‘Before the Olympic trials, I was doing a lot of relaxing exercises and visualization. And I think that it helped me to get a feel of what it was gonna be like when I got there. I knew that I had done everything that I could to get ready for that meet, both physically and mentally.’- Michael Phelps
Close your eyes and think about all the things you want to achieve and maybe even commit to.
Emotionally engage with what your world will look like in the key areas of your life, whether it’s financial, work, family, or health.
See it in color, in vivid detail, and with as much clarity as possible.
Do this daily. Making visualization an intentional habit.
What I have learned by researching top athletes, successful business owners, musicians, and even philanthropists is that your behaviour is always aligned with the images and ideas that run through your brain regularly.
This is why I believe the most underrated skill is visualization.
The recreation of images, sounds, and environments before it has happened, is one of the most powerful skills you can have.
In fact, visualization has been used for centuries to help prepare the mind, body, and consciousness for upcoming challenges, situations, and circumstances.
Visualization and the recreation of that moment in time allows people to prepare mentally.
Visualization with practice, hard work, intention, and action can be the formula for greatness.
Visualization can assist you in achieving your goals, tasks, and dreams.
I have incorporated visualization in my morning routine for over a year now.
For example, when I have delivered a big presentation at work, with a large audience of critical stakeholders. I use the power of visualization to support my planning and delivery of the presentation.
Here are my steps:
- I find a quiet place with no distractions.
- Relax my mind
- Take deep breaths for 3-5 minutes and focus on my breathing.
- I Imagine myself succeeding by exaggerating the image and allowing myself to experience what success feels like, looks like, and sounds like.
- I always imagine what it feels like to hear my name by the person introducing me at the event or welcoming me to the meeting.
- I feel myself confidently walking to the front of the room. This could also apply to the camera in a virtual setting.
- I can picture myself smiling at everyone as the audience turns their attention to me.
- Experiencing the sensation of delivering my content with ease, overcoming any anxiety, fear, or lack of confidence.
- I even picture myself stumbling over a word, forgetting what I was going to say or my mind suddenly going blank during the delivery and my reaction. I am cool, maybe appearing even a little awkward to my audience, but rolling past the uncomfortableness and avoiding disaster.
- These positive images always help me make a quick course correction and preventing a small mistake from snowballing into a presentation disaster.
In other words, I am assuming through the power of visualization that I am already what I want to be.
In this case, an impactful and memorable presenter.
‘I am a big believer in visualization. I run through my races mentally so that I feel even more prepared.’-Allyson Felix
I’ve worked hard at becoming a master at visualization and practice on a daily basis.
I remember a mentor sharing a thoughtful piece of insight a number of years back when I was having difficulty speaking confidently in a work setting.
He said:
What you think about you become – don’t be shocked when the universe confirms it.
In other words, when envisioning your life, relationships, work, or finances, don’t get stuck at today or yesterday. If you do, maybe it’s not compelling enough.
Your vision needs to be in your heart and soul. It needs to be important FOR YOU.
Once this is established, you will be able to see it, feel it, and walk through it.
‘Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.’-Oprah Winfrey
This week, I am recommending 2 books on visualization by the same author Bill Bodri, who is a visualization expert.
Both resources offer tips on visualization practices and how to incorporate them into your performance journey for maximum optimization.
The first book is called Visualization Power:
The second book is called Sport Visualization for the Elite Athlete.
Here are 3 Life Hacks to UNLOCK THE POWER OF VISUALIZATION:
- MINDSET .YOU MUST SEE SUCCESS!
Choose an area of your life where you really want to see an excellent result.
Maybe a space where you are struggling right now. Now, get into a comfortable position where you feel at ease and can focus.
Imagine an outstanding result, however that looks for you.
See it in your mind, the best possible outcome.
- What does it look like?
- What specifically are you doing?
- What is happening around you?
- How are people reacting to you?
When you want to manifest the life you want, you have to create a clear vision of what it should look like for you.
You could write it down in your journal or create a vision board.
This may help you to create a clear and full picture of what you want your life to look like.
‘I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and eat a sandwich.’-Jim Carrey
2. ACTIVATE YOUR SENSES
Now, go a little deeper.
Try to make this picture even more vivid and detailed by using your senses.
- What does your voice sound like?
- What are your hands and feet doing?
- What’s the taste in your mouth?
- How does the confidence level in your body feel?
- What are you looking at and seeing?
- Make sure your image feels rewarding and positive.
Now, mentally take a snapshot of this image, freeze this picture in your head, so you can clearly remember it.
This mental image should be your guiding light or beacon when emotionally pursuing your important tasks, goals, and dreams.
Remember that your feelings are the language of your body, and your thoughts are the language of your mind.
‘Everything I make as a producer; I visualize as a DJ first. And all these beats I test them as a DJ.-David Guetta
3. PUT YOUR PROBLEMS IN THE PAST:
You must assume through visualization that you are already what you want to be.
You need to put your problems and challenges in the past.
They do not define your future self.
Close your eyes and summon up one more picture, to really cement the idea that you can grow and overcome personal struggles.
Imagine yourself facing the challenge and more importantly visualize how you will overcome it.
Ask yourself:
What would help me persevere when I am faced with a challenge?
I believe that when you visualize your future success, your visualizations become so familiar that taking action is much less intimidating.
Don’t forget to add detail and imagery to your mental pictures to really bring them to life!
In summary…
YOU’VE GO TO SEE IT TO BE IT!
So, my advice is to create a compelling picture, one that your future self can’t wait to live up to.
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I sincerely wish you the best on your journey to enhance your life!
George Andreas, Founder
Victorypivot.com
