Customer Reviews

Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams

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As a psychotherapist in New York City the search for creative "homework" assignments to give my clients is an ongoing process. I first discovered Dr. Capacchione's techniques of collage and journaling with the non-dominant hand in her earlier book, "Putting Your Talent To Work". After following her simple guidance, obstacles started to dissolve and results began manifesting, both in in my own life and in my clients' lives. I feel very grateful there's now a whole book devoted to the process of visioning and realizing one's dreams. Many people come to therapy without a clue about what they want in life. Here's a book I can recommend for homework that will give them permission to identify what they truly want. Further, there is therapeutic value in using the tools Dr. Capacchione lays out for working through one's inner obstacles: confusion, self-criticism, lack of confidence and self doubt. The sequence and quality of these collage and journal writing exercises comes from an author whose work is refined by a lifetime of experience in the creative and personal growth field. This book is for everyone who has a dream or wants to find one. It's comprehensive and deep. Best of all, it's simply easy to use!

I have bought at least ten copies of this book in the five years since I first encountered it. I often end up giving away my only copy and then having to buy it again. It is just the thing for finding your way. The process is marvelously mapped out and easy to follow. I suggest resisting the impulse to skip any steps - the things you don't want to do are likely the very ones you will find most productive. Oh how we do tend to resist change, even as it is the very thing we claim to seek! LOL.

When I turned 40, I realized that the directions I had thought my life should go in were just no longer satisfying to me, and I needed a real change. But I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Working on this project gave my life an entirely new sense of direction, and I am still following the trajectories that my first efforts brought home to me. My life is like a dream come true... I just can't say it any other way. My journey continues to unfold, but I feel a much greater sense of purpose and pleasure than before.

I really recommend this for many purposes - once you understand these techniques, you can put them to use them over and over again for a variety of problem solving situations. I just can't say enough about this book. I also recommend The Creative Journal.

Lucia has created a wonderful catalyst for creative expression and goal attainment. By using visual images, Lucia teaches you an amazingly effective method for unlocking your unconscious longings and bringing them into full view. I have long used the collage method myself and with coaching clients, but Lucia's book offers new techniques and wonderful success stories to further inspire all of us to delve deeper into our fantasies and learn their meaning. Bravo Lucia! I am recommending this book to all of my clients and friends. This book is destined to become a classic in the field of creativity.

This new 272 page road map could be one of the best ways to bring your hopes and dreams into being. Lucia has much experience in the "artistic design" area and translates this skill, knowledge and experience into useful everyday methods to help us get what we want out of life. She leads the way to help us turn our ideas into reality. You'll learn how to chose a theme, gather the images, find order in the chaos, commit your vision to paper and glue, get feedback from others, dwell on your vision, get help to implement the plan and celebrate your final result. She offers detailed methods and exercises to help you work through this process, step by step. Some of her methods can provide you with amazing results. A knowledge of art or abilities as an artist are not important. She'll help you bring your latent art talents into useful actions to help you get what you want out of life. A very intersting, fun read that everyone can benefit from.

Francis Bacon said that some books are to be tasted, some chewed, and others swallowed and digested. This book is not a taster. It is a digester.....assimilate the lifeblood of the author's methodology for seeing in your mind's eye that which you want your life to be all about. I am no artist, but I am creative in other ways. The author is an art therapist. I could have been put off by the artsy approach since I did poorly in art in school as a child. Putting all that aside and starting to assemble the collage of my life and weave the patches of the quilt of my life is what this book is about. I was so impressed that I got my hands on some of the authors other books too. My collage is not finished yet, but then, neither is my life :-)

This book is about setting and reaching goals. The author provides careful detail on her method of reaching goals by (1)visualizing them quite precisely using pictures clipped from magazines and (2) reflecting on what prompts one to select those particular pictures.

The techniques are clearly described and easy enough to follow. The insights prompted can be quite surprising, even from magazine clippings, although I wonder if everyone has dreams that can be evoked by magazines.

Does this method work? It appears to, for the author and those who she describes in the book. I used the book and began the process four months ago, and although I'm not ready to give up, it isn't a quick fix. In fairness to the author, she never claims that it is a quick fix.

This method of discernment and self-motivation is probably most effective for those who process information visually, not aurally or kinesthetically.

