Some people, when they hear the word, “visualization,” think it means sitting around daydreaming.
But that’s not at all what it is…
Visualization is the practice of intentionally creating detailed pictures in your mind – both still pictures and movies – of the outcomes you want to achieve.
Visualization is a powerful tool that can help motivate you to achieve any goal – such as writing a book, getting a promotion, making more money, paying off your debts, becoming financially independent, taking that dream vacation you want, losing weight, or improving your golf game.
Visualization helps you achieve your goals for several reasons.
Why Visualization Works
Visualization works because it creates something called “structural tension.”
This is a psychological term for something that happens in your subconscious mind when you visualize something that doesn’t exist or hasn’t happened yet.
When you clearly visualize something – and generate all of the emotional feelings you would if you were actually achieving that situation – you experience the same physiological reactions as if you were actually living that experience.
And so your subconscious mind seeks to resolve the tension your visualization has created.
And there are only two ways it can do that – it can either give up the goal or it can figure out how to make it happen.
So if you make it a daily discipline to imagine the end result as already achieved, like brushing your teeth every day, you’ll find yourself making decisions and taking actions that move you in the direction of your goal—even if you’re not consciously aware of it.
A Visualization Example
For example, let’s say you dream of living in Australia for a year.
You imagine yourself getting on the plane, finding a nice place to live on the beach, and spending your days surfing and making friends with the locals.
Every day you take time to imagine yourself living this dream life in Australia.
You imagine how it will feel, who will be there with you, what it will look like, sound like, smell, feel, and taste like.
And before you know it, you start to get creative ideas about how to make this dream a reality.
You find yourself taking actions and making decisions that will help you get to Australia.
You spend your lunch hour researching job opportunities in Australia, and what you need to do to get a visa.
You start to notice more people around you speaking with an Australian accent, and you find yourself striking up conversations with them.
As a result, you make more Australian friends and you are building connections with people who might be able to help you achieve your goals.
You find yourself starting to save money for your big move. And you take advantage of every opportunity that brings you closer to your dreams.
Why? Because the structural tension will create the motivation to actually take the action steps to make it happen.
And it will help you maintain motivation even when you are faced with obstacles and challenges.
How To Start Visualizing
The great thing is, that visualization is a fairly easy skill to master. And you can do it pretty much anywhere – at home, at work, on a bus, or in the park – anywhere you can sit for a few minutes without too much distraction.
All you have to do is close your eyes and imagine yourself experiencing your desired outcome.
Think about:
What goals you want to achieve.
What your life look like when you achieve it.
Where will you be.
What your surroundings look like.
How it feels. What sounds you’re hearing.
What it smells and tastes like.
Your visualization can be created to appear like a movie in your head.
You might even imagine yourself sitting in a theatre, watching it play out like a movie on a screen.
Or it might be like a dream or a video game where you are a part of the action.
However you imagine your vision, immerse yourself in the experience as deeply as you can, so that every detail is as clear as possible, whether it is something you clearly see like a 4D high definition picture or just more like an intense thought you are thinking.
Visualize Daily
I encourage you to engage in this practice every single day.
Do it first thing in the morning, right after you get up, and right before you go to bed at night is ideal.
That way, you go to bed with your goals fixed firmly in your mind, giving your subconscious mind something to work on while you sleep, and you’ll find yourself waking up and starting your day crystal clear on what your goals and priorities are.
Once you make visualization a non-negotiable part of your daily practice, you’ll find it so much easier to stay motivated and focused as you work toward creating your ideal life and making all your dreams come true.
I challenge you to make the commitment to do it every day for 30 days in a row. I guarantee you will begin to see results.
As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre—and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success. Jack is America’s #1 Success Coach and wrote the life-changing book The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be and Jack speaks around the world on this subject. Check out his newest book The 30-Day Sobriety Solution: How to Cut Back or Quit Drinking in the Privacy of Your Own Home. Follow Jack at www.jackcanfield.com and sign up for his free resources today!
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