There is a superpower buried in you that waits to get unleashed. The power that I am talking about has helped the world’s most successful people. That is the power of visualization, or to be precise, the power of visualizing your goals.
The idea behind visualizing your goals is essentially the ability to SEE your goals so that you are more likely to achieve.
How does it work?
It may sound a little stupid at first, thinking how can merely visualization help you get closer to your goals. There are scientific studies done with the help of brain imaging tools like fMRI. The neurons in the brain, those cells are electrically excitable in nature and transmit the information. This information and imagery solely in your heads are translated into equivalent real-world action. When we visualize something, our brain automatically sends the signal to “perform” the said movement. Basically, that leads to the generation of a neural pathway. This primes in a way that it works together to create memories or learned behavior and act in the way we imagined.
The following are scientifically proven benefits of visualizing goals:
- It motivates you from inside that prepares you for chasing your goals and dreams.
- It enables your brain to track important patterns and essential resources that you may need to succeed in life.
- It helps you and keeps you on the right by manifesting positive thinking throughout the journey to success.
In order to support the aforementioned benefits, there is a study that was conducted by Joe Haefner. It was done on athletes who aim to improve their game free throws in the game of basketball. They were divided into three groups:
Group 1: Athletes in this group practiced free shots during the day on the court
Group 2: They mentally visualized the shot in their heads
Group 3: This is was the group that practiced shots physically on the court in the day time and visualized perfect shots every day before going to bed
The results were astonishing and significant. Athletes in group 1 improved by 7%, athletes in group 2 improved 10%, and the athletes who visualized as well as practiced improved their game by 32%.
How to visualize your goals?
Visualizing your goals may sound promising but it is not something which you can master the very first time you try. There are a few things that you should keep in mind when using the visualization technique:
Be aware of your senses
If you are visualizing your goals let’s say you have a goal of buying your dream house. You have to picture it something like, you are standing on the porch of your house overlooking the sea. Feel the breeze touching your skin. You can hear the sound of waves and smell the fresh-cut grass.
This exercise can help you see your goals better and make it more real. It is like trying to touch your toes when stretching. You may not be able to do it the first time you try. With time and practice, you will be able to do it.
Stress on details
Look at things in a detailed form and be as specific as you can. For example, you should be able to see each blade of the cut grass or the tennis ball that you are throwing to your dog. You will have to practice this exercise for some time to be able to see such specific details. Another thing that you can do to make this more efficient is by looking at things closely for some time. For example imagine the tennis ball in your hand, focus on the fibers on it, and imagine how it feels in your hands.
Eliminate all sorts of distractions
Whenever you are practicing visualization, you can not afford any distractions. Make sure your cell phone and the laptop are switched off. Also, it should be quite so that you can focus on it with all your attention. It is more crucial in the beginning and practicing. Once you get the hang of it, the noise in the background should not distract you. It does not mean you keep your phone and everything around.
Don’t give up
I repeat it may sound easier while you are reading it but it requires a lot of patience. There will be some struggles in the beginning. It is something that you will have to learn like driving a car. There are chances you will fail in the beginning, but you don’t have to lose patience. You may not be able to see any instant changes in you, but in retrospect, you will realize how much distance you have covered.
