Visualize your Goals already Achieved

I got some good advice from my mastermind group upon mentioning my jitters about an upcoming presentation to a group of professional women at a large San Diego company: “Visualize how you want it to turn out”. Simple and powerful words to apply to every single goal you have in your life and especially work. Read below for the how and why visualizing should be part of our everyday activities.

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
--Albert Einstein

Athletes have been using their imaginations to achieve their goals for years. They visualize an upcoming event in their mind before it actually takes place. Jack Nicklaus, the legendary golfer said “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head.” First he saw the ball sitting where he intended it to go, then saw how it got there – its path, trajectory and landing, and finally saw the type of swing needed to turn his vision into reality.

This can work for the rest of us just as effectively. First get very clear on exactly what you want, and then take 10-15 minutes each day to close your eyes and imagine that your goal is already complete. Envision your dream house, ideal career, having unlimited money and good health, a successful presentation, or whatever you choose. Even more powerful is to imagine the corresponding feelings and sounds. Researchers say that an image or scene in your mind, when accompanied by intense emotion, can stay in your memory forever.

There’s fascinating scientific reasoning for how this works: When you visualize your goal as already complete on a regular basis, it creates a conflict in your subconscious mind between what you currently have and what you are visualizing. Your mind then tries to resolve the conflict by 1) programming your brain to let you be more aware of things that will help achieve your goal; 2) activates your subconscious mind to create solutions; and 3) creates new levels of motivation.

We each have one of the most powerful tools known to man right between our ears – our imaginations! Put it to use right now – get a mental picture of each of your goals, think about and feel them daily, and see what happens. You become unstoppable in achieving the life you want for yourself.

This week: Find yourself a quiet spot and bring to mind one important goal you want to achieve. Close your eyes and see yourself enjoying the benefits of that achievement. Think about how every aspect of reaching that goal feels and sounds to you. See in your mind’s eye what you’re doing, who’s with you, and every detail of its positive outcome. This exercise may feel like the children’s game of “pretend” but go with it. Write down what you thought about and carry that paper with you to remind you of not only the target goal, but also its associated feelings and effects. You’ll have more confidence and soon begin taking steps needed to make it happen.