Visualisation: The power of the mind
Everything begins in the mind. Everything. What we do, who we are (or think we are), the way we behave, our aspirations and motivations. Visualisation is a powerful technique that allows us to harness the power of the mind by using positive mental images to shape our reality.
If you’re new to visualisation, rest assured that it’s easy to master and with regular practice, you’ll soon see the benefits.
Top tips to get started with visualisation
Here are our top tips to help you visualise your way to happiness…
1. Start simple
Like everything that takes time to learn, start gently until you find your flow and feel like you’re really harnessing the power of your own imagination.
Try imagining something familiar. Your favourite food or drink, the voice of a loved one who gives you endless encouragement, the feel of warm sand between your toes on the beach of your most-love holiday destination… You choose the moment. All we ask is that you rehearse it in your mind often. Indulge in the sensations that make it real and use your mind to bring the moment to life.
2. Use your imagination
Here’s where the fun starts. Whatever challenge it is that you face or want to overcome, start to imagine your ideal scenario. The trick here is to live it and believe it. Feel the moment as best as you can. Picture the outcome that you want to see clearly in your mind.
Sometimes it helps to break the challenge down to target your trigger points. For example, if you’re anxious about an interview or giving birth, try to understand why and what sets that feeling in motion. Reflect on the feeling but instead of feeling anxiety, imagine that you’re withstanding a tornado.
The winds blow around you and you feel it, you know it’s there, but your feet are firmly gripped on solid ground and you’re not going anywhere. You feel the disturbance as the wind blows in your face and your hair whips around, but you feel calm and safe knowing that your feet are planted and you’re not moving, no matter how hard the wind blows. The tornado passes, and as it does your sense of calm remains.
3. Repeat, repeat, repeat
Repetition is the key to success with visualisation. To embed these changes in behaviour into your mind so that you take on a new response to past behaviours takes practice.
It takes our brain time to lay down new pathways and change the way we think or respond to certain scenarios, so play practice your visualisation as often as you can and before long, you’ll start to feel the benefit of harnessing your mind.
