What Do You See? Use Visualization to Get What You Want

Athletes (and coaches) often use a technique known as visualization or future pacing. It involves getting whoever you are working with to picture themselves in the future that they are aspiring to. I use it with my clients when I feel it’s the right thing to do. I encourage them to experience that moment in the future with as many of their senses as they possibly can - see it, hear it, feel it etc. This can be a powerful exercise because human beings will often pursue what they can see, even if that picture is only in their imagination. That is why advertisements are so effective. We see it, then we want it even if it wasn’t on our mind before, and finally we go after it. That’s how you ended up with that new item of clothing you didn’t really need, or the piece of furniture that was too big for the space in your lounge and the list goes on. How about putting your power of visualization to better use?

When you look into your future what do you see?

Where will your business or organization or close relationships be in five years? Ten years? Twenty

How would you have grown personally and professionally?

If all you see is slugging and fruitless hard work then guess what – that’s what you’ll probably get. If on the other hand you see yourself going from strength to strength, in both personal and professional areas of your life then you are more likely to achieve that or something very close.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” ― Henry Ford.

You can’t do much about our past, but you do have a say about where you will find yourself tomorrow. You can make choices today that will reap good fruit tomorrow. It is never too late to begin again; as long as you have breath and are willing to do what it takes; you can change your destiny.

But it all starts with changing the picture in your mind.

Your brain thinks largely in pictures. That’s why there’s that saying that a picture speaks louder than a thousand words. It is why people who have dreams that they can visualize usually go ahead to achieve them in the face of life’s biggest challenges and setbacks.

You can read more about this in my E-Book Make it Happen.

Now I am not saying that all it is going to take is visualizing where you would like to see yourself or your organization in the future. There is no doubt you are going to need a lot of hard work, persistence and wise decisions. Visualization exercises are not an excuse for being lazy or sitting on your backside when you should be out there doing all you can to get where you want to be. But you can’t go after what you can’t see.