HENRY FORD ONCE SAID THAT "ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING THAT HE IMAGINES". VERONICA LETTS APPLIES THIS PRINCIPLE TO ACHIEVING A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE AND SHOWS YOU HOW.

Henry Ford's quote is certainly true in the case of body image. Our self-image is intimately linked to our imagination and people who achieve success with weight loss do so because they know what they want. You need to experience your vision in your heart, mind and body by engaging all the senses. It's bringing our images of success to life that gives our lives meaning and purpose.

Visualisation is a tool anyone can use to help achieve health and wellbeing. By using creative imagery and visualising success, we can alter the emotions that subsequently have a physical effect on the body. If your mind can vividly imagine you have already achieved success, then your body will respond with the self-confidence that comes from actual success.

So what is the mind-body connection and how does it work? When we have an emotion, it generates a feeling that turns into a physical sensation. For example, you are watching a sad movie, you feel for the dilemma of the actors and tears well up in your eyes. In this case you were experiencing a suggestion through your sensory perception (sight and sound), that produced an emotion of sadness which turned into the physical sensation of tears.

Visualisation uses positive images to produce positive emotions that manifest into positive physical sensations in the body. Positive thought is essential to producing positive results.

Changing what you think about your body isn't easy. It takes persistence and time. Time and again we find our health and wellbeing goals and intentions sabotaged by the voices inside our heads. We've all heard that voice and it's important to remember that the voice is going to have a large impact on the results you achieve.

"What you think is what you get"

The key to all this is to remember that the voice, although it can impair the achievement of your health and wellbeing goals, is also your servant. Identify the negative self talk and change it into positive self talk.

Seven Steps to Success:
1. Have a Vision
Experience your vision in your heart, mind and body. Ask Yourself: what does my ideal body look like? What does it feel like? What does it taste like? What does it smell like? What does it sound like?

2. Develop a Plan
Have a clear and well planned strategy and follow it everyday. Write it down so you stay on course, and avoid any alternative that does not get you closer to the finish line.

3. Set Priorities
Prioritise time for yourself. Choose the same time each day to build your new self-image and visualise success.

4. Think slim / fit / healthy
To achieve success, you must have a winning attitude. The mind is everything. Identify the negative self talk and change it into positive self-talk.

5. Create a Positive Environment
Surround themselves with other positive and like-minded people.

6. Take Action
Do it! Take meaningful, purposeful, directional action consistently and persistently. Remember, nothing happens until something moves.

7. Be Flexible
Anticipate bumps in the road and expect to work around them. Re-evaluate and start over again. Life is not a success, it's only a journey.

Veronica Letts is a qualified personal trainer and group fitness instructor with more than 20 years experience in health, fitness and the wellness industry. Veronica specialises in wellness coaching and helping women to learn the fundamentals they need to know to achieve a healthy mind and body. She established Oxygen Life Coaching in 2009 with a focus on providing life coaching for women. For more information visit www.oxygenlifecoaching.com.au.