Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.
Albert Einstein
Mental Imagery, also known as visualization, is a powerful strategy used across many different fields. It has become most notable in the field of sports psychologists.
Jack Nicklaus, “Golfer of the Century,” “Golfer of the Millenium,” and “one of the 10 Greatest Athletes of the Century” by ESPN, attributes his success to one major thing: visualization.
“I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head. First I see the ball where I want it to finish, nice and white and sitting up high on the bright green grass… the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality”
J. Nicklaus
You can use visualization for anything: presenting on stage, having a conversation with your kid about drugs, successfully asking for the salary increase from your supervisor, bench pressing 275 lbs… the list goes on.
But speaking of bench pressing; did you know that you can actually visualize your way to physical performance (like bench pressing a certain amount of weight for a certain number of reps) – all without lifting a finger?!
It’s true. Studies showed that a group of individuals who physically trained a specific muscle group showed an increase in performance – but so did another group of individuals who simply thought about going through the same exercise routines (mind blown!?).
If you want to use visualization for: weight loss, better grades, increased salary, a beautiful date, or building your dream company, follow the simple steps below.
- Create a space for yourself – not just physically in location, but also in your schedule (2x a day, AM and PM, preferably in a quiet location).
- Take a deep breath in and out, repeat until you’ve relaxed your body.
- State your intention (for example, “I’m creating a business that serves 10000 people in finding their dream careers”).
- Evoke emotions. This is the secret sauce that brings everything together. How do you feel when you’re giving a killer speech to a widely engaged audience?
- Imagine yourself going through each motion, all the way to the end. Be in your body – this is a 1st person experience, not 3rd person.
Anywhere from 5-10 minutes, 2x a day is all you need.
What will you create today?
Live with intention. Lead with inspiration.