. By taking a minute to read over these suggestions,
you will gain the maximum benefit from imagery.
First let's understand the importance and the difference between meditation
and imagery.
Meditation and Mental Imagery
In meditation you are witnessing the flow of mental and physical activity
within yourself . . . witnessing without holding onto anything . . . witnessing
and letting go. With imagery you begin to focus or zero-in on a particular goal
or problem.
Another analogy is that of a garden. While meditating, you are weeding the
garden of your mind. When that garden is weeded, you can then plant the seeds
of imagery. If you haven't done much weeding, your garden is likely to
grow both weeds and flowers.
Taming the Monkey Mind
The average person has about 15,000 random thoughts every day . . . or about
1 million thoughts in three months. Most of us run about 50% negative
in our thoughts, unless we're overly depressed or anxious, in which case we're
running 75% to 100% negative. Those thoughts become emotions . . . and those
emotions create rather solid MindBody states. In other words, those 15,000
random thoughts than we have each day dramatically affect both our physiology
and our mental state.
Putting It All Together
1. Try out the two meditation techniques on this site.
2. Practice your meditation for one minute before beginning any of the
specific imagery techniques. Whether you suffer from stress, pain . . . or want
to improve your love life, begin by quieting your mind. Learn to embrace the
present moment.
3. Please read Listening to Your Symptom by Martin Rossman, M.D.
under the Atlantis Articles Section (see page 1 of this Web site). By
learning to listen to your symptom, you can go much deeper, exploring the
symbolism that is unique to you, the symbolism that only your subconscious mind
can give you. Such symbolic work is truly at the heart of Mental Imagery.
4. Practice Embracing the Pain (see techniques - Pain
or Fear - Overwhelming.)
Once you have begun to quiet your mind and have zeroed in on the particular goal
or problem you are working on, you can design your own imagery ritual.
For example, if you have a problem with chronic pain, you could practice a
one-minute imagery ritual three or four times a day . . . or even every
hour on the hour.
Your ritual might go like this:
1. Close your eyes and take three deep relaxing breaths . . . for 5 - 10
seconds.
2. Practice your meditation technique for 15 seconds.
3. Practice the pain imagery technique for 30 seonds.
4. Take one deep breath and open your eyes.
If you can't afford to put one minute into your day every few hours to assist
you in reaching your goal . . . or in overcoming a problem, you need to look at
the possibility that some part of you is resisting change. These techniques are
proven and they work.
-- D.G.
Return to
Atlantis |
 |