
What is visualization?
I love visualization. I’m a big dreamer and use the power of visualization to help me overcome the dark, difficult days in my life.
What I think is fascinating about visualization is when neuroscientists looked at the brain using brain-imaging technology, they found that some of the same parts of the brain light up when we are imagining something as when we are actually doing it.
For example, when you dream/visualize the perfect day in your mind, the same visual and spatial areas of the brain are activated as when you see the real thing.
Visualization is the practice of imagining what you want to achieve in the future. As if it were true today. It involves using all five senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.
How can it help you?
As someone with anxiety, what I love about visualization is that it can help you imagine yourself in a situation you get to practice how you will act, think or feel in the future.
Visualization can lead to a smoother experience of that future event, giving the needed confidence and experience to succeed. Our brain comes prepared!
It also can help you create a “Happy Place”
If you frequently find yourself overwhelmed or unable to perform when trying to accomplish something, consider coming up with a “happy place” you can visit and use as a method to destress.
Maybe you’re like me and your happy place is on the beach, surrounded by your favourite people with some good food, great music.
Or maybe your happy place is on boat? Or maybe it’s your house.
It doesn’t matter what your happy place is, so long as thinking about it soothes your negative feelings and eases your racing thoughts.
Let’s try it now with a visualization of the holidays, I do this often when it comes to events or holidays. It’s Christmas morning, what are you wearing? How are you feeling? What are the smells in the air? What makes you smile? Is there anything that causes you some worry? If yes, address it. How can we shift it to joy?
Want to learn the steps to make a positive change in your confidence with visualization? Check out this week’s episode of the Self(ish) Confidence podcast for more info!