The Reality of Imagery for Empowerment

Copyright 2006 Marshall House

Popular is the belief that imagery and imagination are not real. From my point of view, imagination is real: it exists in another dimension of reality than the physical. Imagery is not less real because it is less dense than a chair.

Imagery is a set of mental pictures or images. These mental images are often used to represent objects or actions or ideas. Working with imagery, you can augment or transcend the limitations of physical reality. You can enhance and expand your conscious awareness.

I have observed again and again the power of imagination and imagery to shift an uncomfortable, even painful, situation into one that is more desirable, even pleasurable. I often lead clients through a guided imagery process that empowers them to perceive meaning they did not have before the imagery and use the new wisdom for enhanced personal empowerment.

When people claim they have no imagination, I ask them to tell me how to get to a particular street or well-known landmark in their city. Or I ask them what their plans are for tomorrow. Or I ask them what they had for dinner last night. When you plan a presentation for the boss or staff, you use imagery. When you consider a variety of approaches to ease a relationship, you use imagery. When you imagine a winning game of tennis or golf, you use imagery.

For me, imagery and breathing are in the same category of importance: Life can not exist without either. Surely, not everyone uses imagery or imagination in the same way or to the same level of benefit, but it is the basis for creation.

Form follows thought. And form follows thought, regardless of whether the thought is “positive” or “negative.” The process of imagery is impartial. However, if the images are uncomfortable, disempowering, or negative, the experiences that follow will contain a similar essence of discomfort, disempowerment, or negativity. And, as well, if the images are comfortable, empowering, or positive, the experiences that follow will contain a similar essence of comfort, empowerment, or positive characteristics.

Note the difference between the concept “chair” in the carpenter’s mind and the physical “chair” in your office. The carpenter or architect or artist or manager who successfully holds an image in the mind’s eye is more likely to be able to manifest it in the physical form. The two dimensions work together; one is not better than the other. An image can exist without the physical component, but the physical component does not exist without the image.

Imagery is a power that is your birthright — it comes with the human package. How you use it is your choice. All you have to do is use it with integrity and awareness, and you are empowered!

New Thoughts

New thoughts can come from taking a new perspective on things. One way to do that is to challenge the assumptions that exist. For example, is love really a feeling of desire or attachment? This is a common assumption, but what if we challenge this?

New Thoughts on Love

Desire and attachment can be strong feelings, and they are often called love in certain contexts. However, attachment can be for bad reasons too, right? Desire too can come from less than noble places. What is an alternative definition of love?

How about a recognition of value? Seeing the inherent value in a person, like the beauty you see in a painting or hear in a melody. You do not need to be attached or even desirous of beauty to enjoy it. You just have to recognize it. The enjoyment that you take in another's existence then could be a definition of love. At least the emotion.

Love is more than an emotion though. How much love does a mother have for her children if she feels fond towards them, but doesn't feed them? Love in this context has to include action, doesn't it?

This points up the real problem with defining concepts like love. There are seven or eight or perhaps a hundred things we want to communicate. They are each different, yet we have just one word for them. Maybe rather than re-defining love we need to create a dozen new words. Now there's an area for some new thoughts.

Random New Thoughts

Another way to have new thoughts is to just look for new ideas to replace old ones. Then you expand on the new idea, to see what value you might find in it. Here are some examples of new thoughts, without expanding on them (help yourself).

- Why do we encourage uniformed people to vote? Maybe it's better to encourage people NOT to vote, unless they are willing to educate themselves on the issues.

- Is multi-tasking really a sign of efficiency? Maybe the fact that we need to be so busy just to get what we want shows that our actions aren't effective enough.

- Why can't we pay less for a surgeon who kills more people on the operating table? Why not recognize that there are better and worse doctors, have that information available, and pay accordingly?

- How about wonder instead of faith? Faith is just believing without reason. Wonder is to marvel at the world and accept that we don't have reasons or explanations for everything.

Finally, what if our level of creativity, and ability to have new thoughts isn't just something that is set at birth. What if it is a systematic process, one that may not be recognized by those who use it, but can be identified and copied? All of us can train ourselves to have creative new thoughts.

Test Your Personality - Are You Obsessed With Your Body?

The age of meterosexual men is here. Gone are the days with men used to enjoy feel like a cowboy. The cosmetic companies have a bigger market in men than women. It has all to do with the new man's obsession with his body. He wants to look clean, young and smart in a different way. Don't think women are behind. The days when a dash of foundation and some lipstick were enough to look good are gone long ago. Today it is the latest anti aging creams, anti wrinkle therapies and what not. Test yourself now and find out if you are one of them?

Let us begin from the body. We all want to look good. No body wants to age. No wrinkles are acceptable. No spots are permitted. Why? Are we all known only by our bodies? Look back at the history and think of your heroes. Do you remember anything about their bodies, except how they looked or their deeds? The greatest men and women of history were quite ordinary looking, and I wonder if any of them had any time to look after his/her beauty.


This all has to do with our priorities. If you test yourself about your priorities, what comes first - To look good or to do a good deed? If you take a quick survey, you will be amazed at the results. Body has taken the first priority. To look good, to dress up with the latest designer clothes and to show off the latest accessories is the law of the day. Every man wants to build muscles, get pedicures and manicures done, go through facials and every woman is searching for that bottle of magic that will always keep her looking young. Please test yourself about your personality and find out if you are obsessed with your body. Look at the results and give a deep thought about the legacy you will leave behind.