Many years ago, I read a book called The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. At the time, my life was such a mess that it only dipped into the surface of my mind. However, nothing is ever lost; everything we ever read, see, experience or even imagine never leaves that mysterious part of our brain that files everything away, ready to open any file at any time we might need later in life.
A few years ago, before I had even entered recovery I saw models for new condos only a couple of blocks from where I lived. I stopped one night after work to look at the models, one of my favorite things to do. They were marvelous. The two bedroom, three bath had a step down living room with a fireplace, a wet bar and a back patio with a waterway flowing past it complete with swans and ducks. The cabinetry in the kitchen was first grade, the mirrors on the closet doors just what I liked. After looking through all the models, I spent some time chatting with the salesman. He had been a personal pilot for John Wayne when he was younger and had enough tales to tell to entertain me for hours. Every night after work I went to the models and became acquainted with the salesman who finally asked me one day which condo I had my eye on. I told him and we went over to see it. It was perfect. I told him where I would put my baby grand piano, where the furniture would fit in the formal dining area, which paintings would go where and so on. I glowed with anticipation. Then he asked how soon I would be ready to buy the condo. I told him I didn’t have any money but that once I got the money I wanted to buy this model.
After he finished laughing at me, I assured him that it would happen. He humored me and then escorted me out to my car. Every night I was back and we’d have the same tour and conversation. I literally had no idea where I’d get the money. I had no savings and no way to pay the down payment. Not only that, my salary wasn’t sufficient to qualify for a loan. It didn’t matter. I kept picturing myself living there and where I would put everything. Several months passed as they finished building all the condos. One day I received a phone call from a former boyfriend who wanted to take me to dinner. We’d had an off again/on again stormy relationship for several years. He wanted to start it up again. I told him I wasn’t interested. Then I told him about the condo. He listened with interest and then said he would pay the down payment and we could own it together which would qualify me for the loan although he wouldn’t live there. My boyfriend was fairly well off and I knew he could do this. But, I assured him. I wasn’t interested in getting back together so would have to reject his offer. He said it didn’t matter. He looked at it as an investment and was sure it would go up in value in a few years and we could sell it and both make a profit. I finally took him up on the offer, bought the condo, and moved in, putting everything exactly as I had pictured it. My story had a happy ending except that my boyfriend was not taking no for an answer and it took me several months to convince him I meant it when I said we weren’t getting back together. A few years later, I sold it and we both made a profit on it. At least that was some consolation to him although he was still sour about my rejection.
While still living in the condo I found some models for new homes about 30 minutes from where I lived. I visited the models. They overlooked Green River and a wilderness park. The one I liked best was a two story, three bedrooms, three-bath model. I wanted it. At the time, I was engaged to my daughter’s father in law who had been divorced from his wife. Despite his huge salary, he was a spender not a saver and had no money for the down payment. Neither did I, as I since I hadn’t yet sold the condo, I didn’t have the full amount. It didn’t matter. As I had done several years ago, I began daily trips to the homes, picturing which one I wanted and where I would put everything. While the homes were being built, my stepmother passed away and I received a large inheritance, enough for a down payment and more. We bought the home, moved in and were happy for a while. Then my fiancé came down with lung cancer and died less than a year after we moved in.
So, you see, this visualization works. Years later, I pictured myself living near Sedona, AZ a place where I vacationed four times a year and loved. I pictured myself happy and healed from my incest issue from my childhood. By that time, I had written 16 books and four volumes of poetry. I also pictured myself happily married to a farmer from the Midwest. I had no idea how that could be since I lived in the LA area of California. I had been single for many years, hated dating, and was sick and tired of the bachelors in Orange County with their gold chain necklaces and gym memberships.
Today, I live 15 minutes south of Sedona on five acres of land, in a 15 room, three story home. Today I am the published author of six books and working on getting the others out on amazon.com as Kindles. Today, I am happily married to another McKinnon (we were married in Melrose, Scotland taking our final vows at Melrose Abbey). As it turns out, he grew up on a farm in Texas.
So, you see, visualization works. It’s a powerful tool and you must be careful what you ask for. You might get it and find out it wasn’t what you wanted. So be wise, be trusting, and be positive. A word of warning. This visualization works for both positive and negative imaging. I’ve known people who dwelt on destruction, both in their personal relationships with others and in their own lives. Don’t dwell on wishing someone who harmed you to meet with a foul end. Wish everyone only the best and concentrate on making your own life happier and meeting all of your goals. I don’t believe this necessarily works on wanting to win the lotto although those that did said they spent years dreaming about it. Choose a realistic vision, plant it in your mind and return to it repeatedly, fine-tuning it as time goes on.
