Visualize your way to Success: Part two ; How do we visualize?

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!