There is a lot of stuff out there on the internet in regard to visualization. The TRUTH is, we all visualize. In fact, it is as ancient as humankind itself. But, once we learn the power we have to change our direction by using this form of internal communication, we will never look at it in the same way again. One of the “Basic Three Things” that we have actual control of in our lives, visualization, is the foundation what we believe and what we will achieve. What are those three things we have control over? Well, we may THINK we have control over many things, but the reality is we only have control over-
1) The Words we use (internally and externally)
2) The Pictures and imagery we mentally see
3) Our Reaction or Action we take.
Since we continually manifest images, it would be very valuable if we could use that as a positive form of learning. This is how we plan, how we learn and how we put things in perspective through both review and preview. This is so powerful and so ingrained in Human Culture that it is one of the most cogent internal forces that link both our capabilities and our future.
To learn HOW to utilize this as a Master Skill, you must become aware of when you are engaged in producing these images and how to produce them on command, directing yourself where you want to go during this process. Just like any skill, it takes some practice.
When you visualize on command, you should try to do so with as much detail as possible. You should see yourself in the “Controlled Dream” using all of your senses or modalities. It should feel as real as it gets. I have used this to plan my LIFE, win or excel in competition, work on challenges and strategies to overcome them, gain high levels of skill in various areas and practice with focus, efficiency and success, bringing me oriented outcomes for over 30 years. It works.
By the way, can your subconscious mind, the part of you that really runs things (and this is not just your brain, but your entire interconnected system, much of which is below your conscious awareness), can it distinguish between something that actually happened to you and something you imagined? Before you answer, have you ever had a dream where you wake up and feel as if what you just dreamt about had actually occurred? Where your heart is beatingout of your chest, you may be sweating, anxious, excited, or petrified? No doubt, and could your subconscious tell the difference? No way. Our subconscious does not distinguish between something we vividly imagine, and something that we actually experience.
The more you visualize, the better you get at it. And, for most of us, we perform better I during our visualization than we do in physical practice, and THAT is important to remember. I never fail, when I visualize. Since skill development is really based on increasing your success ratios, so that you succeed more than you fail, when you calculate your physical practice and your visualized practice in any given endeavor, subconsciously you believe you are improving, based on the evidence.
Since your subconscious mind directs your actions, you “Program” your mind to direct yourself exactly where you want to go! I tell my clients repeatedly, always think about where you want to go and what you want, not what you DON’T want. This in itself, is one of the most impactful forms of visualization. Here is one of my favorite quotes that I live by…
“Our mind will always lead us in the direction of our dominant thoughts.”
-Kevin Seaman
What that means is you will be directed where you most think about. Some of the happiest people I’ve ever known have just as many problems as the most unhappy people that I know. They just choose to focus on what they want, instead of what they don’t want. Your mind will take you to either place, based of the information you provide.
If you think about what you don’t have, you will feel jealousy, envy and discontent. On the other hand, if you this about where you want to go, how blessed you are, how grateful you are for your relationships, your health, and what you love and want…guess what? Your mind will direct you there as well and show you HOW to get more of this!! Okay, yeah, sure and all my problems will go away…BLAH, BLAH, BLAH..
No, they won’t. You will just not focus mostly on the problem. Now, you will focus with more of a solution oriented mindset. As simple as all that sounds…it is. Here’s the science.
Have you ever had the experience where you get a new car, and then wherever you go, your car seems to be everywhere? Or if someone close to you is pregnant (or yourself), then you seem to see pregnant women everywhere? This heightened awareness is a result of the workings of a part of the brain near the brainstem called the Reticular Activating System, or RAS.
The RAS has the job of sorting out literally millions of bits of information for the brain to focus on and process. We would go crazy if it weren’t for the RAS; our conscious mind would be overwhelmed. The RAS limits what we consciously focus on, kind of like a bouncer at the door of a nightclub who only lets in a few select people.
This sorting out process allows us to focus our senses on things that we believe have value to us (our new car, pregnancy), that we feel are important (women have a keener sense for higher pitched sounds, like babies’ crying, while men have more sensitivity to lower pitched sounds, the sound of other males who could be potential threats), as well as stimuli that are consistent with our beliefs. It’s not that these stimuli weren’t there before; it’s just that our RAS didn’t allow them all to surface to the level of our conscious awareness.
If you have a belief that something is possible, you are sending a signal to your RAS to be on the lookout for anything or anyone that can help you in your quest. Again, it is similar to giving a bouncer a list of people who can come in. Your list would say, “Anyone who can help me with this issue can come in.” If you didn’t have that belief, then even if people were in the crowd waiting to help, you would not allow them access.
You Look for Solutions
If you believe something is possible, your mind will work overtime to come up with solutions by asking better questions. If you don’t believe it is possible, then you are sending a signal to your mind that says, “This is not achievable, focus on something else.” If you aren’t sure whether or not something is possible, then your mind isdivided, partly accepting, partly negating your belief (you’ll find outmore about how powerful the effects of a divided mind are when you read my book, The Winning Mind Set). If, on the other hand, you feel totally confidentin your belief, then you send a signal to your brain that sends the message, “This is possible. Figure out any and all ways to make this come true.”
Your MIND will, on an automatic basis, search for ways for you to solve your challenges and succeed.
“Visualize whatever this thing is that you want, see it, feel it, embrace it and believe in it. Make a mental blue print, and then begin to build it! It is within your grasp, just reach for it!” -Kevin Seaman
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Listen To This Related Episode Of The MindCast Podcast: If You Can See It, You Can Be It!
