Self-Help and Personal Development

I was looking at the Top Audio books on iTunes and out of the 100 books 28 where on self-help or personal development. Many more where on business leadership or management. Only about half the books were fiction. i found this very interesting. So many people are looking to improve themself or trying to find something better in life. I read the description of 4 or 5 of the books, all were based on the law of attraction, or desire and thoughts. Everything I have learned from personal development over the years comes down to one thing, you are what you think you are. It is all on my own, or yours, mental attitude. How do I direct my mental attitude? I use visualization, affirmations, goals and meditation.

Visualization

Using my imagination to see who I am going to be and what I want from life. Once a day as part of my meditation I imagine achieving my goals. For example, I am getting married to a beautiful woman from Russia. To accomplish this is not an easy task, the visa for her could take up to a year. As part of my visualization I see us going to holding hands, cuddling, going to movies, dinner, theater, walks, and watching TV. I feel her hand in mine, I can see us talking and laughing. I do this everyday for at lesat 5 minutes.
Visualization can be used as a method of practice for situations. I use visualization to practice calling people for my business. I go over all responses and replies. Then when I do make my calls I am confident and comfortable talking with them. If I had a particular 'bad' call I will go over the call again in my mind and use different responses.
Another example of visualization is 'vision boards'. This is where I put pictures and statements about my life and goals and display it where I will see often thought the day. I also use my computer background and screen saver as a vision board. My computer background changes though a series of pictures I associate with my goals, my fiancee, home I want to buy, car I want to drive, places I want to visit, etc.

Affirmations

Affirmations are short positive statements. I use affirmations through out the day to re-enforce the visualizations. These affirmations should be positive. For example do not say, I will not procrastinate, instead say, I complete my tasks and projects on time and effectively. The mind does not see 'not' 'never',etc, only sees procrastinate so that is what will happen. Only feed my mind positive thoughts and feelings. I will repeat these statements many times through the day. I say these statements with emotion and feeling because I know they will come true.

Goals

Goals are very important. Goals must be written down. My major goals are on cards and attiched to my belt. I read and think about my goals every time I touch these cards. My goals are written as if I have already achieved the goal. By writing goal in the present I am convience my mind that I have already achived the goal and my mind will do what is needed to make that come true. I have already writing about how to write goals and there are many good books about goals.

Meditation

I have only been using meditation for a few months. I have meditation CD's and podcasts that help. I use meditation to quiet and calm my mind. This then helps me focus.