"CREATIVE VISUALIZATION - I TRIED IT MYSELF!"
Shonali learns how to use the power of creative visualization to make her goals a reality. This review is in the form of a first-person account of the reviewer's own experience of utilizing this technique.

In today's new-age world, affirmations, positive thinking and creative visualization have become a common occurrence. The fact that one can actually make anything happen and manifest in one's reality is no longer just a crazy idea but an everyday happening.

After experiencing what affirmations could do for me, I decided to use creative visualization to see if it would indeed have the same effect or even better in my life.

Shakti Gawain has been a Creative Visualization expert for many years. After publishing her first book on the subject, she has now put together a workbook - Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization Workbook.

The first step is to select a realistic goal. I presently live in a place surrounded by buildings - a concrete jungle. I want to move to a better area, surrounded by greenery and a spacious place. The next step is to make an affirmation out of my goal - to state in a simple sentence in the present tense. For example, "I, Shonali, own a house in a beautiful area, surrounded by greenery." One must be careful to use the present tense and not the future tense (I, Shonali, will own…).

The next step is to picture the end result of my goal and "let go" of it, turning it to the higher power of the universe to bring it to me. She further elaborates to place the goal in a pink bubble -The Pink Bubble technique, and then "letting go" of the pink bubble into the universe.

I try this technique and repeat and write down my affirmations in succession as Shakti advises. However, there are times I feel resistant to the goal itself - as if I will not be able to own this home in a beautiful area surrounded by greenery. I ask myself why do I feel this way?

And lo! Shakti has the answer. She says to notice if there are any resistant or negative thought patterns while writing down the affirmations. If such thoughts exist, turn the paper and write on the back the negative thoughts, the reasons why the affirmations can't be true, can't work, or whatever. For example: "I don't have the money"… "Real estate rates are very high."

When I follow this step, I realize how I create negative blocks, which stop me from attaining my goals. The next step is to make up affirmations that I can use to counteract or "clear" these negative fears or beliefs, and begin to write out these new affirmations. Or, stick to my original affirmations if I feel they are effective or modify them to be more accurate. I write out new affirmations: "I am working harder and generating more income to buy a house,"... "I have enough money from the real estate I own at present."

One technique that I had fun with and really enjoyed doing is The Treasure Map technique. A treasure map represents an actual, physical picture of one's desired reality. Since it is a clear and sharp physical image of one's goal, one can attract and focus energy into one's goal. Shakti says it works along the same lines as a blueprint for a building.

I can make my treasure map by either painting it or drawing it or by making a collage using pictures and words cut from magazines, books, cards, photographs (my photographs), lettering and so on. Basically, this treasure map should show my ideal scene, with my goal fully realized.

I really enjoy creating my own treasure map. I have it in front of me at my workplace and feel a rush of positive energy when I look at it everyday. This makes me think of exactly what Shakti says about attracting energy to my goal everyday.

Shakti says that one might start with The Pink Bubble technique first. Repeat affirmations every morning and night, and write them down as well. Also, to spend some time every day looking at your treasure map. If one feels negative, maybe there are some latent aspects in one's psyche that are preventing the goal from actually becoming a reality, which need to be explored.

Has all this really helped me? I feel just creating and looking at my treasure map makes me feel positive and makes my goal seem more real. The fact that I feel this way makes me realize the positive energy I give my goal every time I look at my treasure map. I use the affirmations several times a day. Sometimes I just say it to myself and sometimes I write it down. Writing out the negative thought patterns makes me overcome them and subsequently affirm positive thought processes to counteract the negative ones.

At its basic level, the process of Creative Visualization helps motivate you, and in motivating you it helps you realize your goals. I have personally experienced its benefits and highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to come closer to achieving their goals.

Shakti believes: "If you feel like doing it and have a sense that you will need to make a regular practice of this for a while, then do it. You will find it very rewarding. If you don't, don't worry about it. The most important thing is that you've got an understanding that you are responsible for creating your own life."

Reviewed by Shonali Datta

• Title: The Creative Visualization Workbook
• Author: Shakti Gawain
• Publisher: New World Library