Lydia Ievleva - Imagine: Using Mental Imagery to Reach Your Full Potential

IMAGINE

Using mental imagery to reach your full potential

Copyright Dr Lydia Ievleva 2013

First published 2013

Copyright remains the property of the authors and apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.

All inquiries should be made to the publishers.

Big Sky Publishing Pty Ltd

PO Box 303, Newport, NSW 2106, Australia

Cover design and typesetting: Think Productions
Printed in China by Asia Pacifica Offset Ltd.

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry (pbk)

Author: Ievleva, Lydia, author.

Title: Imagine: using mental imagery to reach your full potential / Dr Lydia Ievleva.

ISBN: 9781922132420 (paperback)

Subjects: Active imagination.

Imagination.

Positive psychology.

Self-actualization (Psychology)

Dewey Number: 158.1

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry (ebook)

Author: Ievleva, Lydia, author.

Title: Imagine: using mental imagery to reach your full potential / Dr Lydia Ievleva.

ISBN: 9781922132437 (ebook)

Subjects: Active imagination.

Imagination.

Positive psychology.

Self-actualization (Psychology)

Dewey Number: 158.1

IMAGINE

Using mental imagery to reach your full potential

Lydia Ievleva PhD

Imagine elegantly and eloquently expresses in words what is beyond language the brain thinks in pictures. It provides easy-to-understand scientific validation from neuroscience and quantum physics that your history is not your destiny. It encourages the reader to take full creative control and provides practical steps to do so. This book is a must read for my clients.

Dominique Beck, PhD, ICF, Neuroscience-Based Coach,

Corporate Trainer and Keynote Speaker.

At the heart of many strategies from positive psychology, sport psychology and personal development, lies the ability to use imagery at last a resource that actually teaches us the nuts and bolts of how to develop the skills of mental imagery! This book is an important contribution and a valuable tool for anyone working towards becoming their best self.

Susy Reading, B Psych (Hons), M Psych,

Psychology, Yoga, Health & Fitness Training.

In Imagine, Lydia applies her strength of integrating information across various fields, and links neuroscience with positive psychology and the psychology of health and human performance. In doing so, she presents up to date research and practical information that positions mental imagery as a key ingredient for enhancing wellbeing and success.

Prof Marc Cohen, Professor of Health Sciences and

Program Leader for the Master of Wellness at RMIT University, Board

Member and Past President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine

Association and Board member of the Global Spa and Wellness Summit.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

I am ever so grateful to everyone who supported and shared in bringing Imagine to life. Special thanks to:

My Mum Zina Ijewliw for believing in me and supporting me when I needed it most and without asking; and for being a wonderful example of forgiveness and transcendence. And to my father Dmytro Kyslycia-Ijewliw who resembles who most? for your unconditional love and acceptance, not to mention heritage of your writing genes. Was a privilege to share in your journey onward.

To my big sister Olga Ijewliw (Olya) who provided valuable feedback on early drafts of the book; and for finally seeing me in the image of an adult with something worth listening to.

To Ludmilla Temertey, my virtual couzinka (and beloved Godmother Raias daughter) for your consistently enthusiastic encouragement and advice youre a soul sister to me. Your support has meant so much to me.

To my boy Zenko who was conceived at same time as this book one of lifes magical coincidences, and who has been essential for maintaining my levity and equanimity.

To my darling Phaedre who trained me to communicate via images with her (aka dog whispering).

To my mentors, colleagues and promoters along the way beginning with my university training and practice: John Partington (who supervised my Honours thesis about mental imagery) without whose recommendation Id never have made it into grad school! And who ignited belief in my potential; to Terry Orlick who taught me so much about reaching my target/s, and for providing the opportunities to develop my craft, to embrace my potential. To Cal Botterill who enabled reaching the pinnacle forum for my material on mental skills applied to injury rehabilitation in a medical textbook; To David Pargman who allowed me to cultivate my free spirit to further develop my knowledge and skills whose praise Ill always cherish.

To Peter Terry my colleague at the helm of the APS College of Sport and Exercise Psychologists whos jovial collegiality is matched by seriousness of purpose and commitment to excellence. Your humour always hits the mark and buoys my spirit.

To Eugene Aidman (Zhenia) my co-editor at The Sporting Mind newsletter with whom it was a joy to collaborate and hone my editing skill.

To Vicki de Prazer for challenging my perspectives and re-igniting my interest in promoting mental imagery beyond the sport and performance domain. Our collaboration has certainly raised the bar and been rewarding accordingly.

To Jane Henderson whos friendship Ive counted on to keep me on track both professionally and personally. Wheres the next conference rendezvous?

To Suzanne Murphy whose friendship and support was integral to embarking on becoming a professional writer.

To Rebecca Long, editor of Womens Health & Fitness magazine who introduced me to her readers as a monthly columnist. Im in awe of your skill and flare in distilling massively technical information into sumptuous bite-size morsels.

To Carmen Nicotra of PDP Seminars for providing a platform for sharing my material amongst other professionals that has enabled a ripple effect far and wide.

To Sera Nelson of The Channel Group who gave me my first shot at infiltrating the corporate world with my mental imagery material and video blog.

To Liz Cook of ZHUCHI who has provided the opportunity to take my mental imagery workshop material farther and wider across Australia.

To my colleagues in the Masters of Wellness program at RMIT University (especially our leader Marc Cohen) where Ive finally found my teaching home, that affords and enables me to continue my professional growth and expansion in alignment with my highest principles; not to mention providing an ideal forum for integrating and sharing my knowledge and experience with the most enlightened group of students I could ever hope for.

To my clients and workshop participants without whom this book would be meaningless, not to mention non-existent who have courageously experimented with my mental imagery advice. I cannot imagine a greater honour and privilege than to have been a part of your inspiring journeys!

To my students who have gamely undertaken my experiments disguised as assignments incorporating the practice of mental imagery. I appreciate the insights youve shared.