Motivational Monday: 5 Simple Ways To Learn To Visualize

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Why Visualize?

•  Imagining the end result and achieving your goals helps you believe it’s possible
•  While it sounds “fluffy”, it really puts you in the right mindset. This is especially true when you’re facing a huge challenge
• Of course, we’re not in control of everything. Visualizing makes you feel that you have the most control possible, though. It makes you realize that the more you imagine yourself meeting your goals, the more likely you are to follow that path.

5 Ways To Learn To Visualize 

1. Close Your Eyes & See It

Take a minute and try this.  Whether you’re sitting or lying down, close your eyes.  Imagine exactly what you want.   

For example:

If you want your dream career and salary, picture yourself waking up in the morning, putting on an amazing outfit and going to work at your dream job. Use your five senses; what do you see, feel, hear, taste and smell?  

How do you feel at the end of the day?  Focus on the feeling.  Imagine it’s real.   Really feel it. As Rory Vaden says (and I talk about in my post on willpower),  “focus on what you’re trying to will”.

2. Make A Vision Board

Of course, learning to have the willpower to stick with your dreams is not an easy feat.  Vision boards can help, though!  Once you’ve done step 1 (imagining the future as if it were today), it’s time to get creative.

There are so many ways to make a vision board, whether you consider yourself a creative type or not.  Once, I saw a friend had made a small one to carry around on her keyring. I usually make giant posters, either digital or with magazine cutouts, like a collage.  Nutritionist Elizabeth Rider even has an example of a vision board made using a coaster!

3. Write Down Your Goals

While writing goals down is one of the best ways to make sure they get done, the most important part is setting a deadline.

When you set your goals (after visualizing what you want, of course), have a timeline in mind. Remember the  how is as important as the what.

If you want access to free goal setting sheets, don’t forget to check out my FREE printables library!  You can search the page for “goals” for all of them, or head to my trusty goal setting handout – the very first printable I created.

4. Create The Environment

Personally, I believe that creating an environment conducive to achieving your goals (or the feelings you have when you visualize) is a key step.

There are two ways I do this:

Physical Environment

Attraction Items

If you’ve seen The Secret, you’ve seen the motivational speakers in the documentary actually place “attraction items” (for lack of a better expression) around them. For example, Jack Canfield sticks a $100 dollar bill (if I remember correctly) on his ceiling to visualize financial wealth.  People have been visualizing for years, but I do really like the idea of having items around you that inspire you.

5. Tell the World About What Your Visualize

Tips For When You Feel Stuck 

Well, you say, visualizing is a great idea, but I don’t know what I want.  Don’t worry! I’ve heard this so many times from readers and people I’ve met alike.

Here’s what we need to remember about being stuck:

• It happens to everyone – Breathe:   Remember not to rush into your visualization or vision board project. Find a time where you have the time to breathe, think deeply, and create.  
• Visualize – it’s the first step:  Even if you feel stuck, make a list of words about how you would LIKE to feel.  Even if you don’t know how, you may be able to manifest the feelings you want in your life. Over time, this may inspire new ideas that could set you on the path you’re dreaming of. 
• Being stuck often leads us to our next adventure:  I can’t even count the number of times I’ve felt “stuck”, not sure if I was on the right path, or even how to complete a project I started. Sometimes, we’re so stuck we don’t know why we began a project.  The best advice I’ve gotten has been from any type of sports coach I’ve had – personal trainers, martial arts instructors, swim coaches, etc….breathe.  Looking back on all the times I’ve been stuck, I realize that being able to visualize the next adventure works wonders.