Seeing Is Believing - Or Is It?

By Susan Gilbert

Author

“The Land of I Can”

How many times have you heard - I'll believe it when I see it? How many of us have that message subliminally and deeply ingrained inside of us? And if we do believe that saying, how does this message keep us from looking for the job of our dreams?

You've worked hard to achieve the knowledge and credentials of your education. As you embark upon the search for your perfect job, be open to what is possible, rather than what others may say. You WILL encounter people who will tell you why you are not the one for their job, and others who will tell you the kinds of jobs that are available that you should settle for - which might not be what you desire. Be willing to believe that you can and will create the life you desire.

Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. Every man-made creation first existed inside someone's imagination. First comes the vision; then comes the reality. Your life and job search is no different. What you can do is limited mainly by your ability to imagine it. In fact, imagination may be the most powerful gift you possess.

Words, pictures, feelings in your imagination, seen vividly, create your new reality. High-performance people use their imaginations all the time to help them achieve their goals. And that's why you, too, will benefit from using visualization as part of your goal-achievement strategy. If you can see it, you can be it!

You don't have to worry about how you'll do that, either. The Wright Brothers weren't sure how they would invent the airplane, but they believed in their ability to figure it out. That's exactly what you need to do. Be clear about what you want, imagine it repeatedly, and don't let the truth of your current reality stop you. Believe in your ability to invent the how-to's as you go along. Remember, your imagination is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it will become and the more you'll be able to do with it.

During recent employee interviews conducted with my new manager Thomas, we collectively looked for each person's strengths and interests with a desire to create individually rewarding work while building a cohesive team. Thomas and I worked on the premise that if we could tap into everyone's individual strengths and desires, we would create a strong work environment that benefited all. Thomas commented that some of the things we were discussing reminded him of a Disney movie titled The Balloon Farm. Intrigued, I had to rent it.

The Balloon Farm takes place in a small farming town that is experiencing a drought, and it clearly paints a picture of the scenarios and issues that present themselves during this seemingly uncontrollable act of God. Townspeople support each other's misery and fail, dare I say, refuse to SEE the message of hope when it arrives. The messenger of hope, sent in the disguise of the new farmer, maintains a sense of love, humor and goodwill despite that all everyone else sees only adversity. As the townspeople complain of a drought, and SEE no available water for crops - hot baths, car washes and plenty of coffee are commonplace.

Meanwhile, our new farmer makes the sweetest lemonade with one lemon, the best pecan pie with one pecan, and grows crops of balloons (yes, balloons) overnight with just one special seed. He BELIEVES you've got to use what you have. Everything starts with a seed, he says. A tree, grass, flowers, cows, me - you. We all started out as a seed. So use what you've got, and BELIEVE.

A new paradigm is suggested: It's not what you see, it's what you believe. Think about that for a minute. If what you see is drought, and you believe in prosperity - which is more real? If you see, or visualize your intention, despite what is outwardly apparent, then you have the ability to co-create your existence. Like creates like. Plant negativity and this is what you will reap.