First, I’d like to state my bias. There are a number (or were in the case of writers who are now deceased despite espousing the belief that if you think right you’ll live to be over 100) of writers on the subject of creative visualization who are (or were – they are now dead) charlatans, just as there are a number of Buddhist ego-maniacs that I’ve known personally, and self-proclaimed Christians who would not particularly appreciate a homeless, smelly Christ sitting in their living room. Or Jews concerned about Holocaust deniers, but who see nothing wrong, no contradiction, (for instance versus the Warsaw Ghetto) with killing little kids in Gaza. Many Israelis, including a former friend of mine, describe Gaza residents as vermin. Nazis described Jews as vermin. Or environmentalists who are substantial benefactors of middle-class comfort and thus the rape of nature. Including me. Now that I’ve alienated most of my readership, let me also say that underlying many of our closely held beliefs is some kernel of validity. I say all of this knowing I’ll lose subscribers and valued supporters. Fine. It’s important. In the end, all that matters in life is what we’re willing to sacrifice for. The contradictions in a human life are where the real juice is.

Wanderer, worshipper, lover  of leaving.
It doesn’t matter.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even  if you have broken your vow
a thousand times.

Come, yet  again, come, come.
- Rumi

In the thousands, or tens of thousands, of quotes and book excerpts that I’ve collected over the last fifty years, there are eight by Shakti Gawain. I didn’t know much about her. After I came across the quote above a couple of days ago, I spent a little time researching her life and work. She impresses me as a candid and insightful person. In the process, I also came across interviews of her business partner, Marc Allen, and the company they founded together, New World Library. New World published not only her work but that of other creative visualization authors such as Eckhard Tolle. Shakti died in 2018 at the age of seventy from a rare neurological condition, Lewy body disease. Marc Allen continues to write, do interviews, and run New World Library. In the last couple of days, I’ve watched interviews by both him and Shakti. All impress me as worthwhile and interesting. I’ve just ordered some of their books.

In the Shakti Gawain interview, she emphasizes that using creative visualization to buy a bigger house or have more money is ultimately unfulfilling for most of us. If visualization works to get what we think we want -- and it often does -- achieving those things is likely to lead to disappointment as the realization sinks in that what’s resulted is the same internal unease and craving that that prompted us to accumulate all that stuff in the first place. Indeed, I’ve known a number of wealthy people, including billionaires, and only one seemed particularly happy. Most are obsessed with their status relative to their peers. As humans, we’re all acutely aware of our status (even if only a subconscious level). See Seth Godin’s book This Is Marketing for more on basing a marketing strategy on the human need to enhance status among peers. It’s the ultimate hustle.

Marc Allen, in his interviews, places a lot of emphasis on financial success. His mantra, as he discusses in the YouTube video, is:

I am now creating the life of my dreams in an easy and relaxed manner, and in a healthy and positive way.

His vision has been concentrated on making a lot of money while working 20 hours a week, and practicing music. He’s accomplished that. He concludes, in the video, that whatever you believe will manifest. If you believe in Zen Buddhism or Trumpian Christianity (the ultimate oxymoron?) or money or walking alone around the world, or that being financially successful is too difficult in today’s world given the competition, that will manifest in your life and that all beliefs are thus equally valid. My mindset is actually fairly close to that — that our mindset manifests in our physical reality.

To be more specific, my central belief, and the one that I base my life and work around, is that meaning and happiness depend on your relationship your inner world. The ultimate achievement in life is thus a deep friendship with one’s subconscious, with the energy current that underlies one’s life, and, if built, that relationship will then take care of our other needs, including material needs, friendship or whatever. My tools in achieving that friendship with my inner world are four – journaling, meditation, time in nature and close friendships. I have a couple of friendships that light up my life.

. . .

What are your central beliefs? Have they served you well?