On first pass, you may dismiss one or more of these personal development techniques as overlapping – whether the purpose be relaxation, stress relief, improving your relationships for financial situation, the truth is that all three techniques can work better when combined as a full frontal assault on self improvement.

In the 5-Step power achievement system contained in Attracting Greatness common obstacles such as fear, frustration, toxicity, low self-esteem are tackled using a very structured set of techniques that include each of visualization, meditation and affirmations along with other relaxation and introspection techniques like yoga breathing exercises.

I meditate at least 20-minutes each day, ideal I have found is two 20-minute sessions, but that doesn't always happen.

For those that have trouble meditating or relaxing, then using visualizations can be the single best way to experience the power of meditation.  Think of the most relaxing place or situation you have ever been in…sitting by a beach, boating, sitting in front of the fire, being around family, etc…and use that to help calm your mind as you enter into a deeper state of meditation.

Affirmations – that's part of my morning exercise, what else do I do while shaving each day   Seriously, having definite, positive statements you repeat to yourself each day shouldn't just be about what you want OUTSIDE, but you should have a couple of affirmations about your personal development – reinforcing your relaxation meditations and visualizations.

Visualization is probably the first thing I picked up way back over 20-years ago when I was coming out of school – don't remember who I learned it from, but I have certain visualizations for relaxation, certain ones for achievement and others for health.  They pretty much happen automatically now through the day.

Finally – the key piece is to make sure all of this is purpose based, which does take additional time to figure out and needs to be re-visited every 6-months or so.  Once you get a meditation method that works for you, begin to add introspection and guided meditation methods that allow you to locate and identify your life purpose which can then be aligned with future goals reinforced by their own visualization, meditation and affirmations.

As you can see, the 3 personal development techniques can have much more impact working together than separately.

1. The power of knowing what you want

2. The power of visualization

We explore the entire range of factors involved in 'getting unstuck' and moving forward in your life within Beyond Greatness...here I wanted to give you some tips on visualization.

The power of visualization will help you overcome obstacles on your path to greater achievement in your life, but is only as powerful as knowing what it is you want. 

Visualizations often are misguided as people use the powerful technique to redirect energy their way bringing new opportunities, experiences and things into your life – but, if they are not inline with what YOU want (and say instead are the dreams, goals or objectives of someone you admire), then you will not achieve happiness or greatness within your life. 

But…if you can really dig deep inside of yourself through the power of introspection and understand what you REALLY desire…then using the power of visualization is incredibly powerful.

I first figured out how powerful visualizations could be when I quickly worked my way up the ladder in a retail job back in highschool…working through 4 promotions in less than 1-year in a part-time role meant I was second in command of the store within a very short time. 

Next, I used the power of visualization to overcome fear and doubts I had about entering an entirely new career space using nightly visualizations of how I would look, feel, act and respond as if I was a seasoned professional in these positions. 

Less than a year later I used visualizations to expand my abilities into training and publishing training manuals which I then progressively visualized as leading to my own business which is certainly now the case. 

Along the way, positive visualization helped deal with significant doubt, fears, distractions to maintain focus and achieve desires almost at will.

If you have ever felt left behind or stuck in a rut or left back because you can't seem to propel yourself beyond fears, distractions, frustrations – then use positive visualizations to set yourself up for success.

Your Own Positive Visualization

Start your own visualization by having a clear sense for exactly what you want to achieve – something in your personal or business life perhaps or a health or wellness goal.

Next, play a movie to yourself visualizing you having already achieved your end goal – who would be around you and how would they react?

Let's say you had finished your own book or lost 20-pounds – imagine walking into a room with either goal achieved – what would those around you say?  How much attention would they pay to you?  Would would it feel like to have achieved either goal?  Would you be smiling, have more freedom, feel better about yourself?  What would that feel like?  How would your friends react? 

Once you have a complete "movie" in your head of having reached your ultimate goal, then play that back over and over again several times each day until you have reached your goal through the power of visualization. 

Give it a try – even after a week you will begin to notice a difference – you will feel more confident, have more energy and depending on your goal, may already have achieved your desired outcome.