Visualization: The Second Step for Increasing Harmonious Passion

Once you understand what’s most valuable to you in life, you can develop a picture of what your life would look like if you were more consistently living by your values. That congruence of your inner values and external actions is the core of harmonious passion.

To achieve that level of functioning, you must be able to picture the positive outcome you would like to attain. Literally picture yourself being in situations that would be immensely valuable and deeply gratifying. Imagining what your life could look like is necessary because of how your brain is wired. Change brings up fears and doubts, stimulating fight—flight—freeze reactions. To counter those responses, you must activate your left prefrontal cortex, which is accomplished by imagining what it will look like when you have reached your goal.

It’s always helpful to write down your vision of how you want your life to be working if you were at your best. Post your vision statement someplace where you’ll see it every day.