Another way to use the power of visualisation is to practice your preferred future. Huh? Well, let me explain.
Imagining yourself doing something well actually helps make that success a reality. Research has shown that it is just as effective to imagine yourself throwing winning goals in basketball as it is to actually physically throw the basketball through a hoop over and over. Your mind can’t tell the difference between what you imagine and what is real. So successful goal throwing becomes your mind’s new reality.
The mental game is just as important as any other preparation in becoming a top sportsperson. In the same way, you can use the power of your mind to mentally practice an activity, particularly one that causes you to feel anxious or afraid.
For example, most people find public speaking an absolute ordeal. But thinking about the situation and seeing yourself doing it well can increase your confidence and your ability to carry out the dreaded task. Visualising yourself competently addressing a crowd and having them hanging on your every word will help you to prepare for an occasion in which you may be called on to speak in public.
Seeing yourself entering the room, stepping up to the podium, taking a deep breath and calmly and confidently going through your speech will take a lot of the terror out of the situation. Imagining the type of questions which might be asked and practicing possible answers in your mind will help you feel more relaxed about how you will be able to cope with questions that might come up. When it comes to giving the speech your mind remembers your feeling of confidence and your body experiences less stress reactions.
How could you use visualisation to prepare for something you have been worried about?
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