I know, I know.
That headline sounds a little exaggerated.
After all, cameras are for vacations, parties, family and friends, right? What do I mean by change your life? I'll tell you, exactly that.
Anything in this world is just a "thing.
" Power comes from how we use it.
Here are some uses for your digital camera that can bring transforming results.
Let's start with the obvious.
Find Romance The obvious part of this obvious idea is to post a picture with your profile on a dating site.
As we know, profiles with photos get viewed and responded to much more often.
The problem with many dating sites is that you don't really know who you're talking to.
Are they compatible? Are they real? Are they a psychopath? So let us enter a forum.
Web forums are discussion boards centered around a specific topic.
On a web forum you'll find people who share your interests.
And here's where the digital camera comes in.
Registered users have a profile page where they can describe themselves.
You can post a photo and make casual mention of your available status.
Your photo can also be your posting signature, which will then appear with every post you make.
Someone special might just send you a private message, a standard feature on most forums, as a result of your comments and picture.
One caution.
Only do this in a moderated forum.
Unmoderated forums are wild, wild places.
Avoid.
Gain Personal Power The more people remember you, the more power you have.
Using photos of yourself from your digital camera, you can make photo business cards, put your picture on mugs, T-shirts, you name it.
You can become your own brand, you can become an icon.
Personal power also comes from the goodwill of humanity.
For example, people love seeing pictures of themselves.
When you pull out that camera at a party, make sure you get good smiley pictures of all those important people.
Then, e-mail them with those (flattering only, need I say?) pictures.
Beyond e-mail, you can post pictures to an online gallery and share them that way.
There are many such services out there.
Your friends, present and future, will be touched by your consideration.
It will strengthen the bonds.
Friendship, my friends, is certainly life transforming.
Lose Weight Yes.
If you aren't happy with the way your scale and pants greet you, you can use your digital camera to change.
Try the following: Take a "before" picture.
Don't be afraid if you think it is going to be horrible.
Embrace that, do it in a bathing suit if you must.
Then compare that picture with one of a person, celebrity or otherwise, whose body is what you realistically want to emulate.
We are after motivation here, so don't hold back.
Make that comparison, no matter how painful.
Now that you see the facts, what are you going to do to change them? What ever it is, do it now.
Diet, exercise, hypnosis, whatever.
In two weeks, take the same picture, same pose.
Any improvement? If so, great.
If not, improve your plan.
Keep this up for as long as it takes.
When you see yourself looking better and better, and compare that to the "before" picture, you are empowered.
And if it is not happening, then it is a challenge to you.
Meet it.
Conquer the World For Rocky, it was the steps of the Philadelphia library.
For some soldiers, it's a picture of a special someone.
For me, it's a mountaintop near Santa Barbara.
These are what have been called "anchors.
" Thinking of them, even without being there, calls up feelings of "I can do it.
I know it!".
How does this work? Our moods and emotions have a critical impact on our performance.
Pessimistic feelings, feelings of low zeal, hurt us.
But we do not need to be at their mercy.
Using anchors, we can change our emotional state to one of energy and motivation.
Empowered emotional states dramatically improve our performance.
So what are anchors? Anchors are visual, audio, or kinetic reminders of a moment when we felt intense emotion.
Rocky felt the thrill of victory when he reached the top of those stairs, and every time he went back up there he raised his hands and felt it again.
When the soldier saw the picture of his sweetheart, his love returned and he swore he'd get back to her safely.
And whenever I think of getting to that mountaintop just in time to catch a glorious sunset, I literally feel the optimism and confidence that made me so full then.
Use your digital camera to photograph the person, place, or thing that makes you feel you can conquer the world.
Put that picture where you need it to be.
It might be on your computer desktop, or you can have a custom poster printed to hang in your room.
Anchor yourself to success, to confidence, to joy.
There are other great ways to change your life with a camera.
These are just a few to get you started.
If you want to write a sequel to this article and e-mail it to me, I'll be thrilled.
Oh, and send your picture!