I’ve spoken about a persons identity on several occasions in the past. One example is the post: An Empowered Identity. So what creates your identity? What shapes it and how can you influence it over time? The are subtle little things you can do to enhance your own ‘persona’ or self image over time.
We’ve all heard the get rich quick schemes in which you only have to work ten minutes a day to make millions of dollars. We laugh at these promises because there’s no way that could actually happen, right? Though you might not be sitting in piles of money at the end of the practice, you can begin to change your life in less than five minutes a day. By harnessing the power of your mind, you can begin to change the way your life is headed.
Everyone Has Five Minutes To Spare
Whichever is more convenient, stop and sit down with yourself somewhere quiet. You need to close your eyes and begin to picture the thing you want most in your life. Picture it in detail so that it’s clear what you want and what your life will be like once you have it. Think about the smells, the sounds, the tastes, the feel and the looks – all of these will help to intensify the effect of this visualization.
Changing Your Brain Chemistry
What you’re doing is changing your brain chemistry a little by imprinting this positive picture in your head. The more you practice this, the more your brain will change, causing your actions to become influenced by this impression you have made in your mind. By simply visualizing the thing you want most each day, you will begin to make choices in your life that bring you closer to this goal. For example, if you want to lose weight and you visualize a skinnier new you, you will notice that you’re not as hungry for that second helping anymore and that you want to exercise more because you want that picture in your head.
It’s really that simple. By taking the time to create a picture in your mind of what you want, you can begin to create that impossible dream.
Have a most outstanding day
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
It all goes with the mind. When the mind is strong, we will be strong. When we are shaken, our mind will be confused. It is good to seek for clarity in out thoughts and stay focus to our goals. Your post here to change our life in 5 minutes is wonderful. I like it. Cheers!
Hi Lim. I hope it does help some people change their life
The main thing is that they are prepared to help themselves improve, somehow.
I strongly believe in the power of our brain! What we think is what we become. Sometimes if we think we are sick, even if we are not, then we feel sick. If we think we can do it, then we can somehow do it! “Dream, believe and survive” learn to stand on what you think and act. Success will surely be attainable.
As I read your reply I think of the book As A Man Thinketh by James Allen. I have put a copy of an e-book on my blog if anyone wants to read or download it.
Here’s one little bit out of it:
All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts. In a justly ordered universe, where loss of equipoise would mean total destruction, individual responsibility must be absolute. A man’s weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own and not another man’s. They are brought about by himself and not by another; and they can only be altered by himself, not another. His condition is also his own, and not another man’s. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so is he; as he continues to think, so he remains.
I agree. The power of the mind is incredible. We manifest our own moods and health to a very large degree.
You draw attention to things people may know inside but deny, or for some other reason, wronglfully assume simple will be ineffective. Coincidentally, in French, there is an idiomatic expression: “chercher midi a quatorze heures.” Loosely translated into English, this means, “to make complicated what should be simple.” For some reason, ego would like to convince us that life must be hard when in reality, the opposite is true. Imagine how many people must spend a lifetime either brainwashing themselves or, deconditioning their brainwashed mind?
The mind can do amazing things, even change the way your body physically works. The concept of being able to “train your brain” is quite powerful. If the mind can do things like cure cancer or solve an impossible math problem, this isn’t too out of reach. Nice article.
The mind is definitely a powerful thing. The beliefs that people hold govern the reality that a person perceives to exist. Breaking down our existing conceptions of the world requires us to reset some of what we consider to be the way things are done, what is acceptable and what is possible.
Because thinking hard can be tough, it is easy to stay in the current frame of mind, rather then constantly challenging ourselves. However, unless I test my realities and assumptions from time to time, it is difficult to achieve the things I want to achieve. It definitely pays to question, and to visualise what could be. It need not take long to get started, and like you say, everyone can spare 5 minutes a day.
.-= Tom McEwin´s last blog ..Getting Targeted Internet Traffic and a Hungry Crowd =-.
Hi Sean,
I use visualization all the time. I really work hard at creating ‘movies’ in my mind that reflect the things I desire most. I find that the more I can make them real, the more effective they are.
I really believe in the power of the mind. It’s just been a matter of learning the best ways to harness that power. It’s something that I continue to work on being more consistent with.
Same here Jazz. I use visualisation a lot both in planning and review. I like to consider how I might have done things differently and would the result have been better or worse. What if I’d said this instead of that – would I have made the sale.
