Learning to Visualize

"Visualization is One of the Best Tools You Can Use to Succeed"

Can you visualize what you want?  Being able to see images in your mind can help you succeed.  Follow these steps to help you learn how.

Visualizing your goals as real as possible can speed up your journey to success.  Can you learn how?  One way to find out is to follow the step-by-step instructions here.

Some people find this very easy to do and others may have trouble just visualizing a simple image.  People in certain occupations such as architects, air traffic controllers and interior designers either developed their visualization skills over time or are naturally good at it.

Step 1 - Remember If Others Can You Can

If you have doubts about being able to visualize, try to forget them at least while you attempt the exercises here.  Do you play the piano?  If you don't, it doesn't mean you can't but only that you haven't really wanted to learn.  Do you know how to drive a car?  If you do, didn't that take some time to learn until it become almost second nature to you?

It's the same with learning to visualize.  It may take you less or more time than someone else.  The benefits of being able to see things in your mind far outweigh the time or effort it may take you to learn.

You may already know how but are not aware of it.  Do you have dreams or even the occasional nightmare?  Have you ever recalled an experience from your past that seemed almost too real?

These are examples of visualization that you experience without your full control.  What if you could decide what you wanted to see and when?

Step 2 - Relax Your Body and Mind

Being at rest both physically and mentally will make it easier for you to practice learning to visualize.  You may not even need to do this once you become better at it.

Begin by finding a private room or area where no one can disturb you for a short time.  Close the blinds, drapes, doors or windows, turn off your stereo, television or computer and lower the lights.

Why?  Because you will be trying to create images within your mind and outside sources may distract you.  Once you become skilled at visualizing you may be even able to do this in a crowded room filled with people.

Find a comfortable chair, sofa or couch and recline in it in a way so that your body is comfortable.  You may find it of benefit to play some relaxing music that you find appealing at a low volume.

Close your eyes and take several deep breaths in order to fully relax your body.  With each breath you exhale, imagine that any stress or tension in your body is being released.  Keep breathing in a slow and regular manner for a few minutes.

There may be many thoughts entering your mind about events that happened to you today, yesterday or what may happen tomorrow.  Let them go by thinking that you are too busy relaxing right now and will deal with them later.  Consciously decide that you this is your time to relax and turn them away.

Step 3 - Create a Screen in Your Mind

You already know what a television, computer monitor or movie theater screen looks like.  Can you picture one in your mind right now that is completely blank?  It may help if you stare at either of these for a few minutes first.

With your eyes closed imagine that blank screen in your mind and keep it there for as long as you can.  If other thoughts try to enter your mind tell them to go away and come back later.

Repeat this until you can see this screen in your mind for as long as possible.  Create your projection screen and keep it clear.  It will become easier each time you practice this.

Step 4 - Visualizing Shapes and Objects

Select a simple two-dimensional geometric shape such as a square, triangle or circle.  Draw the outline of it on a blank sheet of paper using only a black marker, pencil or pen.  You can prepare this before you choose to become relaxed.

Look at the image you drew for for at least a minute and then close your eyes and try to imagine it on your viewing screen.  It may help if you draw it in your mind just as your drew it on the paper.

Repeat this exercise until you don't need the drawing any more and can visualize the image on your viewing screen at will.  Try this with other shapes.

Once you can do this try and move those shapes and make them answer to your commands.  Make them move up and down, left and right, in a circular motion or paint them with the colour of your choice.

After this, move on to simple three-dimensional objects such as a piece of fruit, a block of wood, a pencil or whatever you prefer.  Once you can visualize it, try to move it as did with the two-dimensional shapes.

The longer you practice the better you will become at doing this.  In time you will be able to study any object and recreate it in your mind.  That includes anything that you may desire such as a car or house.

Step 5 - Visualizing People and Places

To visualize people, select a person whose image you are very familiar with, such as a spouse, friend or anyone you feel close to you.  If you have a photograph of them, use this to help you visualize their image.

Project their image on your view screen and then imagine them moving and even speaking to you.  Use your memories to recall an important moment when you were speaking with them to help you.

For places, start with a room that you are very familiar with such as your bedroom.  Look around the room and study everything in it as best you can.  You can break this down by attempting to visualize one wall at a time.  Open your eyes and see how many objects you imagined correctly and repeating this exercise until you can picture the entire room.

You can try to visualize other places as well and it will be easier if you have been there before because you will be able to use your memories to help you.

Visualize Your Goals

Each goal that you may have can usually be pictured in your mind.  If it is an object then you should be able to do this with practice.  It can help greatly if you can actually see that object in person.

If it was a car, visit an automobile dealership and test drive the car and study it.  This will become an experience that you can use to help you visualize it later.

If your goal was a certain type of job, you should try to visualize actually doing the job in the place that you would be doing it.  You can add what it would be like traveling to and from work, the desk that you would be working at and many other features.

Another type of goal you may have can involve changing things about yourself.  This could be having a slimmer body, being more muscular, being able to speak in front of an audience,  learning another language, improving your golf game, having a better memory and thousands of others.

If it was a physical change to your body that you desired, you could visualize your new physique using a picture from a magazine.  It can be a picture of yourself in the past or someone else's body with a small picture of your head pasted over top of theirs.

For skills, traits or abilities that you seek, you should visualize yourself performing them.  Imagine how you easily you would be speaking in front of a large group of people.  Or how far and accurate your golf swing was.

After each goal visualization that you do, congratulate yourself on how wonderful it is to have or be that which you are visualizing.  Thank yourself for having done this and how easy it was to do.

You can learn to visualize and it truly can help you succeed   All you have to do is practice and give it a chance.  If you do this ...

what you see in your mind becomes real much faster.

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About the Author

James Kudlak is an Internet consultant, systems programmer, writer and contributor of articles to this website.

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