This is part two of a three part series on Demystifying Visualisation. In the
first part, I wrote about what Visualization is and the first step to Visualization.
This post talks about how to visualize what we want in our life.
Before we answer the question, “How do we visualize?” it is
worthwhile to look at why visualization works.
Our brain thinks in images, pictures and feelings. When we
think of the word chocolate, we might visualize our favourite chocolate, even
smell it or go back to the last time we enjoyed the chocolate. That leads us to
crave for more.
The best example of a successful experiment on Visualization
was conducted on a group of high school basketball students. They were divided
into the groups and were tested on how many free throws they could make.
After that, each group was given a different task for 30
days.
Group 1: Practice
free throws for an hour daily.
Group 2: Only
visualise themselves making free throws.
Group 3: Do
nothing. Neither practice nor visualise.
After 30 days, their performance was evaluated, and they
measured which group showed the most improvement.
Group 1: Improved
by 24%
Group 2: Improved
by 23%
Group 3: No improvement.
As expected, the third group did not improve. But the second
group improved without even touching a basketball. That is the magic of Visualization.
Can you imagine the possibilities of combining practice and Visualization? What would it mean for us to combine our hard work with the
power of Visualization?
The second and most important step to use Visualization is
to Use all our senses.
Let’s go back to the example of my goal to study Hotel Management
in the college of my choice.
I visualized myself inside that campus being a student and
wearing the uniform. I also imagined how it would feel to be accepted there. I
imagined being offered my acceptance letter and being welcomed there.
I thought
about how the place would smell and all the sights I would see there. I was already
there in my mind. I was a student there before I even got accepted.
This may seem difficult, but it is not. Some of us may be
able to visualise easily, some of us may feel easily. As you flex your
visualization muscles, you will find it easier to imagine in great detail.
Its important to use whatever sense you feel is your strength. Some may
visualize. Some may write. Some may use sounds.
Some other methods of visualization also include:
- · Writing down what you see yourself achieving
- · Making a picture collage of your goals; putting together pictures of what you see yourself achieving.
- · Expressing gratitude for your achievement in advance.
- · Drawing what your success story would look like.
As children we have powerful imagination, which gets lost as
we become adults. Visualization will let you tap into your imagination, and
help you unshackle the limitations of your mind.
Think of yourself as an artist who has a blank canvas, and
can fill it in with any detail, or any colour.
Think of yourself as a chef who
has complete freedom to combine any ingredient he wishes for.
Think of yourself as a music composer, who can put together
any notes that he wants to create melodies.
You are the creator, and your creation is unique and right
for you.
So go ahead, and fearlessly visualize in great detail, using
all your senses. See yourself achieving your goal even before you have begun.
In our next post, I will write about letting go of the need
to control the outcome, and some of the common pitfalls people succumb to when
they visualize.
Till then, happy creating!
