The other day I caught a glimpse of actor Jim Carrey on Oprah, in a clip that dates back to high hair and shoulder pads. Not really thinking much of it, I went about my business, but kept the sound on in the background until I heard the word visualization. My ears perked up and I listened to the tale of a young, broke Jim, hungry for stardom and fame. Seated next to Oprah, he tells her about his many trips to Mulholland Drive and the conversations he imagined having with famous actors and directors interested in his work.
He also wrote himself a check in the amount of $10 million which he dated Thanksgiving 1995, days before he received the role of his life (cue the swelling of the schmaltzy music)—Dumb and Dumber.
Why am I talking about this here today?
As it turns out, I have been doing a lot of visualization myself lately. Except that I don’t like to call it that, but in the stillness of the night when all the day’s tasks are complete and the coffee is set for the morning hours, I like to sit and think about my life. And also imagine my future. My husband. My dogs. And children and a home always filled with good food, better wine, noise, laughter, and family. And I’m learning to juggle my career and getting used to mothers at PTA meetings, but I’m a bit older and have wrinkles and I’m still piling the hair on top of my head as though I’m Amy Winehouse’s long lost sister.
In my lucid dreams, I have a mini me (she’s a girl, in case you’re curious) and we play Carpool Karaoke on our way to school in the mornings and I introduce her to Phish and Paul Simon’s Graceland and Tori Amos but sometimes I let her play with the radio and we sing out loud to Lady Gaga.
Anyway, the Jim Carrey clip—it’s well worth listening to, if you haven’t already.
This idea of visualization reminds me a lot of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), something I learned about when I first started dating Bryan. We always have the option to think positively as the vehicle to our own happiness and success (however you may define that).
Does intention setting mean we are making a deal with the universe, and do you think visualization helps us to achieve our goals? Or is this all just a matter of luck and circumstance? Please let me know in the comments if you have ever done this (or if you think this is all hokey!). I’d love to hear about some of the things you have visualized happening in your own life.
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Happy Monday, my sweets. Hope it’s a great week! XO
This is a very interesting post, Charlotte. I truly believe that the intention and effort we ascribe and put into our goals and actions determines the outcome to a very large extent. We have a lot of influence over the outcomes in our life and visualization and a positive attitude go a long way in building and strengthening a determined and focused mindset. Thanks for sharing your thought-provoking post.
Many top athletes use visualization to rehearse for their performances. I’ve used it often to prepare for arguments in court.
On a side note, any chance I can audition for the role of your mini-me? 🙂
This is such a timely post! I used to do more with visualization and setting intentions. I was thinking about that while I was in a writing class on Silencing Your Inner Critic this weekend. She walked us through a guided meditation and I was thinking afterwards that I should do more with visualization and setting intentions again, because I think it was helpful for me in goal-setting and staying on track of my goals.
Charlotte,
Thank you for posting this! I saw this clip a week ago and it’s been stuck in my mind. I was happy to have come across this post in an online community we both belong to on FB and as soon as I saw the word “Visulization” I knew I had to click on it. I’m a believer in signs that show up repeatedly, so I’m definitely taking this as a sign that I should brush up on my visualization practices! Thanks again!
I don’t personally believe that visualising something will cause it to happen — but it gives you extra motivation to take the steps along the path to get there, and that’s enough to make success more likely.
Hi Chars!! 🙂 I love this post! It’s beautifully written, as all your posts are, and the topic is interesting. Right after I comment I’m going to go check out Jim Carrey. Anyway, I never really believed in visualization before, but I did try it out during my second egg transfer when we did fertility treatments. (Hey, I figured it couldn’t hurt, right?) The treatment worked…who knows if the visualization had anything to do with it at all, but it probably at least got my mind in focus and freed it up of distractions. I tend to place my focus more on imagining the worst case scenario, and that definitely doesn’t help. So, positive visualization is worth a try. Miss and love you dear Chars!!!!
I absolutely believe in the power of visualization. There are many things I’ve imagined for my future that actually came true. When I was living in Texas I had started getting an itch to move. An opportunity came up to move sometime after, so we took it! After realizing how unhappy I was in Hawaii (be careful what you wish for—it might come true, but it might not be exactly how you dreamed!), I started to feel pulled toward the east coast. I dreamt about beautiful fall foliage and historical places and lo and behold, my husband got a job offer in Maryland! We’re here now and I absolutely love it. Next on my visualization list is living in Europe again. I’ve been working on that one for a long time. I know in my heart it will someday come true. Thank you for sharing! And sorry for the autobiography of a comment! Haha 🙂
Great post – and a really interesting topic. I think the idea of visualization is more imagining how you want your life to be so that it’s a set idea or goal in your mind – then you can make strides to get there. I wouldn’t say simply visualizing something you want to happen will make it happen. That would be a bit too much like a miracle, but if you use visualization to create a plan of action or to keep yourself thinking positive, then I think it can yield good results in the end.
-Lauren
You gave me the chills because Scarlet is my mini me in many ways, but mostly Cassidy’s! They share a personality and a love for Phish.
But in the car, she wears a red peacoat like mine, and we listen to Lady Gaga.
I’m SO ABOUT visualization. I could write a book on it, but other people already have..
Oh, my goodness, I love that video!
Love this. I have always been a fan of visualization, law of attraction and of course positive mental attitude. I’ve attracted many things in my life through visualization, so can swear by it 🙂
I’m such an bag of emotions. I’m sitting here crying hoping for all your dreams/visualizations to come true. I know they will.
I’m still trying to get use to PTA moms. 😀 I’m not a PTA mom, but I’m a regular volunteer/art docent.
Anyway I’d love to carpool karaoke with y’all. 🙂
XOXO