Ok, first of all, I should let you know that I love the idea of visualization. I love what it potentially represents when used correctly. I think it’s important to separate two different types of visualization.
Type 1: Escapism / Fantasizing
Escapism is the idea that you visualize yourself sitting on the beach with your beverage of choice just soaking it in. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with this, but it does little to prepare someone for potential hazards that surely stand in the way of achieving that type of lifestyle.
Escapism is more like a way to relax and get away from it all mentally. The fantasy itself can cause the “dreamer” to believe they are most of the way there already and lose motivation or a desire to continue working. Even if this happens subconsciously, it subverts potential progress and sabotages the likelihood of achieving the “dream life”.
Type 2: Self Image Modification / Mental Practicing
Mental practicing is a way to visualize a specific task or chore or even a method of preparing visually for the day for how you want things to turn out. This side of visualization offers a strong component of reality and if done correctly, will allow the individual to prepare for potential challenges that may arise.
This is an easy example for a salesperson, with the idea of visualizing the potential outcome and what objections a prospect may have with a means of how to counter those potential objections. If they arise in the course of a sales presentation, the salesperson has spent the needed time practicing how to counter those objections without having to go through multiple experiences in real life, having lost hundreds of sales along the way by not practicing.
Self Image:
The end result of practicing mentally vs. just “dream” visualizing has more to do with re-framing and developing the self image. How we fundamentally see ourselves is our “self image”. When you fill in the blank honestly in this sentence, you have a good idea of what your self image is:
“I’m the kind of person that ___________________.”
In the end, visualization is great when used appropriately, or at least understood in context. If you are using the “dream” visualization as a means to accomplish your goals, you may not be on track… If you’re using the visualization as a means of mental practice, you’ll start to develop skills much faster than just the physical practice or “real world” practice alone.
Psycho Cybernetics
Although this book gives some visualization techniques, it applies much more to the mental practicing side of this where a book / movie “The Secret” caters more to the self-help escapism/fantasy side of this that in the end doesn’t necessarily inspire action.
Professional Examples:
There are a lot of examples especially from the sporting world where visualization plays a huge part in success. This is very true with golf as it’s such an individual game and there is time allotted for each shot, i.e. the golfer can take his time. Then again, how many professional basketball players haven’t envisioned themselves making that game winning shot??? I’m guessing very few. In any case, this idea of mental practicing or rehearsing is done in sports, music, and professionally in sales and in several other business pursuits.
Application:
Consider taking some time to think through a specific encounter you know you’ll be having and see yourself reacting in the ideal way. It may be a professional or even personal interaction, but something where you may often have a negative or less desirable outcome. Then practice what you might say in your mind. This shouldn’t need to take long and should include a few separate scenarios based on what usually happens and how you would like for that situation to turn out. In any case, the additional planning that you’ll have for that situation will allow you to be better prepared and the situation is much more likely to go how you want it to go with the right mental practice.
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