Visualization - scientifically proven.

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Monika Walankiewicz, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

We all have heard about the power of visualization, but have you heard that visualization is scientifically proven?

I’ve been listening to positive psychology lectures conducted at Harvard by Tal Ben-Shahar. And the more I’m listening to them, the more I’m seeing the connection between science of happiness (positive psychology) and principles that up until recently belonged only to the realm of new age practices. I’m glad that science is finally catching up and proving what greatest spiritual teachers of our times had known to be true all along. The bridge between east and west is being built as we speak and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

The concept of visualization has been made popular by the movie and the book “The Secret”, and became embedded in the popular culture. By the way I haven’t seen the movie nor have I read the book, however I’m a strong believer in the power of imagination. And I’m a strong believer in the power of image. We think in images. We daydream. We imagine what we want to experience. Most likely if you can’t see it in your mind’s eye, you won’t be able to do it. In my experience, it just won’t happen.

Here is a short recap of what was said during the lecture. Visualization originated from religious practices from all around the world and later has been employed by Eastern European athletes. I suppose they really wanted to win those gold Olympic medals.

What is the mechanism of visualization? It all goes back to the structure of the human brain. (If you want to learn more google Stephen Kosslyn’s study from 1994.)

When you are looking at something, for example, you are looking at your hand, certain neurons fire in the visual cortex of your brain. Interestingly enough, when you close your eyes and imagine looking at your hand the exact same cells are firing in your brain. It’s because the brain doesn’t know the difference between the real thing and the imaginary thing.

Thus, if you imagine the desired outcome you are using your mind as a simulator. In a way, you’re fooling your mind into thinking it’s a real thing. Another very important thing to know is that brain doesn’t like inconsistencies. It will try to bring the external reality to match this internal vision (or a schema if we are using psychological talk.)

The key is to be persistent. You have to envision your desire over and over again. Don’t focus just on the destination. You have to imagine the journey as well, meaning all the steps you need to take to arrive at your destination. In addition, try to involve as many senses as you can, so your brain truly believes it.

So how can you apply it to your own life?

- Imagine your desired outcome, e.g. if you are dreading a meeting at work imagine everything
going well.
- Visualize the steps leading to the destination. Continuing with the meeting example, imagine
what you need to do for the meeting to go well. What are the steps you need to take? Do you need to do some research? Prepare presentation? Prepare a counter argument? Of course, focus on the steps which are in your control, and visualize doing them.
- Involve as many senses as you can when visualizing the situation. For example: imagine sitting
in the room, hearing the voices, smelling the air etc.
- Feel the emotions that come up during your visualization. Making the emotional connection to
the experience will make the visualization much more effective.
- I strongly suggest linking your imagined outcome to a physical object. It might be a stone or a symbol you scribbled on a piece of paper. You might want to keep it with you as a visual reminder, not only for this one but for all subsequent meetings. Obviously, I highly recommend making your own visual reminder, but if you are busy a found object will suffice.

Don’t you think that universe, higher power, or whatever else you call it would equip us with the brain that would allow us to picture and then pursue our purpose in life? I think it would. So use your imagination. Relax, take a deep breath and picture your dreams, your goals, your ideal life.

Imagine the possibilities, and feel it.