Published Monday, April 21, 2008 8:08 PM
Updated Monday, April 21, 2008 8:09 PM

 

Wise Words from Williams

The power of visualization


The power of visualization

Wise Words from Williams

Visualization is a powerful tool used by people of all walks of life to help them achieve their goals.

Athletes use it to maximize their training and boost their performance. Entertainers use it to ensure they have successful engagements. Leaders in all areas of life employ it to do better and become more proficient at what they do.

Many others who desire to increase or improve their level of performance or effectiveness also use it. It is used a lot for weight reduction and stress reduction. And we use it in its simplest form many times in many ways.

For example, you can be away from your pet and still see your pet, with your mind’s eye. You can be far away, even in another country and still see your child, spouse or other family member with your mind’s eye. That’s visualization in its most basic form.

You see with your mind’s eye instead of your physical eyes. Athletes in training see themselves accomplishing what they are training to do. Performers see themselves on stage giving a successful performance. Visualization is seeing yourself doing what you want to do and doing it the way you want to do it.

It’s that simple but not always that easy. Many people trying to do something for the first time or something they feel uneasy with usually think, “I am going to fail.”

That’s what they visualize, that’s what they see in their mind’s  eye so that’s what happens. They have a picture in their mind which reads “I can’t do it” so, they end up not being able to do it. What you see is what you get. If you visualize yourself accomplishing your goal, then you will.

For example, if you want to speak with calm and poise you must visualize yourself speaking with calm and poise instead of being a nervous wreck. We become what we think of, what we dwell on in our minds. If you want to be a confident speaker, begin to see yourself that way especially when you are in a speaking situation. And carry that image in your mind at all times.

Visualize yourself giving a successful speech with great calm and poise. And keep that visualization no matter what.

To practice visualization at first find a place where you will not be disturbed, where you can fully concentrate, on what you are doing. With time, you will find that you can do it almost anywhere. Just keep practicing, just keep doing it. It will get easier and you will get better at doing it.

You control the pictures in your mind. Choose to run pictures that see you speaking with calm and poise not with fear and trembling. That goes for any other thing you would like to master. See yourself successfully accomplishing it in your mind’s eye first. It makes the rest a lot easier. See it, believe it and you will achieve it.

Valentine Williams is a motivational speaker, seminar/workshop leader, personal development coach, adjunct instructor and the author of Youth Empowered to Succeed. He is also the president of Williams Speaking and Training Services, a people development organization that conducts professional and personal development training and staff development workshops. You can reach him with your questions or comments at: wisewords@valentinespeaks.com