Article: the Power of Imagery (10-3-17) Transformation FME
October 3rd, 2017
October – It all begins with Imagery
The first tool on your journey to transformation is the practice of Dynamic Neuro-cognitive Imagery (DNI)™ to transform your body AND mind.
Imagery will be the first chapter and the theme of the first month of our transformation. You may be new to imagery and or perhaps you’ve been practicing imagery for years, however, this is a time to deepen your relationship with imagery and find a new way to use it to impact every aspect of your life. This week we have some tools for you to immediately implement the practical use of imagery. Normally we send you one tool a week, but we’re starting out with a bang! It’s the first ever week of transformation so we have a few tools for you. As a Franklin Method Educator we’ve also added an additional tool for you, a selfie Vlog lesson from Eric Franklin
The next few weeks we will specifically be exploring imagery and how it relates to mediation, mindfulness and specifically to reduce stress.
This week start your inner journey to transformation harnessing the power of imagery with an excerpt from one of Eric Franklin’s books, “Grow Younger Daily“, a short video lesson with quick meditation tips to start your journey with an accompanying downloadable mp3 that you can use during the week to calm and set your mind upon the journey ahead.
The Power of Imagery
One of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century is that the lives we live shape the brains we develop, referred to as the plasticity of the brain. The Franklin Method is at the forefront of practical neuroplasticity, showing you how to use your brain to improve your body’s function. Starting with the knowledge that we have the power to change, the Franklin Method teaches you how to harness the transforming power of the mind to move your body with maximum efficiency and keep your body youthful and energized. A special focus of the Franklin Method is learning how it can be applied to improve all of your abilities.
“If you want to change your body, start by changing your mind.” (Eric Franklin)
Research has shown that the most effective way to create changes in your brain is to change your thinking. Such mental interventions influence your immune system and organs in a positive way. These tools are free and always available to you, and have only beneficial side effects, so let’s learn how to use them well.
Thinking, mental imagery, and physicality interact. We become what we imagine, and our imagination reflects our physical state. It is a two-way street. As your body represents the images and words present in your head, your mind will adapt to your posture, movement coordination, and tension level. A hurdler who is trained in mental imagery can visualize jumping the hurdles quickly and elegantly, making it to the finish line victoriously. A long-distance runner employs imagery to produce a sensation of “flow,” the feeling of “running without trying.” Thus, the running experience becomes a meditation, a prayer to the body‘s cells, so to speak. Science has repeatedly shown how imagery is a successful athlete’s number-one mental skill (Feltz and Landers, 1983; Murphy, Nordin, and Cumming, 2008; Richardson, 1967b).
Negative imagery is powerful, too! While trained use of positive mental imagery goes hand-in-hand with achievement-oriented thoughts and actions, a body that is slouched and of low tone will accompany slouched and low-tone thoughts. Many people muse about their excess weight, sagging skin, weak muscles, wrinkles, or hair loss. They seem to be unaware of the fact that through such negative mental training, they are creating exactly what they don‘t want. This effect depends on the amount and strength of the negative thinking; it isn‘t about prohibiting negative thoughts dogmatically. If we only matter-of-factly become aware of our lack of abdominal tone and decide to do something about it, there will be no counterproductive effect. If, however, we decide to continuously obsess about our flabbiness but don‘t do anything about it, the negative imagery will assist in the body‘s adaptation to these thoughts, with the result of increased flabbiness. This mental display serves as a transmitting station to the cells.
Some people may consider negative thoughts to be motivating. For example, a fear of being unattractive can result in a person starting to go to the gym, albeit with apprehension and fear rather than enjoyment. Fear strongly encourages negative mental training, however. When one is terrified, one distinctly visualizes things one doesn‘t want to happen. The basis of effective mental training consists of a clear positive image, physical sensation, and emotional fortification. All of these are present during fear as well as rage, but in a very negative way. If one were to use the same elements to create positive images with positive emotions attached to them, the results would be very pleasing. Although visualizing the skin cells as clear, free, firm, and flexible may be a challenge at the outset, with time, you can learn how to use imagery with conviction and physical percipience. Everything takes practice; imagery is no different: Your skill will increase with the number of times you practice.
excerpt from Grow Younger Daily, by Eric Franklin
A Video Introduction: Reduce Stress via Imagery
A Video Lesson: Quick Meditation Tips for Stress Reduction
Educator Extra: A Simple Face Embodiment
Want to take what you learned in the video with you wherever you go?
Now you can by downloading the accompanying Mp3.
Downloads
- Meditation for Calming the Mind – By Eric Franklin
Reduce stress and calm your mind today with this meditation MP3. Click to listen, after opening click the download button (Down arrow) to download to your device.
- Monthly Imagery Download
“Imagery is the most available exercise because your brain and body are always with you.” – Eric Franklin
To save on your device: Right click on the picture to select save this image
Transformation Action
Here are some actionable ways to use this weeks tools, feel free to do one or all this week to help solidify what you’re learning.
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Community Connection:
- INTRODUCTION WEEK!
- Introduce yourself on the community forum with your goals for the weekly process, or if you’re just here for information that is okay too!
- Before and After the meditation, notice how your body feels and compare results. Use the meditation a few more times throughout the week and report the differences you feel in your stress level from the beginning of the week until the end of the week.
- INTRODUCTION WEEK!
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Educator Practice
- CONNECTION WEEK!
- Introduce yourself in the educator community this week, create a topic within the educator community forum about your favorite practice or experiences with the Franklin Method & Reply to another posted topic with comments, questions and connection.
- CONNECTION WEEK!
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Forum Contest!
- We will randomly select one participant from each forum that will win a free copy of the next online course to be released in October: Cueing with The Franklin Method. The more you post, the more chances you have to win! Winners will be announced next Tuesday.