Actor Jim Carrey is famous for parking his car on Muholland Drive every night before anybody knew about him, and visualizing becoming the Hollywood star that he inevitably became. He even wrote himself a ten million dollar check for a movie deal, and dated it five years from that very day. Can you guess what eventually happened? Not long before that date came along, he secured ten million dollars to star in the movie Dumb and Dumber.

The power of visualization has been instrumental in turning dreams into reality for not only folks like Jim Carrey, but elite and successful people in every field: professional athletes, business CEO’s, speakers, singers, and performers.

Replaying the mental vision and image of where or who you would like to be is the key catalyst in swinging your vision from a mere day-dream into reality!

Remarkably, science has also demonstrated that your brain cannot tell the difference between a visualized image and reality. A Harvard study taught two groups a simple 5-fingered piano melody; one group physically practiced the melody for 2 hours a day over 5 days. The other group merely visualized playing the melody. As you can probably guess, the new neurological wiring that took place were almost identical between the two groups.

Here are 5 ways you can begin to use visualization to start living the dream:

1. When visualizing your dreams, involve all your senses:

Touch, sound, sight, even smell and taste. Involve your emotions, laugh, smile, and celebrate the victory.

2. Take on different perspectives:

See yourself accomplishing your goals beginning with your own 1^st person lens, then 2^nd and 3^rd person, be in the crowd and look upon yourself succeeding in your dream.

3. Begin to live as if you have succeeded in your goal:

Begin to dress, talk, and look like the person you want to be.

4. Use self-talk and affirmations together with your visualizations:

As with taking on the different perspectives with the mental images, likewise in 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd person, say the things that would like to be said about you as if you have already achieved your goal.

5. Put together a dream collage: 

This can be physical on a cork-board, posted on your desk or wall, or compiled on your computer. Use words that describe the person that you desire to become, pictures of the victories that you desire to experience.

Be sure to look at these images on a daily basis.