Get up close and personal with yourself and take a good look into the mirror for a good 10 minutes. Reflect, analyze, smile, cry, contemplate, create an internal affair with your inner self. Do you like what you see? What were your thoughts? Are you happy, sad, stressed, healthy, unhealthy, peaceful, disturbed?

How often do we really look at ourselves, I mean truly look at, around, and within ourselves? The quick glances we give ourselves when getting ready in the morning and fixing ourselves up, while granting ourselves the quick compliment of how good we look before walking out the door does not count. Usually when we look into a mirror, it is for a purpose of beauty, but many of these times we may be wearing make-up and accessories, or are in preparation to do so, to “fix” ourselves up. We hardly look at our selves without these accents.

Taking a good look at who we really are without the make-up and accessories, and analyzing what we want out of life on a daily basis is something that should be practiced daily. You will be amazed at the things you will learn about yourself, life, and motivation. The perfect remedy to get you started on overstanding your goals and yourself, is to create a visualization journal. The power of thought is indeed powerful, and by adding physical visuals to represent your thoughts is even more powerful. In th case of visualizing, opposites do not attract, what you see is what you get!

The first step in creating your journal is to purchase a journal! Make sure that your choice of journal has plenty of sturdy pages and has a creative energy. Pick something that speaks to you, something that makes you feel happy just by looking at it. You may also consider personalizing a store bought journal with fabric, beads, and other trinkets. After you have purchased your journal, go to your local craft store and buy a small mirror. The kind that are not encased in a cover. Hot glue your mirror to the front or to the back of the front cover, or you can keep a small hand-held mirror near your journal.

On the page immediately next to the inside cover write out a positive affirmation about visualization. Such as:

“I can attract what I see within my thoughts. I have the power to create reality according to my perception. My thoughts are sacred, my thoughts are important, and I will humbly respect their power, for I attract what I imagine.”

On the last page of your journal, write out an affirmation about achievement. Write this affirmation in past tense. Such as:

“ I have achieved a step towards obtaining myself and my goals, and the creators and my ancestors are pleased. I have seen who I am and have visualized the things to come. I have accomplished achievement for today.”

You can use your visualization journal to review and write in as many times throughout the day, as many times as you imagine a new goal. If your journal is small enough, you can also carry it with you in your purse.

To begin your first entry, read your visualization affirmation in the front of your journal. Next, look at yourself in your mirror for at least 3 minute. Try not to have on any make-up or accessories. Write down the thoughts and goals that came to you in these moments of reflection at the top of your entry page.

Now begins the visualization process. There are many things in which we all want more of out of life, whether it be health, love, a new job, wealth, understanding, spirituality, or maybe relief of pain. Title your first entry with the goal you have in mind, then write out why you want to achieve your goals and what it looks like to you, and how it will make you feel. This part is very important. The more details you include, the more effective your thoughts will be. For example, if you are visualizing a husband, or mate, don't just write: “I want a husband” write out as many of the characteristics you want him to have, be VERY descriptive with the things that are most important.

Now for the big factor! To take your visualizing to the next level, find images of things, and people that represent your goal and paste them within your entries. If you want to find inner peace, find pictures of things or people that represent peace and your inner self to you. When you have completed your entry and pasting, turn to the back of your journal and read aloud your achievement affirmation. Now you have successfully used the power of visualization! Review your entries on a daily basis and begin and end each reflection, whether reviewing or writing, with your affirmations.

You must always remember that some things will not happen overnight. Do not get discouraged, just keep visualizing. Good things are worth waiting for!