Imagine this scene: You are at sea. You are in a small boat. The water is calm and blue, the air is warm and you feel relaxed and at peace. In the distance you can see a beautiful island – green and luscious. You know that if you wait – just let go and wait – the ripples and currents of the water will carry you over to that island where you so very much want to be and to where you feel so drawn. And you know that this will happen in a relaxed and easy way, and that when it does, the timing will be perfect.

Now that you have a really clear picture of this in your mind's eye, just allow that relaxed and easy feeling to wash all over you. Can you hear the water gently breaking against the side of the boat? And perhaps a seagull or two calling as they lazily circle overhead.

Here's another picture for you to consider....

You are at sea. You are in a small boat. The water is calm and blue, the air is warm and you feel relaxed and at peace. So far so good.

There in the distance is that same green and luscious island. It looks beautiful, it has food, water, commodities you seem to be lacking in your little boat now you come to mention it. Now you're desperate to get to that island, so you start paddling like crazy. You have to paddle with your hands as they are the only resources you have. You feel you're getting nowhere, at best going round in circles on top of which you are tired and frustrated. And what about those **** seagulls, are they ever going to keep quiet? The waves are getting higher and the mist is falling. You are losing your way.......

Now briefly allow the feelings from this second picture to wash over you..... is your feeling of unease increasing as you see the island retreating into the mist? Can you hear the waves lashing against your tiny boat?

Your heart is probably beating faster now; maybe those infamous butterflies are in action....

Most people will experience a variety of feelings but the bottom line is that all that frantic action is upsetting the mental, emotional and physiological apple cart.....or in this case rocking the boat.

The reality for many is the routine of working daily in a busy office, frantic medical clinic or perhaps in the hubbub of a school yard. All places where there are deadlines to meet, appointments to be kept, customers and clients to be satisfied. Each day spent paddling frantically in ever more stormy waters. There just never seem to be enough hours in the day. No wonder there are so many working hours lost through dis-ease.

A habit which can develop over years is feeling the need to “keep up” and to spend time racing around like lunatics, becoming irritated, disillusioned and self critical. Then there is predictable exhaustion, discontent and none of this feels good.

What is not always obvious is that there is a choice. We can choose the peace and serenity from whence comes the knowledge that what we desire will inevitably be ours when we detach from the outcome and observe those ripples and currents. The ones that will take us to our own personal version of success.

When we arrive, we will be calm, healthy and still feeling really good as well as being exactly where we want to be.

It is good to know that we all have the capability to choose our mindset by harnessing our imagination and visualising ourselves in our ideal scene. There is much evidence to support the effectiveness of visualisation. For example a 1988 study in the British Medical Journal has shown that visualisation combined with relaxation not only improves the quality of life in cancer patients but also that it effects breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. A somewhat high profile example of the results of visualisation is the much publicized wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. According to Seventeen magazine,the young Katie fantasized regularly that she would one day marry Tom, picturing herself walking down the aisle on a regular basis. Does this get you really curious about what you can create in your life?

Once we are aware of the fact we do have a choice all we have to do is ask ourselves where we would rather be. The pleasant lagoon or the storm? With practice and the help of our boundless imagination we can become aware of our emotions minute by minute, choosing calm and peaceful action that allows the realisation of our vision, no matter whether it is for our business, for our personal life or simply a vision of how we would like to get to the end of today.... It works the same way for visions of all sizes.

Success is many different things to infinite numbers of people and to succeed takes energy and commitment. It is probably safe to say that most would prefer to take these effective and healthy steps to achieve a peaceful mindset:
• Take a few minutes at the beginning of each day to relax while you set an intention ...what exactly is the day you would prefer to have?
• Visualise your day. Make a clear detailed picture in your mind of how your day will look, sound and feel.
• Every now and again throughout the day, check back, observe yourself and make any necessary adjustments. ....breathe in that beautiful island across calm waters.
• Celebrate your achievements....you deserve it!

And after all, when you think about it, we're all in the same boat one way or another so let's “be the change” and travel in peace.

Caroline Hylands
http://www.loveandmoneycoaching.com