It is a skill which can grow more useful with regular practice. Always Begin with Relaxation Placing your body and mind in a state of active relaxation is the best preparation for the use of guided imagery. Relaxation must precede, interact with, and be enhanced by guided imagery. The mind must be prepared to be explored, expanded, enhanced, and enriched. Once you've cultivated the ability to relax in a completely natural way, you will be able to activate physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual relaxation at will.
Some people use guided imagery every day as part of a regular relaxation or meditation ritual.
Others may use imagery only occasionally for specific needs such as healing after a divorce, recovering from surgery, generating new ideas for a project, or coping with a particularly stressful day. Ultimately, if you integrate guided imagery into your life, you will probably feel a greater power to reduce stress and direct your life in a positive direction. Meditation and Guided Imagery People are often confused by the language used in relaxation and guided imagery training. The term meditation is used to describe an altered state of consciousness that accesses what we call a vertical path of relaxation, advocated by many Eastern philosophies. By emptying your mind, focusing on a single visual cue, and using conscious, monotonous activities, such as repeated mantras, you can achieve a relaxation state similar to sleep, where your mind is disengaged.