Have you ever thought of someone only to receive a call from them a few minutes later? Have you ever thought of something, perhaps a new idea only to discover the next day that someone else had the very same idea? Is this just pure coincidence or is there something more to it? What if your thoughts create your experiences and reality? How would this change your world?

Visualisation is the practice of using the thoughts and images in your mind to manifest your reality. I've been fascinated by the power of the mind for many years. I've read many books and attended seminars to understand how visualisation works. Then one day the penny dropped. What follows is my own experience of visualisation and the method I've used to do it.

I've used visualisation for all sorts of weird and wonderful things; getting a job, arranging appointments, having a peaceful day at work, having a glorious wedding, getting a flat screen monitor at a price I could afford, even helping my sister who was having a bit of a rough time to cope with the peak hour traffic in the morning. I am by no means an expert on the subject but I have managed to get visualisation to work for me.

Apart from the day to day, moment to moment attempts to think positive it is also extremely effective to practise visualisation in a controlled way treating it like a meditation. As with anything else, the more you practice the better you become at it, don't however expect it to always work.

Two important things that will help are repetition (try visualising the same thing several times in a row) and being detached from the outcome. I have definitely been more successful when I have been detached, this is much easier when I have visualised for others, but when I started getting requests for Porsches I put an end to this.

Here is a step-by-step guide to get you started.

1. Plan it - Decide what it is that you want to visualise and then think of it as a movie you're in. If you want a new job for example, you could visualise the interview going your way and then being offered the job or you could visualise being in your new working environment. Spend some time thinking about how you will feel, what emotions you will experience, how the people around you will react.
   
   
2. Pick the best time for you - Visualisation tends to work best just after you wake up as your mind is still near a dream-like state, you can also try it just before you go to sleep, especially if you're feeling relaxed.
   
   
3. Do it - Lie down on the ground. Take a few long deep breaths to relax your entire body and mind. Feel your breath moving through your entire body all the way down to your toes and then out again on the exhalation. Three breaths are usually enough. We are all unique - so you will develop your own technique that works for you.
   
   
4. Visualise - Go through your entire movie as planned. The most important thing to remember is to be in the moment and actually experience the whole thing as though it is happening right now. Pay particular attention to your emotions - you should be feeling the same emotions that you would if this was really happening.
   
   
5. The End - The entire process should not take more than 5 to 10 minutes. When you are done, take a few deep breaths to bring yourself back to your normal state. Slowly open your eyes get up and continue with your fabulous day.

I wish you lots of success with your visualisation. Be persistent - anyone can do this.

If you would like more detail on visualisation and how it works I recommend the book "Creative Visualization" by Shakti Gawain.