| How would you like to spruce up your self-image? | | | | of our ownminds, then it becomes much easier to |
| You know, giveyour self-esteem a real boost? You | | | | put forth whatever effortis necessary to feed it the |
| are equipped to do so, youknow. Please, allow me to | | | | messages WE choose rather thansociety's |
| show you a neat little trick that will jumpstart your | | | | insinuations of our inferiority. Can you see |
| self-image makeover. | | | | howpowerful this mental imagery can be in boosting |
| Okay, ready? I want you to think of a big, mean | | | | yourself-esteem? |
| dog. He'sbaring his teeth and growling at you. He | | | | Let's try something else. I found this next exercise to |
| looks like he's aboutto pounce on you. There's | | | | be veryhelpful and hopefully you will, too. Just imagine |
| nothing standing between you and him. | | | | yourselfsitting like a kid in a big playroom surrounded |
| Take your time and make him look as ferocious and | | | | by many buildingblocks. Each block represents a |
| dangerous aspossible. Okay, stop! Forget about that | | | | thought. |
| dog for a moment. | | | | Now some of these blocks are more attractive than |
| Instead, I want you to picture a cute little puppy. | | | | others. Youcan pick and choose any ones that you |
| Picture himclearly now. This little guy is as friendly as | | | | want. That's right. Ifyou happen to latch onto a |
| they come. He is wagging his tail and wiggling toward | | | | thought/block that you don't like, you can just throw |
| you, anxious for you to rub his belly and scratch his | | | | it back. It's that simple. And that fast. |
| ears. Aw, isn't that sweet? | | | | You are free to toss a block aside with absolutely no |
| Now, let's look at what happened here. First you saw | | | | penalties. If you decide you want only the pretty |
| in yourmind's eye a vicious dog. I would bet that your | | | | blocks, no one else can keep you from taking them. |
| mind furnishedall sorts of details, such as color, size, | | | | Isn't this a delightful little game? |
| type, etc. Yourimagination didn't need to be given | | | | Your mental screen is a terrific playground! Have fun |
| instructions. It went towork automatically. | | | | with it! |
| Now, how did you feel with this picture in your mind? | | | | Remember, you're the one in charge of the controls. |
| Tense? | | | | Now granted, since we humans are creatures of |
| Did you clench your jaw? Or perhaps your breathing | | | | habit, we may haveto throw back some undesirable |
| became veryshallow or stopped altogether for a few | | | | blocks a number of times before we automatically go |
| moments. | | | | for the more attractive ones. |
| Then, when I instructed you to envision a friendly | | | | The really exciting point here, though, is that we are |
| puppy, againyour mind concocted all the details. What | | | | absolutely free to do so! No one, but no one can |
| was your reaction this time? Did you smile? Did you | | | | force us to "pick up a block" that we don't like or |
| chuckle softly to yourself? | | | | want. |
| I'd like to point out two things. First, neither of | | | | No matter what we hope to accomplish in business |
| thosepictures existed anywhere in your immediate | | | | or in life,harnessing our fantastic mental powers will |
| reality. They wereboth simply figments of your | | | | greatly increase thequantity and the quality of our |
| imagination. Nonetheless, theimages you created | | | | contributions. |
| were no doubt vivid. And more importantly,your | | | | Putting our imaginations to work for us instead of |
| reactions, physical, psychological and emotional, were | | | | against us puts us on the fast track to success. It's |
| allquite real. | | | | like finally releasing the brakes on our engines. |
| Second, you were able to switch mental pictures | | | | I hope you'll put these concepts to work immediately |
| completely andwhat's more, you did it in a flash. | | | | to freshenup a battered self-image and to help |
| Exactly HOW did youaccomplish this? Do you know? | | | | yourself in many more ways. |
| Well, I don't know either, but that doesn't alter the | | | | Naturally, permanent change will not occur with the |
| fact that you are, indeed, capable of conjuring up | | | | first fewattempts. However, I believe that once you |
| whatever you want, whenever you want, complete | | | | have begun to explore how much fun and how |
| with as many details as you want. This is truly an | | | | powerful your own imagination is, it will be a pleasure |
| astonishing feat! | | | | for you to make the repeated, consistent efforts |
| There's no trick to it really. It's just the natural | | | | necessary to produce the changes that you desire. |
| capacity of mind that you were born with. Can you | | | | I trust that the ideas put forth here have helped you |
| believe that your mind has such phenomenal power? | | | | to realizeand appreciate the truly extraordinary |
| And you, and only you, have the final say as to | | | | power you have at yourdisposal. Certainly such |
| which pictures you allow to linger in your mind. You | | | | awesome powers deserve to be tended and |
| control the master switch! | | | | cultivated. Don't you agree? |
| Once we start to appreciate the tremendous power | | | | |