You have no doubt heard the phrase, “what you see is what you get”. You may have even used it before. If you have, you were probably describing a scenario where someone was physically observing something, thinking that there might be more to it, but alas, they were seeing everything there was to see.
If you’re a little older, you may remember The Flip Wilson Show, where comedian Flip Wilson would dress up like a woman to play the role of Geraldine. He would always say “what you see is what you get” as he attempted to explain away the crazy and quirky behavior of the character. The audience was, after all, looking at a nut job up there on stage, so what did they expect, right?
If you’re a tad younger, you may associate the phrase with the acronym WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) as it relates to computers. In this usage, the phrase or acronym refers to the fact that the content displayed on your computer screen during editing is pretty much what you will see in the final printed document. In other words, “duh”.
In either case, you have a preconceived and pretty clear idea of what the phrase means. And it works for you. But now, I want you to alter the way you think about that phrase.
As we continue to elaborate on each of the steps mentioned in the post Permanent Vacation, “what you see is what you get” is a great way to think about the next step in the process. Step number 3 says to spend quality time each day imagining the end result of your vision. This is a must for you if you plan on achieving anything extraordinary. You have to see it in your mind. So think of it this way…what you see or visualize over and over and as specifically as possible is ultimately exactly what you will get.
The things that you focus on most, and which become your dominant thoughts, will also become the events, circumstances, and results that make up your life. So you have to start taking control of what it is you are visualizing.
The life blood of any thought is emotion. When you can put true emotion into a vision that you have…meaning that you can feel it, taste it, and smell it…then you give that vision essence. It starts to morph into the physical plane. It goes from an imagined scenario to a distinct possibility and finally to an end result. The exact end result that you were seeing.
If you have figured out what you want to achieve, and you believe that you are worthy of that goal, your focus now needs to be on spending a few minutes each day quietly imagining how it will feel when it comes to pass. Get yourself in the mood of having achieved and stay there. I can promise you this much; when you can start consistently thinking of yourself as already having accomplished your goal, you will be on the fast track to having it all come to pass.
If you have never done this before and you’re wondering how to get started, let me tell you how I started out visualizing. Hopefully, this will help you. I’m going to try to get you to imagine a day at the beach.
Close your eyes and imagine that you’re at the beach. Feel the sunlight warming your body. Hear the ocean waves crashing on the shore. Hear the seagulls in the air above calling out to each other. Feel the sand on your feet. Smell the breeze. Could you imagine yourself there? Pretty cool, right? It all starts to come alive when you take the time to slow down and add sight, sound, feeling, and smell.
Now take that same principle and apply it to anything else you want to focus on. Get real still and imagine yourself standing somewhere when you first realize that you have accomplished your goal. Imagine how you feel, and what the scenery is like around you…hear the sounds, notice the weather…the more realistic and the more of your senses you can add to the imaginary situation, the better. Give your vision life and it will become living.
Now of course there is more to achieving your dreams and goals and desires that just thinking about them.
So how do you to take these thoughts and move them toward actualization? Find out in the next post…
Recently I have come across several posts that have taken the idea of a New Year resolution and put it into having a New Year theme. I kind of struggled with this…I mean picking only one thing, it has to be perfect etc. Since nothing jumped out at me I kind of let it go until yesterday it came to me to have Vision be my theme. Then I came across your post this morning.
What I like about this post is that it pulls vision into it’s parts.
I love the Flip Wilson analogy. This shows that it take vision to make the day to day decisions in life.
So often we do not look at what a person is like and expect something more. We just hired a builder that produces a great product. He builds fabulous homes and always has work. Although he does things differently than I would, I know I will get the product. What I see is what I get.
Now I could have hired the man down the street that does need the work, but he produces shoddy work and lives in home that has a lot to desire. If I hired him, that is what I would get.
Then there is the long range vision and the ability to create that vision.
This not only takes imagination, it takes having a purpose and having the vision to see what it will take to reach the goal.
Thanks Mike this post was very timely.
Sheila
Mike, I love your writing and what you have to say.
Sheila –
I love to hear about it when the posts are timely and relevant! Thanks for reading.
Vision is such a huge part of success, small or large.
…and it’s always handy to know a good builder!
Happy 2010!
MS