How Guided Imagery Helps Our Emotions, Mind and Body

What is Guided Imagery – and how it works

Guided Imagery is a powerful process and tool that we can employ to enlist our brain’s capacity to react to what it believes is occurring. We tend to believe our thoughts as well as what we imagine and take in through our senses.

Our bodies are in constant communication with our environment. The stimuli we take in helps to create images from everywhere, from what is around us, as well as what our brain produces from our memory and thoughts. In the same way, by consciously creating images that are in effect, “waking dreams”, we can create inner landscapes that the brain responds to chemically, by producing hormones that produce inner calm, feelings of well-being, as well as feelings of energized vitality. So, if we are imagining positive scenes from nature, enjoying ourselves with friends and celebrating happy occasions, this will have positive effects on our body.

The Many Benefits and Uses of Guided Imagery

These impressions we take in through our senses feed our subconscious, affect our nervous system and influence the whole energetic field in which we live. Guided Imagery with a positive message reduces stress and anxiety, promotes relaxation and calms the mind. During the process, the breath slows down and the muscles begin to relax. Music is often used to enhance these positive effects. There are a wide range of concerns where guided imagery has been shown to be helpful in alleviating, managing and even resolving. Some of these are:

• Reducing stress

• Alleviating anxiety

• Minimizing allergic reactions

• Lifting depression

• Managing substance abuse

• Moving through grief

• Coping with post-traumatic stress

• Relationship issues

…and so forth

Some of the physical benefits are, assisting with pain management, lowering high blood pressure, and quitting smoking. People with chronic diseases such as cancer use Guided Imagery to increase the capacity of their bodies immune system and ability to heal.

Guided Imagery with a positive message reduces stress and anxiety, promotes relaxation and calms the mind.

The Power of Guided Imagery

High performing individuals in many professions use Guided Imagery in their drive to succeed in their chosen fields. For example, the comedian, Jim Carey famously relates the story of how, before he became famous, he would drive to a place overlooking Los Angeles and imagine that all the lights below were people watching him on their televisions.

On the other hand, if it is stressful imagery, such as what we observe in the news, it has the opposite effect and may cause internal stress. Psychologists have done studies to suggest that children who watch a lot of violent movies on TV learn the same behavior, while scientists note that blood pressure and heart rate can increase for people watching violent TV shows. Why? The brain interprets these images as happening in real time and does not distinguish a movie image from something happening around us. Our sensory intake feeds our mental and emotional bodies, so it is of great importance that our sensory impressions be as wholesome and nourishing as possible. The old saying “We are what we eat,” also means what we ingest at every level has a great influence on us. For we are not just what we eat, but what we see, smell, hear and feel.

You can listen to guided imagery healing meditations for free on this site or attend my live class Healing Meditations for Wellness to experience it firsthand.

You can also create your own guided imagery. Here are some helpful tips!

• Put on some soft relaxing music. Just for now, let go of any thoughts or worries.

• Put yourself in a comfortable position.

• Breathe deeply and imagine being in a peaceful and beautiful place in nature.

• Imagine your body, how you would want it to be with all your cells being healthy filled with sparkling light and color.

• Send smiles to different parts of your body and all your cells.

• See yourself doing things you love to do.

• Be creative with your own imagery and come back to the present moment with gratitude.

In Summary:

Guided Imagery is a relaxation technique that people may use to reduce stress and increase their overall sense of well-being. It usually involves imagining peaceful scenes, events, or objects. Guided imagery should help stimulate the body’s natural relaxation response.

There are many benefits to incorporating guided imagery in stressful situations or in general, coping more effectively with life. Guided imagery can be easy to do. It starts with taking a few deep breaths to relax and then follows with whatever techniques you choose.

Here’s some lovely, relaxing music to enjoy with your own guided imagery.