Visualising Your Best Self
Do you regularly practise the power of visualisation?
We all want to be happier. Studies have shown that using the power of imagination and visualisation can lead to increased positive affect, which means an improved mood amongst those considered to have a ‘normal’ mood.
A 4-week experimental study examined the motivational predictors and positive emotional outcomes of regularly practising two mental exercises: counting one's blessings and visualizing best possible selves.
The results found that the visualisation exercise may be most beneficial for raising and maintaining a positive mood!
Understanding neuroscience can help us visualise better - because far from it being a purposeless pursuit, visualising really can supercharge your performance when it comes to boosting your vision and values.
Check out more top tips in my book Make Your Brain Work: How to Maximize Your Efficiency, Productivity and Effectiveness?
Your Brain On Visualization
So, what does the brain look like when you visualise? It’s truly fascinating.
When we visualize, we often create a scene in our mind’s eye. It might be something like gaining a promotion or being a more patient person. When we do this, we use more of the right hemisphere. We tap into more of the creative, big-picture, and emotional parts of ourselves. And we integrate these with the rational, analytical, and verbal regions of the brain.?
This means that we use more of ourselves and our potential when we visualise. Visualisation is a powerful way to activate more of our whole brain potential.
领英推荐
There’s evidence that visualization truly works. One study showed that those who visualized a workout gained 13% muscle, compared to those who actually did a physical workout and gained 30% muscle. Incredible how our brain can achieve nearly half the results by not lifting a finger!
Aligning Power with Performance
Your brain is truly incredible. But visualizing has a wishy-washy stigma to it, and this is because many people don’t understand that for it to truly come to life, it must be integrated with concrete action towards your vision, values and goals.
To align this mind power with results-based performance, you could try the following:
Do you use visualisation in your career, and if so, how has it helped you? Leave a comment below!
Join us on our YouTube channel:?https://www.youtube.com/@SynapticPotential
Want a prompt sheet for some brilliant questions that you can use in coaching conversations with people in your team? We’ve outlined 10 of our favourites in this resource-packed bundle for managers who want to upskill their coaching. Download it here:?https://synapticpotential.com/manager-coach-bundle/
Follow us on our?Synaptic Potential homepage
Learn more how to?HARNESS THE FULL BRAIN PERFORMANCE OF YOUR ORGANISATION
Join over 7,000 subscribers and subscribe to receive these bi-weekly BrainUP newsletters.
Occupational and Behavioral Safety Coach - Setters +people
1 年I love this article. It is wonderful when we can show the science for something that people think is a fluffy fad. It helps people embrace the technique.
Career Catalyst ? Life Transformation Expert ? ICF PCC Coach & Trainer ? Igniting Potential & Propelling Success ? Partnering to elevate your career, revolutionize your life, and cultivate coaching mastery
1 年Thanks for sharing the benefits of visualization Amy Brann! I encourage my clients who have been downsized to use visualization to prepare for job interviews. I invite them to practice visualizing and responding to questions that position themselves as the ideal candidate for the position.
Director and Founder at Grenethics Ltd, Chief Business Development Officer at Composability
1 年We are who we are because of visualisation, we have grown a very larger part of our brain frim imagination and storytelling. I guess the resistance is it seem too simple to be that effective. The simple truth is we have never achieved anything without seeing it first in our minds.
Helping leaders with Mindset, Stress Management and Clarity in Thinking??Executive Coach, Positive Intelligence, Team Workshops & Speaker??Building trust, belief and insightful solutions??Well-being??ATP Tour Pro
1 年Great reminder of the power of visualisation and a reminder of how to start the day before we get too busy with all the tasks. Thanks for sharing, Amy.
Accredited Coach | Trainer | Neuro-Transformational Work | Virtual/Online Support | Neuroscience | Overcoming Imposter Feelings | Coach Supervisor | Careers Consultant
1 年Excellent article Amy. It reminded me how important it is to be aware of where our attention goes and to focus on those things that can help us to be our best selves rather than getting stuck in ruminating or catastrophising. There are so many different scenarios where visualisation can equip us to thrive. Many thanks for sharing this!