Over the past 22 years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting and coaching thousands of people who are grappling with serious illness, trauma, and setbacks. As an empathic imagery healer, I have found imagery to be a wonderful immediate way to bring confidence, calm, resilience, and agency to people when they are experiencing significant challenges.
Imagery is a powerful way to tap into your inner knowingness, like an internal GPS that always can guide you back to balance, wholeness, and calm. The most important thing about doing imagery successfully is not trying too hard. Just let the images and sensations come to you and then spend a few moments exploring what those messages might mean. While you’re not actively trying to intellectualize or think through to a solution, your mind does not have to be silenced. Instead, your entire self is coming together to share valuable insights and information.
The best part about imagery is that it always happens in a matter of moments. Here are two techniques that work.
- Close your eyes. Breathe out, breathe in. Do this three times. Think about the problem or situation where you need clarity or an answer. Then, here’s the best part, you don’t have to do anything! If you relax into the breathing, the imagery will come to you naturally.
- Close your eyes. Breathe out, breathe in. Do this three times. Imagine yourself in your favorite place. It could be the best vacation you ever had, a place from childhood or adulthood, or an imaginary place. See, sense, and feel the sounds, smells, temperature, colors, and allow yourself to be fully present in this special place. When you’re ready, open your eyes and spend a few minutes sitting with the sensations and the messages that this imagery exercise has given you as a gift.
Meditating through imagery becomes a habit because, once you experience micro-moments of joy and clarity, you will want to rely on this proven tool more and more because it always comes through for you without having to break a sweat, try too hard, sit in a lotus position for several hours, or consult a health care professional.
I recommend doing a simple imagery exercise in the morning before you jump out of bed and at night before you go to sleep. This will also have a positive impact on the quality of your dreams and your sleep.
