How did the photograph make you feel?
I felt like a kid again and I wanted to jump as high as I could too.
But when I looked at this picture…
The light and happy feeling seemed to fade away.
How images influence our feelings and actions
Try observing how you feel and act while watching a horror flick.
Don’t you cringe and squint your eyes just as the psychotic villain wields a sharp axe aimed at the victim’s neck? (Okay, I just imagined this one.)
Compare it to how you feel while watching a feel-good movie.
Don’t you feel a tingle in your stomach when Sarah finally meets John in the ice rink in a perfect example of Serendipity?
Maybe you have a high tolerance for gory films or you don’t get swept away by romantic movies. But I’m pretty sure you felt so much better after watching a feel - good movie.
Oftentimes, we tend to identify with what we see. And although we know that what we’re watching is only happening in the reel world, a part of us feels like it’s happening for real.
This illustrates how powerful images can influence our feelings and actions.
And we can use this power to empower ourselves too.
Power up yourself with visualization
I always try to start my morning right and keep a positive attitude throughout the day.
And one of the ways I use to charge myself up in the morning is by watching The Secret’s “The Secret to You” visualization video.
You can download this video for free at the The Secret website.
This video gives me goosebumps every time and I always feel so infused with energy just watching it.
I always say the words out loud and when nobody’s in the room, I shout the last line at the of my lungs!
Try it and feel how empowering it is.
Pick yourself up with beautiful photos
When I feel down, one of the quick ways I pick myself up is by looking at beautiful photos.
I especially like looking at beaches, then I close my lids and I imagine I’m far away in that paradise.
But the magic doesn’t end even after I open my eyes because those lovely images leave me with some positive vibes that I can carry with me to fight the blues.
Head on over to Flickr where you can find loads of fantastic and amazing photos. Most of them can be downloaded so try picking one and make it your desktop’s screensaver so you can have a quick relaxing fix when you need to take a break from work. Or print it out and hang it in your room so you can see it every time you wake up.
Motivate yourself with your own motivational posters
There’s a neat tool at Big Huge Labs called the Motivator where you can create your own motivational poster in minutes.
Just like this:
(Photo was by Tutuwon and the text was my own.)
If you’re a Photoshop whiz or you’re good with art, create your own motivational poster, print it and post it where you can see it everyday. Try using your own picture so you’ll have a clear image of your motivated self everytime you look at it.
Surround yourself with positive images
Whether you’re at home or at your workplace, make sure to surround yourself with beautiful and positive images. Choose images that really speak to you and evoke that empowering feeling.
Remember that even if you can’t always control the things that happen around you, you can control how you react to and feel about them.
People and situations can bring you down only if you allow them to.
And using images is just one way you can empower yourself.
What do you do to empower yourself? Do you have a method or a trick that really worked to boost you? I’d love to hear about them.
