The Power of Visualization

Your holy soul which is a tiny but perfect eternal particle of G-d possesses all this information and according to the mystical writings of the Torah, your soul is located in the right hemisphere of your brain. Isn't it fascinating that the right side of the brain is also associated with the unconscious mind of a person? This is why when we use visual imagery and guided imagery techniques that access unconscious processes we can help to arouse and awaken a person’s soul to remember who he really is; that in essence he is completely good. Visualization will help you be certain about where you came from and where you are meant to go.

The creative spiritual healthy part of your unconscious mind is the interface between your physical self and the spiritual self or soul. Your healthy imagination is the lowest aspect of your soul and the highest aspect of your body. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev actually said that your emuna, your faith is in your imagination (Likutei Moharan; part 2, lesson 8). What the Rebbe meant by this is that in order to see G-d in our world and to believe in G-d’s goodness despite the difficulties that you’re experiencing, you’re going to need to use your imagination in the right way.

Your entire identity is your spiritual self. You are not simply a person or a personality. Never allow yourself to be categorized this way.  It doesn't matter whether Hashem created you to be an extravert or an introvert; this is simply the "clothing" around your soul. Focusing on changing your personality while ignoring your soul will only lead you off course and to false conclusions about yourself and your life. However when you take the route of spiritual growth (not secular psychology) you are led to the "land that Hashem will show you" that is – to your soul and therefore to that which you can do which is superior to any person that ever existed or will ever exist.

When you have found your spiritual identity you will be like Abraham who stopped listening to the false comments and messages that he received from his family. Likewise you will be free from the bondage of anything that your secular education or psychotherapies told you about yourself that is not true. You will know the truth about yourself and never apologize for your opinions, your decisions, your lifestyle, or your religious devotions. Your sense of purpose will be clear and unwavering. This will relieve you of worry, sadness, anger, and disappointment. Even when you temporarily lose sight of who you are and where you are meant to go, you will have many methods with which to quickly realign yourself with your truth.  

It is very painful for us when we are even temporally disconnected from our true selves because we are also very far from Hashem at that moment. In a sense we cease to "be" at such times because we have "lost" track of who we are. That's why the name of G-d that is associated with returning to Him through repentance is translated as "I Shall Be." When we return to our souls we are returning to G-d and we are going from a state of "non-being" to "being" once again.

Meditation: Revealing the Ultimate You

This meditation focuses on: Spiritual Breathing, Uniqueness of the soul and its relationship to the Creator, The Creator’s Love, Self-Nullification, Purification, Joy and Self-Belief

Sit down with your back straight and your shoulders back.

Become mindful of breathing naturally; this will enable you to feel more “centered” and “grounded” in your breathing.

Put one hand on the area (the abdominal area or chest) where you feel your breathing emanates the most from. This will increase your feeling of centeredness and inner balance.

Let you mind “drop down” into an awareness of your breathing and becoming more calm and relaxed with each breath. Breathe calmly like this a few more times…

In the Holy language, the word for your soul and the word for your breathing are almost the same word. So now, when you breathe, imagine you’re breathing in the Light of your soul which comes from the Holy Light of G-d Himself.

G-d is lovingly sustaining your body and your soul from moment to moment by breathing the spirit of life into your lungs.   Imagine that G-d is exhaling from the deepest place within Himself and lovingly exhaling some of His essence into you. Think about how much love G-d has for you, that He continually sends you your existence.

As you simply focus on G-d’s love and His desire to fill you with the essence of Himself, you are staying connected to Him. Let yourself feel how you can trust your breathing to the Creator. Let yourself feel how your breathing seems to happen automatically by itself. Pay some attention to that. Now realize that you don’t have to breathe yourself because it’s the Creator who is actually breathing you. The Creator is breathing His Light into you – it's your soul.

The uniqueness of your soul is unlike any other soul. The Creator breathes into you your own special individual qualities, characteristics, capacities and potential that is only yours. G-d never has and never will make another person like you…He wants you to feel and experience the uniqueness and the specialness that he gave you because He wants to have a unique relationship with Him. So just take a few more slow breaths in and out and while you do simply feel who you are and how special you are to G-d. Pause. Now breathe a few more times and think how G-d needs you to appreciate yourself and needs you to be yourself…all so that He can come closer to you and have with you the uniquely personal relationship with Him that you are meant to have.

The more you let go of your conventional, societal self, the more you’re going to experience the joy and vitality and aliveness of the real eternal you.

Consider how you’d feel if you could empty yourself of all the nonsense and lies that the world put into you from your youngest, most innocent years until now. Wouldn’t you like to purge yourself of the layers of falsehood and negativity and doubt that have surrounded and all but choked out who you really are – your pure and beautiful soul that is so special and unique to G-d? Imagine now, each time you breath out, that you’re discharging more and more darkness, negativity and doubt.  Gradually, now, with each breath out, you can empty yourself more and more of unnecessary doubts about yourself and doubts about G-d’s love for you. Just breathe a few more times, now, with this in mind. And as you breath out think of yourself emptying  out a dirty bucket of water…as you are emptying out the bucket, you’re becoming a more open, pure and stronger vessel with which to receive even more of G-ds Light.

As you breathe with the intention to purify your vessel, G-d will come into your heart and mind and give you glimpses of the future…You’ll see yourself in the future the way you really want to be. In the future, you’ll see how much more you believe in yourself.  You’ll realize how much more positive you are. You’ll see how much happier you’ll be in the future. You’ll see how much more spiritual you will be in the future. Now see how much more real, genuine and sincere you will be in the future…more authentic in the way you act; more authentic in the way you speak; even more authentic in the thoughts you’ll have. See how much more productive you have become in the future and how much more full of life and energy and purpose. With G-d’s help, look into your future now and see how you’ve developed a different way of walking and speaking or even dressing.  Notice how from moment to moment you have learned to never forget your Creator, to never forget your goodness and to never forget your purpose in life.

The more you repeat this meditation the more powerfully will G-d reveal to you your ultimate self, the real eternal you. The more you practice this you will realize that you are not yet experiencing even one thousandth of a percent of the strength and aliveness that is in your soul, your ultimate you, your true identity -but over time you will reveal more and more of your holy sparks.

Now promise yourself that you will be patient as you undergo this inner transformation and digest who you really are. Your soul is much deeper and greater than you ever imagined it was.

Commit yourself to investing the time to bring out more and more awareness of the natural goodness, joy, greatness and perfection that is your ultimate you and building your real self during every quiet moment that you have.

Devote yourself to this process because you know that you need it in order to fulfill your mission in life.

Come back gently and gradually to a more alert and awake state of mind.

You are ready to continue your day.