The power of the human mind can be used to advantage in a variety of tasks. In particular, a technique known as creative visualization or guided imagery is used to provide psychological and athletic benefits to practitioners. Although this technique takes practice to master, you can train your brain to use vivid images to enhance the quality of your life.
Brain Physiology
The human brain is divided into two distinct hemispheres that operate largely independent of each other, although they use the corpus callosum to communicate with each other. The left hemisphere is primarily responsible for language, mathematics and logic. The right hemisphere is primarily responsible for spatial perception, visual imagery and music. Techniques such as self-talk are designed to take advantage of the left hemisphere's abilities, and visualization was designed to take advantage of the right hemisphere's abilities.
Practice
To begin the process of visualization, find a comfortable environment, advises the Student Health Services at the University of South Carolina. Turn off the lights, take off your shoes and put on some relaxing music. Sit in a comfortable chair, relax the muscles in your body one by one and begin breathing deeply from your abdomen. At this point, you will be ready to begin visualization. The content of your visualization depends on your specific purpose.
Sport Psychology
Visualization is used in sport psychology to improve athletic performance. It can be used to visualize in advance the moment of victory, thereby increasing self-confidence on the playing field. Because it is entirely mental, it can be used by injured athletes to mentally practice important skills. D.L. Feltz, D. M. Landers and B.J. Becker reported in a 1988 issue of the "National Research Council Journal" that this type of mental practice yields measurable results.
Stress Management
Visualization for stress management involves imagining soothing activities such as walking down a forest path and taking note of sights, sounds and smells in considerable detail. You also might imagine scenes that have a personal meaning, perhaps from your past, that evoke feelings of contentment and well-being.
Assertiveness Training
Psychiatrist Robert Landon, writing for "Psychology Today" magazine, reports that visualization in combination with systematic desensitization techniques can result in greater assertiveness by people who lack self-confidence. One method he discussed was the technique of imagining a blank TV screen upon which you can imagine an anxiety-producing situation in which you are normally unwilling to asset yourself, such as making a request from your boss. By mentally replaying the scene over and over again, you will gradually become desensitized to its anxiety-producing effects, making it easier for you to approach similar situations in real life.
Member Comments
soulrebeljen January 8
Having an organizational morning...setting up training dates and workouts, figuring budgets, and looking towards the future! It's all about visualization!