One of the most powerful strategies known for achieving your goals is visualization. You’ve heard the stories – the ones about the world class athletes who envision the perfect performance in their heads over and over before they compete, or the seminar participants who learned to break boards with their bare hands simply by seeing themselves do it in their heads.
So you already know visualizing is important. But do you actually visualize what you want? Does anyone actually sit themselves in the lotus position on their area rug and meditate on what they’re trying to create?
Yes, actually. They do. Some of the best leaders I know – the most accomplished, the most celebrated, and in some cases the most famous – got there because they knew they could make it. They saw it. In their minds.
Listen to Bonnie Hagemann, the CEO of Executive Development Associates, who describes her way of practicing visualization.
I [practice visualization] especially when I know I have something important coming up – a presentation, a speech, a meeting, anything that gets my stomach in a knot. I will take time on my schedule or get up extra early to really visualize the whole meeting. I always envision it going well even if there are rockets coming in. I see it going well and people engaging with me and shaking my hand and everyone’s happy at the end.
I do this. Every day. First I start dreaming. The dream is like when you’re sitting around like a little kid dreaming about what your life is going to be like. Then I get a visual of it. I start envisioning myself in that role. I get pictures that will illustrate me as a speaker, an author, a businesswoman, or whatever. I write down what that looks like. Then I start doing the actions that need to be done to start moving towards it.
Maybe you aren’t “living the dream” right now, but when you envision the future you want, your dream will feel so close you can taste it.
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