INVENTING THE FUTURE?

(Photo of high speed train in France by G. Bowater/Corbis)

In the late eighties I discovered a book at the library with the title "Inventing the Future" by Marilee Zdenek. Around that same time I also read Deepak Chopra's book "Creating Health". Together these books helped me embark upon a journey of self-discovery, and a search for self-empowerment. Twenty years later I am still on that path. Each book, although in different ways, posited the belief that we as individuals not only are creating the situations in our lives, but also the condition of our bodies with our thinking processes. Mostly, we do this unconsciously, not even aware that circumstances we find ourselves in are at least partially of our own making.

Marilee's book is about guided imagery -- or creative visualization as it is sometimes called. The training exercises in her book are very similar to self-hypnosis. She teaches you methods of shutting down the "left brain" (our critical brain) by using scientifically designed "mandalas" (the spaces in the graphics fool the left brain, which cannot process or deal with spaces), and guiding yourself into a beautiful "right brain" land that you create yourself with your imagination!

One very effective method is imagining you are on a train, moving toward your future. The relaxation techniques used in the book are marvelous for preparing your body for a delightful experience that you can use for many purposes.. particularly to relieve the stresses of today's high-tech society. The meditation allows you to picture in your mind whatever kind of landscape or future you wish to behold and experience. A peaceful beach by the ocean, a cloudless sky, clear blue water, and you lazily swaying in a hammock, feeling the cool ocean breezes, watching the sea gulls at play. Or maybe you would envision your dream home, surrounded by sleek cars and beautiful people, counting your money at the end of the day! Aaaahhhh.. that feels good, doesn't it?

(Photo by granddaughter Audrey)

Now close your eyes and imagine if you are viewing violent, disturbing, depressing images of war, famine, disease, and disasters throughout the day, either on television or on the Internet. At the same time your mind is being filled with negative, destructive, hostile, angry words.. Words that are denigrating and critical. How does that feel? And how could that not have an effect on your health and ultimately, on your world?

Dr. Chopra suggested in his book using meditation to create a calm and peaceful realm within that is conducive to health and healing. Even ten to twenty minutes a day will very quickly show benefits in your well-being.

I was so impressed with "Inventing the Future" that I ordered a cassette tape to enhance the experience. Along with it came a short meditation tape on world peace.. suggesting you "tell two people", they "tell two people", and they "tell two people" until the whole world is imaging peace.

"We create in our world what we hold in our thoughts." And the words we listen to and read determine what kind of thoughts we are holding. What kind of world are you creating? What kind of future are we all creating together by tuning in to all the negativity surrounding us in this age of technology with its attendant instant news coverage?

I suggest we all use our imagination to project a beautiful world of peace and harmony. An end to disease, poverty, war, and hunger. I'll tell two people, if you'll tell two people, who'll tell two people....

Love,
Marilyn