What is Creative Visualization?

Creative visualization is the process of generating images in your mind, and is often used as a tool for self-improvement and stress relief. Athletes, celebrities and successful people from all walks of life have touted visualization as an effective way to improve performance, enhance skills and boost confidence.

As far fetched as it may seem, visualization can actually help you to overcome fears and strengthen your ability to do anything you desire because your subconscious mind accepts these visions as real experiences – just as it would if you were physically engaging in such a reality.  Athletes in particular swear by the effectiveness of mentally going through their practice exercises numerous times in order to enhance their physical performance – but visualization can be a powerful aid in any endeavor; not just athletics.

Below you’ll find a few tips to help you make your visualization practice as powerful and effective as possible:

1) Make your visualizations very detailed.

Rather than simply visualizing yourself in a better situation than you’re in now, try seeing more details of the new situation you wish to experience, such as the type of clothing you’re wearing, the size and state of your body, the other people around you, the details of your home or career, and so on.  The more detail you can infuse into your visions, the more “real” they will seem, and the better your subconscious mind will be able to believe them.

2) Visualize frequently and consistently.

Visualization is like any positive habit; the benefits build up the more you do it!  If you visualize sporadically, your results will be equally sporadic.  Instead, set a specific time for visualization every day – even if it’s only for 10 minutes at a time.  Make it your priority to stick to this time except in the case of an emergency, and you’ll see results much more quickly.

Even better, try to perform “mini-visualizations” several times a day while you’re going about your normal activities.  Simply pause for a few moments, close your eyes and recall a positive image that makes you feel happy and optimistic about some aspect of your life.  This will help keep your focus strong and minimize any negativity you pick up during the course of your normal routine.

3) Use lots of emotion.

The feelings you experience while performing your visualization exercises are more important than the images you see in your mind.  For example, if you’re imagining yourself as a successful business person, try to make sure you’re feeling the feelings that correspond with such a vision, such as confidence, empowerment, satisfaction and success!  The stronger you can make your emotions, the more effective your visualizations will be – and the more likely you’ll be to think and act in ways that bring them forth into your physical life.

Visualize the Possibilities

If you’ve ever felt stuck and unsure what to do to improve your life, you’re familiar with the challenge of being short on possibilities!  Most often when this happens you’re not really short on possibilities, but rather your mind isn’t open to seeing the possibilities that exist all around you.

Creative visualization is one helpful technique that can stimulate your mind and increase your awareness of a whole new realm of possibilities to enhance any aspect of your life.

Before you begin, first take a few minutes to quiet your mind and relax your body so you can focus better.  You might take a few slow, deep breaths and concentrate on relaxing each muscle in your body until you feel completely relaxed, and then:

Close your eyes and imagine that you’re standing inside of a big map.  Unlike most maps, this one does not portray geographical locations but rather your life experiences.  Behind you, you can see all of the experiences and events you’ve had in the past; and before you the map is blank, representing your ability to choose the types of experiences you want to have in the future.

Once you’ve got a clear picture of this map in your mind, imagine shifting your perspective so that you rise above it and look down at yourself standing within it.

Notice that from this new perspective the front part of the map isn’t blank at all, but filled with limitless possibilities that you can choose for your life.  See each possibility as a pathway leading off from where you are currently standing, and affirm that they are all open to you.

Look closer at these pathways and open your awareness to what they are.  Do any of them pertain to your current situation?  See if you can zoom in even closer and open your mind to your current situation and the possibilities available to you.

If any insights or ideas occur to you, be sure to jot them down right away and explore them in more detail later.  If you don’t realize any new possibilities the first time you do this visualization, be sure to do it again as soon as you can (daily is best).  Several sessions may be needed before you’ll be able to fully relax and open your mind.  However, with practice comes deeper insight and eventually you’ll be able to see truly unlimited possibilities for improving any and all areas of your life!

This same visualization process can be used in situations when you feel confused about your next move or decisions you need to make.  Simply see yourself standing in a map with pathways leading off from where you are and imagine what those pathways may represent as far as opportunities and possibilities.  Most often you’ll notice that one pathway seems to stand out more sharply than the others, or you’ll get a stronger feeling about one and know intuitively that it’s the best choice.

The most important thing is to have patience and take your time with the process.  The more relaxed and focused you can be, the better you’ll be able to tune into your inner guidance and make the most beneficial choices.