I went to Thailand a few years ago and oved it so much that I decided I wanted to live there. I could clearly see myself there and what I was doing. Then I embarked on building that reality. I started visualising how I could build a business that I can run from anywhere in the world. I love travelling and want to do a whole lot more of lifes adventures before the lights go out. The clear vision of what I want to acheive not only keeps me motivated and active, it also guides me in finding the resources I need to make it happen.
Like Jim Carrey who used to visulaize himself receiving a cheque for $10 million every night as he went to bed. What was the figure on his cheque for The Mask? $10 million.
.-= Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Why? How? =-.
Hi Sean,
I will try it and see how I go. I probably won’t know what to visualize about. Most of the time I think I don’t know what I want. With practice though it may work so I can find out what I want.
Thanks Sean for this info..It’s very interesting.
Jill.
It’s amazing though the number of sales pages that are out there that advertise the “get rich quick” schemes – and people actually fall for it.
So the message here – Mind over matter, that’s the key.
.-= Cemil´s last blog ..The Truth About Building Backlinks =-.
Visualize what I want? Sounds like a great idea. First I will have to purge all the other stuff floating around in it.
.-= Gee´s last blog ..Why You Should Just Ignore Fad Diets (Part 2) =-.
Hi Gee,
Glad you brought this point up – try ignoring the ‘clutter’ – unlike the basket of washing in the corner, when the mind is full of the goal, there is no room for anything else.
.-= Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness =-.
Hello Sean,
Change Your life In five Minutes really geled with me. I have been picturing in my head how I want my life to be. With using Visualization, and my goal book I can see improvements in and around my life everyday. All it takes is five minutes of “Dream Escaping” as I call it, and then my attitude reflects my changes around me. I am walking more, going to the gym more, have more smiles on my face and dress differently. I hold myself taller, and I dream bigger.
Cheers Sean
Lisa
.-= Lisa Wood´s last blog ..Married 15 Years =-.
Hi Sean
The instruction for those who find it hard to visualize.
Sit comfortably Close your eyes and with feet, legs and arms uncrossed,
Take a deep breath, slowly exhale take another breath and slowly exhale,
Think of your Goal, now picture it (if it is money see it in your hands feel it )
Now see what you will buy with it , feel how you will feel with your goal accomplished.
Now do that exercise again.
Then repeat every morning and every night.
Rita
Hi Sean,
you are so right – it only takes a few minutes every day to change yourself into the person you want to be with the results you want to have.
I know that everyone can change his life in 5 minutes – if they really want to!!!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..10 Good Habits Worth Having =-.
Hi Sean
Another wonderful post and it is all true.
I have to admit I have ‘re-invented” myself several times in my life. When my ‘encasing’ which is my lifestyle, income, activities, friends etc gets too tight,and ‘I’ no longer fit because I am growing, it’s time to change.
Creating the image of the perceived me, what I am doing, who I am talking to , where I am living, the car I am driving, the house I am living in, seeing myself in perfect health,
and the figures of my choice on my bank statements is what I am doing right now as I move up to total financial independence and the lifestyle of my dreams. My health always comes first, no matter what, because without it I can not enjoy my life as I do.
So I made a power point “movie” of all the places I want to go to, the house I want to live in, healthy food, even an Aston Martin (like James Bond has) and many other images of my dream lifestyle and photoshopped myself into those pictures. I also put affirmations on every slide, then I set music to it “Get on your feet and Make it Happen” was my choice by Gloria Estafan (it was really fun making it by the way, and easy!) I am watching it every day so that I can cement the image of the new me in my mind.
I Hope this idea inspires some of you.
Blessings
Elly
Now I will watch it for at least 5 minutes every day
.-= Elly´s last blog .. =-.
Creating mind movies is an excellent way to build an abundant mindset. There is plenty of free software available online to make these movies for those interested. Thanks Elly
Hi Elly,
you are taking action and changing your mindset – 5 minutes at a time.
Isn’t it amazing that it is not a chore but a lot of fun to do that, create the mindset that supports us to achieve what we want.
I finally managed to have my goals on a poster where I look at every day, I am still working on my movie. But your success as inspired me to get going with this lovely action step!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Self Improvement Books – What Are Your Favourites =-.
I must admit I’ve sat and pictured myself with hair many times and it never seems to work. So as I result I’m imaging myself in the fashion of Jean Luc Picard and Kojak. I guess one could say I suffer from Premature Kojakulation. http://gratefulwerenotdead.blogspot.com/2007/09/songs-over-sixty-blues.html
.-= Don White´s last blog ..Just A Little Bit Longer =-.
Don
Have you ever thought of seeing yourself as very handsome without hair for 5 minutes a day?
As for your kojakulation Don, you are so funny!
