Well hello, everyone! Have you ever noticed that visualizing your upcoming tasks makes them easier to accomplish? Sure visualizing is great for big goals and dreams, like an athlete actually taking the time to mentally rehearse themselves winning a game and doing it well (and I love visualizing for this), but I’m actually talking about visualizing on a smaller level.
When I find myself resistant to do a task I need to do, even when I want to do it (or don’t actually want to do it, but want it done), I’ll notice that mentally I am not seeing myself do the task. Literally I’m either actively visualizing myself not doing the task or I’m not seeing any mental picture at all – almost at a subconscious level.
Conversely, when I notice a task that came easy, even one that the average person (that would be me) wouldn’t normally want to do, I realize I had already seen myself doing and completing the task in my mind (again almost subconsciously). My body just followed what I already saw show up in my mind.
So I’ve gotten into the habit of intentionally visualizing myself doing a task when I am reluctant to do a thing, but I want the thing done. The most recent example was last night I was watching a show and noticed I’d only taken about 4500 steps – I hadn’t worked out and I like to get at least 10-15 thousand steps in a day. My treadmill was 3 feet away and I thought I should just casually walk while I watch this show. My brain promptly said “No, thank-you”, but I knew in 45 minutes, I’d be proud of myself and just a little healthier if I did.
My brain again said, “Uh, really, no thank-you.” And I realized that when I thought about walking on the treadmill, my mental pictures were black – I wasn’t seeing myself do it. So I quickly pictured myself pausing the T.V., putting on my running shoes, getting some water, and starting to walk on the treadmill. Before I knew it, I was on the treadmill casually walking. Got over 12 thousand steps! “Thank-you very much,” my brain offered.
I also do a little visualizing at the end of my quiet 8-minute morning meditation. It only takes about 30 seconds to a minute. I’ll picture the day ahead, the things I want to accomplish, the people I hope to interact with, how I want to show up, etc. I’ll take myself all the way to laying my head on the pillow and falling blissfully to sleep. So much power in visualizing for the simple day-to-day.
If you’re enjoying these blogs and would like to get some one-on-one coaching, you can go to my site to schedule a free consult. And if you’d like to get periodic emails when I post a blog along with special updates from me, sign up below!