Inner Awareness
By Jaime Licauco
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:05:00 09/14/2010
THE AUG. 28 ISSUE of Philippine Daily Inquirer carried an item on how a nursing student became the top graduate through visualization.
According to the feature story written by Inquirer reporter Juan Escandor, Jr. of Southern Tagalog and DJ Yap:
“Rayan Abogado Oliva, the topnotcher in the nursing board exams last July, had prayed every day that he would top all examinees and posted in his room the number 1 sign which greeted him every morning he woke up.
“Oliva, who graduated magna cum laude at the Ateneo de Naga University, said he was very specific with his request to God that he be the one on top…. He said he had read somewhere that if one had a dream, he had to write it down, place it on the wall and be motivated by it.”
Without perhaps realizing it, Oliva instinctively used an ancient and proven visualization method. Visualization is the key to achieving whatever goal we desire. It means forming a vivid mental picture of what it is we want to get whether it’s a new job, new house, or even an ideal partner in life.
Visualization or forming a clear mental image of what you want works because everything begins with the mind.
Before something becomes a physical reality it must first be thought of or conceived. There is no exception to this principle. The physical is the last to manifest in the order of creation. Before a painting becomes one, it must first exist in the mind of the artist. Before a table becomes a physical reality it must first exist in the mind of the carpenter. Before the sun, the moon and stars exist, they must first exist in the mind of God.
Modern quantum physics is now beginning to accept that thoughts are things, that they have an energy which can affect a material object. The mere act of observing a physical object, quantum physicists have discovered, already changes the object observed. This is essentially what the ancient Buddhists have been saying all along, namely, that “we create our own reality.”
But some individuals say, “I cannot visualize.” That’s not possible because the mind by its very nature visualizes or creates ideas and images. If we substitute the word “remember” for “visualize,” then the problem vanishes. Being told to remember the face of one’s mother or one’s favorite movie actor or actress, sounds a lot easier to do than being asked to “visualize” it.
The mind has many ways of forming pictures. Sometimes we get very clear, detailed images, often in full color. Other times it forms vague images and we merely supply the rest of the details with words or ideas. And in some cases we can’t even see anything in our minds, but merely know that something is there and describing it through feeling or shadowy flashes of ideas.
4 basic steps
According to Shakti Gawain, author of the best-selling book, “Creative Visualization,” there are four basic steps to effective visualization: First, set your goal. Decide on something you particularly want. It should be very specific—for example, a particular house with so many rooms located in such a place, or a particular job in such company.
Second, create a clear concrete picture of what you want. It is important to imagine it in the present tense as already existing the way you want it to be. Picture yourself in it. Include as many details as possible including color.
Third, focus on it often. See it every day. Ponder on the mental picture of your goal constantly. Integrate it in your daily routine. See it as if it is already yours.
Fourth, give it positive energy. Make strong positive statements about the goal or object you want. Imbue it with affirmative feelings of desire, belief and acceptance. Imagine yourself already possessing whatever goal you have established for yourself and have no doubt at all that you will attain it. Imagine the exhilaration or feeling of accomplishment you would experience once you have achieved your goal. Let this be your final vision or thought for the day and surely, what you desire will happen.
Without knowing these principles, the above steps are what Oliva actually followed in becoming the top examinee in the July nursing examinations.
Of course he must have also used his left brain by studying hard for the exams. He did not simply lie down and visualize his goal without doing anything else. He did not follow the legendary Juan Tamad who merely opened his mouth while lying down waiting for the guava to fall on his open mouth. Oliva used visualization and mental affirmation to ensure that his efforts at studying will not be in vain.
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