Great stuff Sean. So simple, yet so powerful, that I do believe it is greatly underrated by many people. I love Wallace D Wattles quote “By thought, the thing you want is brought to you. By action, you receive it”
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Indoor Air Quality =-.
Hi Hilary,
that quote is really powerful – and it points out the mistake most people make: they only think and never take any action. And then they complain that it doesn’t work.
How can it if you only follow have the steps and leave the one’s out that you don’t like? But creating the mindset and taking the action – there is nothing more powerful!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Self Improvement Books – What Are Your Favourites =-.
Hi Hilary and Renee,
It’s a wonderful quote. You have to take action to get the things you want in life. You can wish all you want but if you don’t do anything; it will never be.
So, start visualising what you want and your behaviour will follow.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
The mind is a wonderful thing – it can drag us down (e.g. depression, stress, negativity) or it can raise us up to great heights – if we use it both positively and purposely.
For many of us that may mean house-cleaning the mind to get rid of the detritus of negative ways of thinking that are bred into us during our upbringing or by negative experiences in life that we have not let go of.
There are the Napoleon Hills of this world, or artists like Michelangelo, or athletes like Michael Jordan and so on who didn’t let negative mind-sets hold them back.
Perhaps an even better example is Winston Churchill – he suffered diagnosable depression, yet did that stop him – just look at the wonderful speeches he made to keep England positive all through WW11 – he just didn’t let his mind be ruled by despair or any concept of failure – he knew they could and would win
Change your life in 5 minutes – sure you can. You can do anything you want if you want it bad enough.
This becomes more inspiring each time you read it…putting the picture in you head of what you want automatically influences what you do ….
So your actions head in the direction of the picture your put in your mind
Is that fantastic or what??? I believe it…….It works…
Revisiting is great to do because the more you do that the more your mind will continue to do it for you. Visualise for at least a few minutes before you talk to someone, do something and you take on the task with a completely different mindset. The fantastic thing is that it does work.
Visualising, using all your sense, will most definitely enhance the experience and give your subconscious the chance to take it on board.
I sometimes lie down on the floor with Mitchell (9) (with the light off and eyes closed) and get him to imagine he’s lying down looking at the stars above and that the stars are his goals and dreams, they are his future. Then I get him to tell me what they are.
When visualising in this fashion none of the things he talks about are possessions orientated and he seems to put a bit more thought into it.
Makes me proud and know that my efforts over time have not gone to waste.
Great! I do similar with my two year old but I ask him to tell me what he liked about his day and what he didn’t like, its usually things like “i like bikes” “i don’t like peas” but i whisper a visualisation to him to send the things he doesn’t like floating away and picture his day filled with only the things he did like. I hope it doesn’t mean he’ll never eat his peas, but I used self-hypnosis for child birth and found this technique particularlly calming and focusing! Glad I’m not the only one
You will know then that it is never too early to start giving them the right education. I do that too when I am putting them to bed. My thought is it then that the good stuff is working away in their subconscious while they sleep.
Great minds think alike!
Great post Sean,
The power of suggestion is such a powerful thing if you learn how to use it.
Every day we drift through life encountering different people, environments and situations, often not really taking into account the effect it has on our subconcious minds.
Auto suggestion is a new concept to me but I have always found it to be an interestingly effective method of pointing yourself in a positive direction.
There’s a great chapter to read in Think & Grow Rich. It also gives a little exercise that you can work through to implement on a daily basis. Well worth checking out if you haven’t already.
Your life itself will not change in 5 minutes but the decision to change can.
You can spend 5 minutes or less a day and visualise what you want – smell it, taste it, feel it – but until you make a decision and resolve to have it no matter what all it will be is dreaming it.
“By thought the thing you want is brought to you, by action you receive it” Jerry Clarke
Depending on your choice of action – “You will suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces and regret weigh tonnes” Jim Rohn
That Rohn quote is so true. I think a brain change might be better for me rather than just changing brain chemistry! LOL
I don’t know about that. Pusstat just may not look the same!!
Pusstat is slowly going crosseyed with readin all the comments!
That’s the point – you need to change 5minutes every day and concentrate on where you want to be in the future, otherwise you will never get there!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Self Improvement Books – What Are Your Favourites =-.
thanks again for refocusing me on the mental things that I can definitely begin to take control of, and the rest will come in time. I’m taking on huge amt of new things right now esp with study too so this reminder is timely and appreciated! funny, we’ll do these things with the kids but forget about ourselves!
Visualisation – imagine yourself being thinner and it will make weight control easier. I need to us that same technique to quit smoking. I think I think about it – if you get what I mean – but have I visualised being a non-smoker!