[tomcha]

I've been giving this a lot of thought and whether to use intentions or affirmations. And if to use both, how to mesh the two together in a harmonious way.

Because of my preoccupation with the two, I think I might have overlooked something that was mentioned here earlier in this thread and one of the first things that I learned about IM.

Visualization.

If you think about it, a lot of great achievers in history used this as their main tool for achieving their goals and dreams. I think those of you who mentioned this is right on the money. I think it is probably one of the most powerful tools in bringing about the desired change whether from affirmations or intentions.

I done have enough personal evidence or experience to commit to it and claim it as the 'best way', but I think just the sheer number of achievers who used this method as their main tool is convincing enough at this point for me to give it a good honest try.

But I'd like to add one little thing here. I come from a teaching background and I know that visualization is tough for some people. I myself am a little more of an auditory learner. That just means that I think, concentrate, remember, etc.... better when I speak something or hear something, rather than see it.

I'm sure there are others like me on this thread.

So the visualization works great for those who are visual learners, who happen to be the majority, but what about us auditory learners or even worse kinesthetic (by touch) learners?

I offer this potential advice based on what I've observed in students.

Auditory learners might do better if they couple the visualization with a lot of auditory input. Hear the sounds in the environment that you are visualizing. How do you sound? What kinds of sounds are there in the background? If you need to, touch or tap various objects in your visualization and listen to them. How does the piano sound (if you have one in your vision)? What does your new car door sound when you close it? How does the engine sound? etc... Also, I think repeating a simple mantra like affirmations might help a great deal to help stay focused on the visualization in general. I think this may have been why I was automatically trying to use a lot of auditory cues instead of just doing visualizations.

For kinesthetic learners, the same advice applies, but to substitute kinesthetic stimuli for the auditory ones. In other words, touch the objects in the visualization process and feel the sensations of the limbs, hands, feet, head, fingers, etc.. and the textures of the objects that you 'touch'. Be aware of the temperature, smoothness, etc.. of the various objects.

I hope this helps a few others who, like me, are not very much visually oriented. I have to regurgitate an advice I was given here. Play with it and have fun.

Alexis, perhaps you were going to post similar question initially because you were having similar troubles with intentions and affirmations as I was having. Hope this helps.