Visualization works.

Let there be no doubt about it.

The Power that flows through every one of us responds to what we ask for. That’s why people often say, “You’d better be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.”

There is something awesome, but also potentially dangerous about visualization.

Think about it. When we use our imagination to picture what we want, and then use our will to focus on that image, we are in tune with Infinite Intelligence. The conscious use of this high power attracts resources to us from near and far.

So, we can do some damage if our visions are the idle ramblings of an unsettled mind or our desires are the unexamined ravings of a confused heart.

I learned this the hard way… twice

Several years ago, I thought it would be romantic and wonderful to live in Malibu in a house beside the ocean.

But…I didn’t create a picture of exactly what I wanted.

So, guess what happened?

I ended up in a tiny condo on the water. The ceilings were barely taller than I am. The windows were always dirty. I had to get small furniture. And the water would often pound underneath the floor.

It was not a pretty picture… and I was not a happy camper.

That was Strike 1 in my efforts to get the home of my dreams.

I quickly figured out what had gone wrong. I had not been specific enough about what I wanted. So, I started working on creating a clearer picture in my mind.

Well, apparently, I didn’t get clear enough because the next place I found myself living was above a canyon.

This time, I didn’t have to worry about water hitting underneath the floor, dirty windows, or cramped space. But the house was sitting near a big cliff, which ended up creating a huge problem for me because I have dogs. Every time I let my dogs out, and I was terrified that they were going to fall off the cliff.

So, the canyon house was Strike 2.

Carefully examine your picture

All too often, people do what I did…

We ask for things before we stop and think through what we really want.

In her excellent book, Your Invisible Power, Genevieve Behrend wrote:

“If you train yourself in the practice of deliberately picturing your desire and carefully examine your picture, you will soon find that your thoughts and desires proceed in a more orderly fashion than ever before.”

What do you think the most important word in that passage is?

It’s “If” because most people won’t take the time to do this. We don’t train ourselves to regularly and deliberately picture what we want. And when we do, we don’t carefully examine every aspect of the picture.

I hit a home run!

So, what did I do when I was living in the canyon, always afraid that I’d lose one or more of my dogs?

I created yet another image of the home I wanted, but this time I practiced examining every detail of the picture…

I got an idea of a beautiful one-story home on the water. It was large enough for me to be able to live and work comfortably and it had extra space for visitors. It also had plenty of room for the dogs. I also wanted it to be peaceful without being too remote.

Well back then, I would often visit Cynthia Kersey on Whidbey Island. And one day, on a whim, I googled “luxury waterfront homes Whidbey Island, ” and the third listing caught my eye.

I watched the virtual tour, and I felt like the house was made for me. It was everything I had been visualizing!

I made an appointment to see the house, and I fell in love with it immediately. Then, I looked at the asking price, and it was a lot more money than I wanted to spend on myself.

Thankfully, Bob kept urging me to get it, so I went back to see the house a couple more times. I fell more in love with it each time I saw it.

So, I bought it, and I love it just as much today as I did then.

I have learned my lesson. I know that if you want to receive what you want, you must ask for precisely what you want. You can’t be vague and general. You’ve got to get as detailed as possible so that you don’t fall short of your desires.

Train yourself to be precise

If your visualizations aren’t working out the way you’d like, deliberately picturing your desire may be the step you’re missing.

Follow these three steps to make sure you’re using visualization, or what I like to call visioneering, effectively:

1. Write down what you want—your goal, your dream—in as much detail as possible.
2. Read it and rewrite it every day—twice a day preferably. Each time you do it, see, feel, and hear every detail of it. Immerse yourself in the environment. Live into it.
3. As you’re doing this exercise, keep asking yourself the following question over and over: “Is this really what I want?” That is carefully examining the picture.

I also created a complete visioneering checklist that walks you through the entire visioneering process.

You can download the checklist here. If you invest the time in taking the steps outlined, I promise the payoff will be huge.

Now, I’d like to hear from you…

Have you ever made the mistake of being too vague when practicing visualization?

Has visualization ever helped you achieve a major goal, like getting your dream job or healing a relationship? If so, tell us about it.

What other thoughts or feelings did this post trigger in you?

Leave a detailed comment below to let us know.

Thank you so much for reading this and sharing your thoughts and experiences. It enlivens this discussion and can make a big difference in someone else’s life.

If anyone you know could use some help with getting clear on their desires, please share this post.

To more and better,

Sandy Gallagher

P.S. In case you missed this, here’s a link to download the visioneering checklist that provides a step-by-step visualization process that helps you consciously create your heart’s desires:

Get your 3-Step Visioneering Checklist now.