What does a small white dog look like?
Visualized the picture of a small white dog in your mind’s eye. Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine – Small. White. Dog.
Roll with me on this.
Got it?
Did you clearly see an image of a small white dog in your mind or perhaps remember a dog that fit the description?
Okay, I cheated by posting a picture of a small white dog. I do that sometimes.
The mind’s eye is powerful.
What if I told you that if you want something you must first visualize having it. Would you believe that?
We do it all the time.
I am willing to bet (and you can let me know) that today or perhaps for the next couple days you are going to notice (or think about) more small white dogs than normal.
We visualize things all the time with our words, with our sight and with our thoughts – even with our beliefs. We might not consciously realize it, but our subconscious is always working to create whatever we visualize.
It‘s not magic.
When the subconscious “sees” something it guides our interests, behaviors and actions in that direction.
If you notice a small white dog today or tomorrow your subconscious is going to ‘nudge’ your attention because you’ve recently visualized such a dog.
That’s how the subconscious works.
Try it with a child.
Tell a child he’s a bad boy or tell another child she’s a good girl and see what happens.
The more you repeat these statements and insist they are true the more the child sees him or herself behaving as described. In some measurable way their actual behaviors will eventually follow.
And guess what your expectations are going to be. What will you be looking for?
No matter how small the difference you will be more inclined to notice.
What about ADHD?
Find people with ADHD who have become successful and happy in their own right. Ask them to describe the disorder.
Maybe you’ll find out they don’t like to call it a disorder at all. Perhaps you’ll find out they see aspects of their ADHD as advantages. The odds are that you’re going to discover that ADHD is not considered as something “bad” to them.
Challenges with advantages. Not bad.
It’s not a matter of whether they are right or wrong or even if you or I agree. ADHD still presents challenges, but the point is that it’s a matter of perception. Their subconscious is providing them with what they “see” in their mind’s eye.
If someone only sees disadvantages then that’s all he or she’s going to notice. Why do that? It’s no fun. And it’s b-o-r-i-n-g. Boredom bites.
I see ADHD as a group of challenges with advantages and I choose to notice the advantages.
“ADHD is a group of challenges with advantages.” Click here to tweet that.
The good news is that we do have control. Same as you purposely visualized a small white dog, now purposely visualize something you want.
5 steps to get what you want:
1) Visualize a clear picture in your mind of what you want. To get started, go ahead and cheat. Find a picture online of what you want, then close your eyes and remember that picture. Keep visualizing it until it becomes a permanent memory.
2) Write it down on sticky notes. Post in places where you will see them frequently. Computer monitor, bathroom mirror etc.
3) Say it out loud several times a day. No one need hear you. In a closet? Or maybe in the Bathroom? You pick.
4) Start small. Visualize a pair of socks in a specific color. (White?) When you find such a pair, buy them and wear them. More importantly, remind yourself that you visualized them and celebrate the accomplishment! (I usually celebrate by buying my favorite cup of coffee, as a matter of fact I can see that cup of coffee in my hand already… Hrmmm, I’ll be right back.)
5) KISS: Keep It Simple Silly! Visualizing works best when it is simple and realistic. Visualizing yourself winning the lottery is okay, but it’s out of your control. However, visualizing yourself driving a speed boat is something your subconscious can work with because it can compel you to take lessons, read books and go for rides. (If you do win the lottery, call me.)
Commitment and “Buy in”.
I hope these tips help. They seem easy enough. I wish. It takes commitment and “buy in”. To start any new habit it is important to start small. If it works on the obviously like a white pair of socks, then it works.
It’s important, at least for me, to understand it isn’t about something appearing out of nowhere – it’s about visualizing, then doing the things necessary in order to achieve or recieve. The mind is powerful. Give it a clear enough image of what you want and it will help guide you towards whatever it is.
I “see” myself: writing daily, in a great relationship, having fun and enjoying the advantages of ADHD! Of course, it wasn’t always that way.
I also have a vision of being published by a trade publisher and seeing the extended version of “10 Things I Hate about ADHD” in actual bookstores. (It’s hilarious. If you’ve read my free eBook “The Myths of ADHD Debunked” then you’ve read an excerpt.)
The good news is that I recently signed with a literary agent. That would not have happened if I didn’t visualize bookstores and as a result sent out inquiries.
So that’s what I visualize. Your turn.
What do you visualize? Feel free to comment and let us know.
~Bryan
PS: keep this post in mind the next time you see a small white dog! You might think that’s not fair because I posted two pictures and repeated “small white dog” several times. Yep.
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