How powerful is thought? If we visualize something we want, will it actually happen?

Question

i have heard time and time again that thought is energy. Thought creates reality; our lives are influenced by our thoughts. Visualization is supposed to be a powerful tool that can help us overcome obstacles and achieve the seemingly unattainable. I have tried it for years now and am no closer to fulfilling my dreams. I feel quite jaded and wish that there was some truth to the belief that the universe is loving and caring and that it listens to us. How do I believe when I see such cruel acts and monstrous behaviour?

Answer 1

If we visualize something we want, will it actually happen?... DON'T I WISH!

Answer 2

There are wise men who have claimed existing in states of bliss for more then 20 years, so we know that prolonged happiness is possible with no other tool then the mind.

As a visualization tool, I think about thoughts as posters covering a room's walls, ceiling, and floor. Every new thought finds a place on the top layer so that you, the observer standing in the room, can see it the most clear. Now if you think negative thoughts, more negative posters begin to propagate the walls, making your world view much more bleak. If you have more positive thoughts, you will have a more positive outlook. How do you generate mor positive thoughts? All events can be perceived from infinite angles, and the positive aspects of an event can be found by shifting your perspective. An analogy I used once was if you were starving roaming a wasteland and you came across a patch of carrots, which you hated above all other foods. It's inevitable that you will eat the carrots, you must to survive. But will your outlook be "life must really want me to suffer with this cruel joke" or "finally something to eat, I am saved! Carrots aren't so bad after all!" If you don't like the scenery, change how you view it.

I also HIGHLY recommend the book "Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill." by Mattheu Ricard. The author is a French biochemist-turned-Tibetan monk. he participated in some brain scan studies (fMRI) where they had monks meditate. The found that the happy and positive regions of the brain lit up well beyond normal, showing these people's internal experiences are rich. Mattheu has by far the highest activation of these regions ever recorded, so he is something of an authority on the subject of happiness. Good luck, and don't give up!

Answer 3

Well, people say a LOT of nonsensical things.

The sorts of things visualizing helps with are: you're nervous about giving a talk. Imagining it in great details beforehand can help you be less nervous and more confident -- stuff like that.

You can visualize a pile of treasure, or unicorns all you want, but that doesn't give them to you.

You don't say what dreams you're talking about, so it's hard to be specific.

Are they realistic? Dreaming of being a famous singer, for example, simply isn't realistic, as there are a million people who have the same dream, and they can't all be on top.

Are you going about achieving them the right way? That's not through visualizing them, but actual action and behavior. (Only if they're realistic to begin with.)

The universe is just stuff -- it doesn't "care" in the human sense; heck, it doesn't think, feel, plan, or do. It just is.

People like to tell pretty stories, but that's all they are: stories.

Re-evaluate your dreams; tweak them so they are achievable, then go after them in a practical way.

That's all you can do.

Don't forget, however, that definition of life: Life's what happens while you're making other plans.

Is your life so horrible now? Maybe you don't need more. Or maybe whatever it is you're dreaming about isn't really what you want or need.

Maybe figuring out what you really need, and going after that, is in order here.

Answer 4

If everything were handed to us, just by merely visualizing it, we would not be learning anything spiritually. Sometimes we do not get our dreams and wishes because it may not be the best spiritual path. It's hard to understand the whys of cruel acts and monstrous behavior. If everything that happened was love, we would not know what love is because we'd have nothing negative to compare it too. The duality of life is necessary in order to experience All. I recently went through a short "bad" spell at work that was trying....at the end of it, I thanked God it was over and realized that I had learned a lot going through the experience...I don't want to go through it again, but if it happens, I'll be better prepared and be able to cope with it much easier.

I do believe visualization and thought are energy...by praying/meditating and visualizing, I do believe you have a better chance to create a better reality for yourself....however, we have a subconscious mind and soul also that may be in conflict with the conscious visualization. Good luck on your search. Good question.

Answer 5

as humans, our true nature has been destroyed by greed, materialism, and the physical world. Few seek the truth inside themselves. Its not that "good or bad things happen" it is an experience, a spiritual progression from which we learn, to ascend.
As for visualization, it helps, but just cuz you think something dosent mean it's going to be. And once you've attained a state of conciousness, where things like that are possible, you will see the divinity in the way things are, and the need to change things fades, you rise above it.

Answer 6

Visualization can be effective but only in certain areas. Most studies with which I am familiar have to do with improving sports skills. Visualizing for 20 straight days is what it takes for consistent change, according to research. However, that is probably not the kind of change you are seeking.
You state that you wish that there was some truth... that the UNIVERSE is loving and caring and that IT listens to us.
The truth is that God is loving and caring and HE listens to our prayers. God does listen to prayer, but we are not to regard God as only a cosmic Santa. If you make your purpose for life a selfish one, you may not find God giving you all you want. Making your life's purpose dedicated to God is what is central to life. He finds ways to bless His children in this life and in eternity.

Answer 7

For every evil act you must also see the multitude of goodness. Since the beginning of time there has been war and hate but there is also love and goodness. I believe there is more good, because we are still here. It takes great warriors to stand up against evil, stay strong and never allow yourself to believe they're winning or the battle will be lost.

Answer 8

It works!!!!!

BUT...... only if you believe that it works. Its called 'self hyonosis'.

So, one gets hypnotised only if he believes(or obeys promptly) the hypnotiser. That means you should first make sure that you believe in the fact that visualisation technique works.( You may be wondering how do i believe all the way when i am still trying out, if it works, to believe). Yah, there is a solution.............just visualise that the VISUALISATION TECHNIQUE WORKS GREAT. After this visualisation, you will surely believe that visualisation technique works. And you will be able to achieve whatever you visualise.

Tha is why great people say......... DREAM DREAM and DREAM to ACHIEVE.

Yes, its a case of self hypnosis.
Hypnosis is a process where your sub conscious mind is loaded with the thoughts which you wanted to imbibe in yourself, which later makes you work according to the thoughts you wished to behave or act.

Answer 9

In a very very limited perspective, thought can create reality. Like if you think about remembering a fact, you will.

Beyond that, this is bunk.

Answer 10

Comes from reality belongs in reality

Answer 11

The problem is not with the mind, but with the will.

The mind is infinite by nature, but the will is limited by the surrounding environment.