I am a Registered Nurse and I have all of Dr. Cappachione's books. I believe that Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams has broad application in many areas of the wellness/illness continuum. This book includes many techniques and examples of how powerful the process of Visioning can be in a person's life. The introduction and chapters clearly and easily describe the method and rationale in a way that is easy to understand while remaining compelling. I like the day to day applications that Dr. Capacchione describes and I was impressed by the anecdotal evidence that she provides to support efficacy. Visioning can be a powerful process for health professionals to include in their goal planning with clients. Dr. Capacchione creates instructional chapters that include all of the "what you will need" lists. I like the flow of the chapters and sections from The Process, Seeing Results to Visioning in action. As a health professional I would endorse this book as a wonderfully creative and empowering tool for clients with any complexity of needs. It seems clear to me that Dr. Capacchione has done her research and her "clincal trials", well-a must in this age of abundant diversified helping modalities.

B. Kasza R.N.

This is truly the best book written on the subject.A necessity for anyone who wishes to set their dreams to reality in a fun and creative way. This will a book that the reader will treasure and probably be#1 gift giving idea to share with a loved one/special friend.Enjoy your inspiration. signed JUDITH ROSE.

There is a line in the Bible that says something to the effect of, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." I'm sorry to say that I do not have a reference for this quote and one day, I will find it and update this review to support it, but the bottom line is that when we don't have a vision for our life, something within us dies. And that's exactly how it is. When we forget our hopes, our dreams, and our wishes and just give into the everyday world, we are forgetting who and what we are and what we are here to be, do, and have.

Maybe I am just being naive here, but I really think and feel that everyone of us that are living here today are entitled to live great and empowered lives. Henry David Thoreau once stated that most of us live lives of quiet desperation...why? Why do we fall prey to desperation? I believe it is because most of us do not have a vision for our lives. I believe it's because most of us are operating on unconscious beliefs that limit us, that keep us down, that keep us thinking and feeling and acting in ways that are limiting and small.

For a moment, let us just think and feel what the world would be like if every one of us on this earth had a magnificent vision for their lives; if everyone of us followed the dictates of our heart and soul; if everyone of us were filled to overflowing with Love, Compassion, Peace, and Acceptance. This world would be entirely different than it is now. There wouldn't be greed or hunger or lonliness. Poverty, saddness, and unfulfillment would be things of the past. Everyone would be helping everyone to better their lives. Nobody would be competing with one another because competition would be done away with; being creative would be the order of the day. Being and feeling prosperous would be part of the "New World Order" and there definitely would be a New World if everyone had a vision of brilliance and magnificence.

Ghandi said, "Be the change you would like to see in the world." How do you become "the change". You become the change by opening your mind, your heart, and your soul to a greater vision. You allow yourself to sit still, to become centered, to breathe deeply in...and to breathe deeply out...you clear away any doubt, any fear, any uncertainty and you OPEN YOURSELF to LIFE, to LIGHT, to LOVE and you let the wisdom that is within you and around you now freely, and easily, and gracefully pour forth and then you ask with humility, with childlike wonder and excitement, "What is my vision?" And you let the Divine Wisdom that is Present present you with a vision.

Yeah, it may be sketchy at first, but just keep opening yourself to Spirit...just keep asking the question, "What is my vision?" And I promise you, it will be given to you. Then, allow yourself to leaf through magazines and periodicals and newspapers and with childlike glee and joy, cut out words, phrases, and pictures that match your inner vision. In other words, bring life to your vision NOW.

Do not be swayed into thinking that it's silly or stupid or foolish. We tend to see in pictures, anyway, so you have to choose what pictures you desire to follow. Do you want to follow the old images that lead to poverty, despair, and saddness or do you want to follow a new vision that promises you abundance, fulfillment, and success?

I firmly believe that what we truly desire ALSO desires us; that the things we want to express, extend, and experience want us to express, extend, and experience them. Let us believe in our visions, in our dreams, and our desires. Let us support one another in becoming all we can become. Let us honor the divine in everyone and everything.

This is a great book and what is even greater is that on some level you already know this is true. Consider this your lucky day, your "sign" to a greater life.

May you be the person that Spirit already envisions you as!

Peace and Blessings...
John P. Morgan

Visioning by Lucia Capacchione is one of the best books on the subject of visualization and the use of making collages to assist in achieving your goals. I made a collage of my perfect dream job--writing--years ago and while I had been published several times, I wasn't being paid. After reading Lucia's book, I decided to re-do the collage with more emphasis on being paid for my work. One week after I finished my collage, I was offered a paid writing job! Another aspect that impressed me was the fact that Lucia is so accessable to her readers. I emailed her about my success and she responded promptly. Wonderful book, wonderful author.