Positive Visualization: Preparing Yourself for Success
Albert Einstein once said: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” Yet in a world that is often too focused on tangible results, people tend to forget about the mind’s powerful ability to direct performance.
You may be reaching the end of this program, but your wellness journey continues for the rest of your life. You might be feeling nervous about how to continue on this journey without the structure of this program so I want to share with you something that has been very valuable to me and that is positive visualization.
Positive visualization is a wellness technique that has been used for centuries to master real world situations and achieve goals by using the power of positive thinking. Think of positive visualization as a “mental rehearsal” that we carry out in our minds. It is like a daydream but more focused on the goals that we want to achieve. Positive visualization, much like its name, talks about focusing on the positives in life and that practice supposedly makes even herculean tasks look achievable. For you, the herculean task might be reaching your goal weight or some other health benchmark. Positive visualization can help you stay on track. Here are some ways to do this.
Visualize the whole process…
Positive visualization is a technique that physiologically tunes you into the steps needed to achieve any desired outcome, making it more likely that you will succeed. First you want to identify what your goals are. What it looks like in all aspects. See yourself in the future with your goals met. What does that look like? It might be slipping on that dress that has been too tight, going for a long walk that was previously too difficult, or traveling to see your family where you are easily making healthy choices. Once you have identified the goal(s), then visualizing the process of succeeding towards that end goal. What will the steps be to get there.
Be specific…
The scenarios you imagine should be specific, and should include as many of the senses as possible. Try to create a detailed mental picture as if the process was occuring right now. Engage as many of the five senses as you can. What are you wearing? What is around you? What are you feeling? What do you smell, taste, and hear?
Practice often…
Find a time that you can regularly set aside for visualization. If possible, the same time everyday. An ideal time to practice visualization is in the morning, as soon as you wake up. At this time, the mind is still still slightly lucid, which makes it easier to formulate mental images.
Visualization is a mental skill that requires you to concentrate on creating and controlling your images, which can be tiring when you first get started. Begin by visualizing for short periods of time, and then gradually increasing the time as you become more comfortable.
In Conclusion
By planting the process in our subconscious mind through visualization, we implement a more holistic approach to goal setting. Visualizing ourselves succeeding helps us to feel more confident in ourselves. The more confident we feel, the more likely we are to make the decisions that need to be taken for us to succeed.
Remember that positive visualization is not a shortcut or a substitute for practice, determination, and hard work. However, it strengthens your determination and hence is an essential tool for achieving your desired goals. If you find yourself struggling with self-doubt and lacking motivation, positive visualization will do the trick for you.
