What is “perfect visualization” and how can it help me?
Perfect visualization is the art of picturing a goal as if you have already attained it. You can see yourself having already achieved your goal and enjoying the rewards, or you can picture your ideal future, whatever that may look like for you.
In NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), perfect visualization is referred to by many names: “success rehearsal”, “the movie technique” or, simply, “visualize”.
The act of seeing your goal as already complete in your mind’s eye is a core technique used by the world’s most successful people. It was introduced to me in 2006 and it has revolutionized my life ever since. Achieving success with perfect visualization takes time (months) but, once mastered, it will work for you literally 24/7 and you’ll have the most important tool to achieve your goals.
With perfect visualization you don’t visualize just any goal.
You visualize only goals related to important milestones that are necessary for creating the ideal future that YOU want in YOUR life (e.g., having enough money to have the lifestyle you want, losing 20 pounds, getting married).
Visualizing your goals in this manner ensures that they will be fulfilling to you and meaningful. You’ll be taking action towards what YOU want in YOUR life and not just any old goal or dream with no relation to you and your needs. They are already desires of yours; it is by taking action towards them that they will become your reality.
Visualization – seeing the goal as already complete in your mind’s eye – is a core technique used by the world’s most successful people. Visualization is effective because it harnesses the power of our subconscious mind.
By visualizing yourself happy and fulfilled, you are communicating to your subconscious mind that you are already living your ideal life.
Visualization is a powerful and effective tool to help you achieve success in regards to any goal or dream, but there’s one important caveat: visualizing only works when it is done correctly.
You can’t just sit back for 15 minutes every day and visualize your goals in a vague manner – This is an entire shift in your consciousness.
YOU CAN CREATE THE PERFECT LIFE FOR YOURSELF BY USING VISUALIZATION.
It could be a dream job, living in your desired location and surrounded by all of your loved ones or just about anything you want-the possibilities are endless. The neuroplasticity of your brain is powerful and with proper action it will grow into something beautiful if we nurture it to do so.
Focusing on negative thoughts and feelings can be a tough habit to break. It’s important not let these kinds of thoughts limit what is possible! Don’t give up, you are capable of so much more than your inner voice keeps telling you!
It takes some time for new positive habits to take root in our lives; don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t happen overnight. Visualize your ideal life – that will make all this work worthwhile – start by building an imagined version first before moving onto manifesting it into reality.
What is the best time of day for visualization exercises?
Certain times of the day such as early mornings and late evenings can be conducive to visualization since the mind is less agitated then. Think of these times as windows for nourishing an ideal future by bathing one’s mind with images and ideas that will help you create what you make for an ideal future.
For most people the best time of the day to visualize your goals is early in the morning, right after waking up and before you start your daily routine. This way, when we’re so relaxed our minds are more open to outside ideas than they would be during a hectic workday, or later at night with too much on their mind. Visualize what it’s like achieving that goal now–what will happen? What would others say about you if this happened? How would you feel?
The power of imagination is a powerful mental ability to create your future.
If you want it to work for you, then all that mental energy has got to be laser focused on what the person wants in order for them not just fantasize about their goals, but live out and do something with those fantasies.
For example, let’s start to look at 3 main areas of your life: Work/Career, Relationships, Health/Wellbeing.
Write down what your perfect life would look like in these areas. Get as specific and detailed as you possibly can. Really think outside the box and feel your ideal life as you want it to be. Spend 5 minutes a day to focus on these visualizations and allow your imagination to expand to where you can actually feel it as if it is already happening.
Here is an example to help guide you through this process.
Work/Career: What if you got that promotion?
Write down what it feels like to have the title of “Director” on a business card, or feel more grounded and confident about decisions made at work with having someone who can help guide those choices. Imagine yourself tackling all those tasks while still finding time for an occasional lunch meeting and taking on new responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed by overloading them too quickly. Imagine all the people you can be helping. How does this make you feel?
Better Relationships:
What if you could communicate your needs clearly? How would you feel if you had less disagreements and more peace and harmony? Imagine yourself feeling this way in all your relationships, both work and personal.
Health/Wellbeing:
What if there was no need for medication or doctors visits anymore? Your diet was healthy and enjoyable, you exercised regularly, the weight just falls off naturally and you find your healthy balance. Imagine yourself waking up refreshed every day knowing that this will be another great day in front of you.
Remember seeing is believing and the more you practice visualization, the easier it will become.
Your mind can create a life for you; all that’s important is your belief in what could be possible (specifically how this would feel). If there are any moments where things seem too hard for your current situation–try visualizing what may be possible instead by thinking about how good they’ll actually make you feel when accomplished. Don’t underestimate yourself or give up because these challenges should bring with them an opportunity to grow as well.
Visualization and meditation: how they work together
Visualization meditation is the method of picturing positive images, ideas, symbols, or using affirmations and mantras to help calm the mind while the body is in a relaxed state.
Meditation is simply being still for a period of time and developing an ability to focus on one thing without distraction.
So how do they work together?
In order to visualize your life exactly as you want it to be, it’s helpful to start each day by relaxing and being able to focus on the positive things you wish would happen. Visualization is a form of meditation that can help direct your energy in the right way with a desire of what you really want. Imagination is one of our greatest mental abilities, so why not use it to the best of our ability and start by visualizing your goals all while in a relaxed state.
When doing visualization meditation, you are taking control over the way your day unfolds. You can’t always control what happens during the day but what should be up to you is how positive or negative those moments will affect you. Visualization doesn’t just have to be seen as something that only has to do with climbing the corporate ladder or vacationing in Bora Bora; it can also help you make decisions throughout your entire day regarding how you react and respond to those around you.
It is important not to think of any of these steps as being easy fixes to an incredibly complex problem. On the contrary, it takes a lot of time, patience, and thought.
