Visualization: Your Power Tool for Success

Visualization is one of the strongest tools you have in attracting the future you want. Researchers have found the human brain uses the same exact processes when you are visualizing an activity as it would if you were actually performing the same activity in real life! Amazing! The human brain sees absolutely no difference between actually doing something and visualizing it! Other studies have shown that one hour of visualizing is equivalent to seven hours of actual physical work! Given this information, it only makes sense that one would want to visualize their future success as often as possible.

The process for visualization is very simple. All that is required of you is to close your eyes and see yourself as you would be if your goal was completed, received or accomplished, whatever the case may be. I have many people say to me all the time, "you make it sound so easy!" My reply to them is that it is "so easy!" What could be easier than closing your eyes and imagining how it would be if you had what you wanted? If your life was the way you wanted it? It seems nothing could be easier, or more enjoyable. Actually, it doesn't seem like "work" at all!

Still some say to me, "I don't see anything when I close my eyes!" The majority of us probably feel the same way. Don't get upset if you close your eyes and don't actually see images, not many people can. Those who can are called eidetic visualizers. These people actually close their eyes and see crisp, clear, three-dimensional, Technicolor pictures and images. How lucky are they? Most likely you are one of the rest of us not so lucky visualizers, called noneidetic visualizers (clever name, huh?) Basically all that means is that when visualizing we really don't 'see' the images as much as we just think them. Don't worry, this works just as well! If you practice the process of visualizing your goals reached, or completed twice a day, you will receive the same benefits as those who claim to actually see the images.

You want your visualizations to be as clear as possible. The subconscious mind will work to create the picture or mental image in your mind, so you want to determine exactly what it is that you want and then convey the detailed description through visualization.

Say for example your goal is to have your own store. Imagine the store in your mind and then walk through the entrance, will it be a single door that swings in and out, automatic sliding doors, double doors? When you step inside your store, what color are the floors? Are they wood, tile or perhaps carpeted? What color are the walls? Is it one large area, or are there several separated areas? What types of displays or shelving are you using? See the merchandise displayed on the shelves. Will there be any glass showcases? What is in them? What does the back room for employees look like? Where is the employee restroom located? Does your store have a checkout counter or several checkout lanes? How many lanes does it have? Walk through your store until you can see exactly what it looks like in your mind. This will be the image you are feeding your subconscious during your visualization process.

Now that you know exactly what your store looks like, you can add sensory details to increase the impact your visualization has on your subconscious mind. Think about adding smells, tastes, sounds and feelings. If your store carries perfumes or lotions or candles, or baked goods, what are the scents that you would smell in your store? What types of baked goods? What flavors do you carry? Is there a bell to alert you when customers enter the store? If so, what does it sound like? What does the cash register sound like? Is there music playing? Any sensory detail you can add to your visualization will make the impact of it on your subconscious mind that much clearer and that much stronger.

The last thing you need to add to your visualization is emotion. Emotions give our visualizations energy. They are what propels your vision forward. Imagine you're in a boat on the water, floating because you are out of gas. You can see the marina ahead, and the wind and current are taking you in that direction, but you are moving very, very slowly. You know if all goes well, meaning the wind direction doesn't change or a storm doesn't brew up or the wake of another boat speeding by doesn't throw you off course, you will eventually make it to the marina. So you keep your eye on the marina, sit back and hope for the best. This is your visualization without emotion.

Now imagine you're in the same boat on the water with a tank full of gas. Your not floating, your speeding along the water towards the marina. You are in control, maneuvering the boat through the wake keeping on course to the marina. You make it to the marina much more quickly with a tank full of gas. This is your visualization with emotion.

So, back to the example of the goal of owning your own store. After you have imagined all the details of the store, now attach emotion to it. Imagine the pride and happiness that comes with ownership of your store. Imagine the satisfaction of achieving your goal. How happy are you to go to work each day for yourself? Feel the excitement of finally being able to do something that you love. Feel the emotions as intensely as possible for this will help to lock the image in your memory.

Researchers have proven that when intense emotion is paired with an image, scene or event, it can stay locked in your memory forever. If you are reading this, you most likely were alive when the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001. I am sure you can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard the terrifying news. That is because the images you gave your brain that day were accompanied with intense emotion. You can bring this same intensity to your visualizations by adding sensory details and strong emotion. The more excitement, energy and passion you can associate with the vision of your completed goal, the more powerful the result.

Now that you have your detailed vision complete with sensory details and intense emotion, it's time to put them to use. Each of your goals should be written down to review, affirm and visualize daily. This is the most vital thing you can do to turn your dreams in to reality.

You should review, affirm and visualize twice daily. Once in the morning upon waking and once each night just before bed. If you can add a third mid-day session, it will only help increase the power of your visions and help to speed them along. It will also help keep you focused on your goals as sometimes life's daily events tend to overwhelm and distract us. If you can't fit in a middle of the day session, don't panic. It isn't necessary, it just increases the power of your visualizations. If you meditate, visualize right after you finish. The deep state you achieve in meditation will heighten the impact of visualization.

It's important to make a regular habit of this. Set aside specific time each day to review, affirm and visualize each of your goals completed. I know we are all very busy and time is limited for most of us. You don't have to spend an hour at a time doing this. Depending on how many goals you have to review, affirm and visualize, 10 - 15 minutes is ample. Don't stress about this and turn it in to a chore. If you are doing this correctly, it shouldn't feel like a chore at all. If you have detailed your vision to exactly what you want and added the intense emotions, it should actually be an enjoyable experience that you look forward to!

© Anglfire693, 2009