So let’s say you’ve got a pretty clear vision in your mind of where you want to take your life. It’s a different direction, sure, and you’re scared shitless, but at least the picture in your mind of what you want is crystallized.
What steps do you take first?
Your mind’s likely full of ideas and things you could do, and if you’re like most people, then the first thing you do is start a ton of things. Pile a bunch of busyness onto that clear vision because that’s your default mode and even though you crave more freedom, well, old habits die hard, right?
There’s a Secret First Step.
Not enough people are talking about this! But before you get planning, before you dive headlong into the researching rabbit hole, and definitely before you start doing a ton of things, there’s a secret first step.
That step is to rehearse the outcome you want, in your mind. That’s right, you mentally practice the future you want inside your imagination. This is called creative visualization and it improves your chances of having the outcome you want.
Sounds nuts? Science doesn’t think so!
Check this out:
One study showed that people who went to the gym and did weight training increased their muscle mass by 30%. Naturally, right? Buuuuut, the second group in the study stayed home and just visualized weight training achieved almost half the result (+ 13.5%) without ever going to the gym! (1)
Another study out of Harvard involved two groups of non-musicians. One group practiced piano at a physical piano and a second group just rehearsed in their mind. BOTH GROUPS activated new neural networks in their brain regions concerning finger movements. Even though one group was only visualizing it in their minds! (2)
The implications are enormous. Thoughts and imagination are creating the same neural signals as actions! Therefore, you can prime yourself for success by preparing in the mental realm first. Less heavy lifting required!
Here’s how you do this.
It’s a lot like what I was talking about in the Juju of Delight. Relax, close your eyes, and bring the outcome that you want to mind. Create a picture in your mind of things going even better than you could have expected. Inhabit that picture like a little movie. Notice every little detail with all your senses. What are you saying? What are you doing? Who else is there? What are the expressions on their faces? What is the space like where you are? What does it smell like? Feel like? What emotions do you get when things are going so frickin’ well? Where do you feel those feelings in your body? Make is super vivid in your mind.
You’re teaching your mind to experience this outcome.
I recorded an audio exercise for you to try so you get a feel for creative visualization. Give it a whirl! You can use it for any outcome that you’d like to bring into the world: your next presentation, a difficult conversation, or your big, awesome, new life direction.
CLICK HERE to access the 4min audio exercise.
And, if you’d like personal support on bringing your vision to life, then you and I are meant for each other! This is exactly what I coach people through in my 1:1 program, DIY Destiny.
One-on-one coaching with me will get your crystal clear on the right steps to take towards your ideal life direction, more freedom (without the constant #hustle!), and save you a ton of time and heartache compared to muddling through it on your own.
You can book a free discovery session with me to try coaching to make sure it’s right for you. I only work with a small handful of clients, 8 at most, so space is very limited. BOOK HERE to get started.
And I’d love to hear from you in the comments below: what did you experience when you tried the visualization exercise? What is possible for you with your vision amped up even farther?
Here’s to the unfolding of your vision. <3
Big love,
Jen
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14998709
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7500130
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