The first in a short series on the powerful effects of Imagery, when used correctly. How much of your potential remains locked? [business, sport, self improvement]
Did you know that as children, we enjoyed a significant mental advantage over the adult population…an advantage that the majority of us let slip away as we grew into adulthood? Because of a lack of consistent practice, we gradually lost the ability to use an effective mental skill that most children seem to possess naturally – the skill of mental Imagery. Imagery, the Language of the Mind
Because humans think in pictures, there isn’t a single thought that we create in our mind that is not somehow associated with a mental image (and often, with feelings) of some sort. We frequently talk about seeing with our ‘mind’s eye’…this simply means that when we imagine something in our mind, we generally see a picture of what we are thinking about, just as if we were looking at it through a camera lens or through our own eyes. Some people refer to this process as “visualization”, but I prefer the term “imagery” because it is broader and more easily incorporates the other senses beyond vision. In effect, it would indeed be accurate to describe imagery as the language of the mind. You can confirm the truth of this statement for yourself with the following simple exercise.
Take a few moments to think about your mother - before you read any further…
Now as you did this, you probably ‘saw’ (with your ‘mind’s eye’) an image of what your mother looks like, what color her hair is, how tall she is, what she looks like sitting at the dining room table or in front of the TV, or wearing a favorite outfit. You might have pictured her from the front or from the side, in profile. You may even have ‘seen’ your mother working in the garden or in a favorite room, etc. Whatever you ‘saw’, it is likely that you created a set of images or mental pictures in your mind (and perhaps even an associated emotional response) that reflects how you see your mother, standing there by herself as if in a portrait or how she might look in a variety of different situations. Consider this: How would it be possible to think of your mother if you couldn’t ‘see’ her in your mind’s eye?
Now, take a few moments to think about your home…
Again, it is likely that you ‘saw’ (in your mind’s eye) some image of what your house or apartment looks like, perhaps from the outside, what your front lawn or driveway might look like, or what one or more of the rooms might look like. You may even have seen an image of your spouse or children watching television in the den or of all your family members sitting down to a meal around the kitchen table. Again, you created in your mind a set of images and feelings that reflected your perception of ‘home’ and what it is like when the important people in your life occupy it. It should be clear to you from this simple little exercise that we do indeed ‘think’ in pictures, no matter what we are thinking about. In fact, try thinking of something without “seeing it” in your mind’s eye… your car, your desk at work, your favorite hat, etc!
The Impact of Imagery on Our Emotions Images that you put into your mind directly influence how you feel. These feelings in turn affect your behavior and this set of behaviors influences your personal performance in anything that you do. Think back to a situation where you were watching a particularly sad, scary, or exciting movie? Your body responded directly to the images and feelings that were developed on the TV or movie screen, as you watched the show. Sometimes you felt tension or even fear in anticipation of the next scene (when the villain or the creature jumps out of the shadows), or relief when the hero who was hanging by his fingertips from the ledge of the tall building manages to swing back up onto the roof to safety. When watching a particularly sad movie, you may even have begun to cry. Yet, intellectually you knew that these situations were not real, they were roles played out by actors following established scripts that simply became part of your imagination. How is it that these “imagined pictures” caused your body to respond in a very real way? It is important that you realize that the set of images and the beliefs that you create in your mind are the reality that truly exists for you. This ‘reality’ in fact, serves as the mental computer program that directs you to perform in a manner that is consistent with the images in your mind and the feelings that are associated with those images. I can illustrate this point with a specific example.
Imagery - The Key to Unlocking Your Performance Potential (Addendum)
This article is an Addendum to the 3-part series on the powerful effects of Imagery, when used correctly. How much of your potential remains locked? [business, sport, self improvement]Imagery - The Key to Unlocking Your Performance Potential (Part 3)
This article is the third to the 3-part series on the powerful effects of Imagery, when used correctly. How much of your potential remains locked? [business, sport, self improvement]Imagery in Sports Psychology: Enhancing Performance Through Mental Practices
Imagery, often confused with visualization, is a powerful psychological tool that can significantly enhance an athlete's performance by engaging all senses in the process of mental rehearsal. This technique is not merely about seeing success but involves the holistic simulation of an event, including sounds, feelings, and even tastes and smells, to prepare mentally for actual performance.