Visualization: One Key to Your Goals

One of the goals of any speech or workshop presented by LifeWorks is to help my listeners reach a point where they will "see" what their particular goal looks like so they can recognize it.

Visualization is an important personal development tool I like to encourage people to use..  Although visualization has only become popular as a personal development tool since the late 70's, we as humans have been using it since the beginning of time.

Whenever we have an idea or notion to do something we visualize it first.  For instance, if we're hungry and want to eat, we picture different food possibilities; whether we want to cook a meal or go out to eat, and whether or not we want company at our meal.

What is Visualization?

Visualization is the use of our imagination through pictures or mental imagery to create visions of what we want in our lives and how to make them happen.  Used correctly it can bring about self-improvement, maintain good health, help you perform well on the job, and accomplish goals in your life.

Using visualization as a technique invariably results in much better performance and outcome.   This also holds true in business, or in life, such as in delivering a project at work, asking for a raise, or any other situation that requires preparedness and forethought.

How Does It Work?

Visualization or mental imagery works because when you imagine yourself performing perfectly and doing exactly what you want, you physiologically create neutral patterns in your brain, just as if you had physically performed the action.  The thought can stimulate the nervous system in the same way as the actual event does. Performing or rehearsing an event in the mind trains it and creates the patterns necessary to achieve the goal.

To be effective, like any skill, visualization needs to be practiced on a regular basis.

How To Visualize What You Want

1.  Go somewhere quiet and private where you won't be disturbed.  Close your eyes and think of the goal you want to acquire.  My place is sitting on the shore by a lake.  Choose your place.

2.  Take several deep breaths and relax.

3.  Visualize the object or situation you desire as clearly and with as much detail as you can.

4.  Add emotion, feeling, and your senses to your vision.

5.  Practice it at least twice a day for about 10 minutes each time.  (Yes you have the time!)

6.  Persevere until you success.  No microwave thinking here.

7.  Maintain positive thoughts and a good attitude throughout.

The Benefits of Visualization

1.  Helps you focus better in order to achieve your goals.

2.  Inspires and motivates you.

3.  Helps you to improve a skill.

4.  Can be used to rehearse and then acquire new and positive behaviors.

5.  Can boost your mood by using positive, uplifting imagery to alter negative emotions.

6.  Helps build self-confidence.

Right now what could you "visualize" for your life?  A new job,  starting a new business, meeting that person, going back to school, taking that trip you've always dreamed of, volunteering for a cause, running for a political office, starting that diet?  Close your eyes and "see" it.  Going after "it" will become clear and the path that you need to travel down to achieve it will be revealed!

I can "see" you now!