The manifestation process for what we desire can be boiled down to 4 steps, which includes the art of visualization. Let us quickly review the steps of manifestation and then we will be focusing on visualization as a positive thinking exercise.

Step 1- Everything starts with a thought. Just as we have seen earlier, our thoughts lead to our beliefs; our beliefs dictate our actions and our actions bring about our results. Choose the thought of what you want to see come into your life. With thought then comes the setting of the intention, making the commitment to go forward, developing a burning desire, and believing that this is possible for you.

Step 2- Once you hold the thought clearly in your mind, you must start to make this thought virtual. You do so by visualizing it, by affirming it, and by feeling very grateful - as if this thing is already in your life experience. You will then plan for this thing, person, event or circumstance.

Step 3- You will speak the truth of the desired thought and take inspired action to bring it about.

Step 4 - You will see the desired thought manifested and you will be able to enjoy it.

The reason visualization is so powerful is because as you create pictures in your mind of seeing yourself with what it is you want, you are generating thoughts and feelings of having it now. Visualization is simply powerfully focused thought in pictures, and it causes equally powerful feelings.

Rhonda Byrne

Now you might be wondering or thinking, "Whom actually practices this kind of positive thinking exercise?" The answer is most people do not and they also do not get the desired results they want in their life.

Other folks get great results and yet are unaware that they actually do many of these steps in a subconscious manner. They desire the best; they take inspired action while being in flow and enjoying life, and they expect the best. They therefore see wonderful things in their life experience.

People who have drawn wealth into their lives used The Secret, whether consciously or unconsciously. They think thoughts of abundance and wealth, and they do allow any contradictory thoughts to take root in their minds.

Rhonda Byrne -

However, the vast majorities actually create and attract by default. They get a little bit of what they want and a little bit of what they do not want. They keep repeating the same negative thoughts over and over again in their heads, and therefore get the same results.

The manifestation process is actually practiced by individuals who want to start consciously applying some scientifically proven ways to achieve more of what they want to see. Whether you choose to consciously use the manifestation process or not, it is always in action.

Last time, we looked at how to use affirmations to help reprogram your subconscious mind with more empowering thoughts. Now we will examine how you can use the positive thinking exercise of visualization along with affirmations in order to create more magnetic thoughts.

"You are the most powerful magnet in the universe! You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic power is emitted through your thoughts."

Rhonda Byrne

Simply put, thoughts without feelings and pictures are just much weaker and not very effective. If you add a picture to your thoughts, these thoughts become much more powerful.

If you think of spirit being at one end of the spectrum and matter at the other, than what you are doing here is working from cause (thought) to effect ( manifested desire), from beginning to end. Visualization is life in the process of taking form. Everything that exists is thought solidified.

You may want to pursue the scientific explanations of the creative process, by reading a wonderful book, 'Your Invisible Power' written by Genevieve Behrend. 

You must start to see yourself as the person you want to be, and having what it is you desire. In other words you want to place yourself in vibrational harmony with what you desire. Like energy attracts like energy.

We all posses more power than we recognize and much more power than we use. Visualization is one of these powers.

So how can you visualize effectively?

When starting to visualize, past results do not predict your future therefore, simply let them go.

You must continuously use your will to inhibit every thought and feeling that is contrary to your desired picture. It is important that your will be strong and not be shifting back and forth from what is desired to what is not desired.

Yet, one of the tricks to visualizing is to do so without anxiety or strain. Practice your visualization in a confident and relaxed manner, while maintaining the expectation that the desire will manifest.

Many people fall into the trap when visualizing of believing that their results are contingent on conditions or persons. Suffice to say that such a belief will delay your results or create imperfect results. Do not worry about the "How", in other words how the result will come about. Simply focus on what you desire. Also, do not concern yourself with what others might be thinking or visualizing.

A fun way to start your positive thinking visualization exercise is to create a dream board of what you desire.

Take the time to cut out pictures that represent for you the freedom, the joy, the love, and the satisfaction you are longing for. Glue these pictures on a board and hang this board where you can see it frequently. Or, keep a photo album and every day look at these pictures and impress them upon your mind.

Next, take a few minutes daily to sit quietly and run these pictures of your desired results in your head. Add movement to your pictures and run it like a movie. Feel the feelings that you will enjoy when this plays out in physical form.

Now we must get clear on one thing. Visualizing is extremely powerful however, if you sit on a couch all day and simply visualize that will not get you anywhere.

Visualization is to be followed up by inspired action; doing what you believe will bring the desired result to fruition. Inspired action is purposeful and focused. It is not hurried, stressful or chaotic.

Now you may be asking yourself, "If visualization is such a powerful exercise how come more people aren't practicing it consciously?"

First of all few individuals have taken the time to inquire about how the laws of life work. Few realize that it is as important to visualize, as it is to clean your house, to hold down your job and so forth.

Again, thinking, real thinking is some of the hardest work you will ever do. Controlling your thoughts and developing new thought patterns takes energy and effort.

We are in a society that wants the results yet it is not always willing to do what counts. Notice here, doing what is imperative like proper thinking requires no equipment or particular skills. Just start implementing new thought strategies such as visualization from where ever you are.

Quantum physics is now showing that thoughts are things and the powers of the mind are phenomenal. The positive thinking exercise of visualization is one way to start using your mind power and to start seeing more of what you want in your life. Enjoy your visualizations!