While being grateful is a simple way to improve overall well-being and happiness, it isn’t the only way. You can also use the power of visualization. This has been used for many years by sports coaches to help athletes improve their performance. You can use it to visualize what you want to achieve and increase the chances of things going your way.
Years ago I attended Shatki Gawain’s seminar in New York City, Creative Visualization, also the title of her book. We went through a number of visualization exercises and I recall at that time my overriding desire was to get my book, Coach Yourself to Success, published. I had been rejected by a few publishers already and was beginning to doubt it would find a home. I remember picturing the book floating in a pink cloud and going out into the world. A few days later, I heard from my agent, we had a publisher! That book went on to become a bestseller and a coaching classic and is still selling all these years later.
Leverage the incredible power of visualization
Visualization is another powerful tool to activate the law of attraction to achieve happiness. Visualization is the practice of creating mental images of the things we want to manifest in our lives. When we visualize what we want, we can create a powerful emotional connection to that thing, which can help us attract it into our lives.
Visualization, also known as mental imagery or guided imagery, is the practice of creating mental images of the things we want to manifest in our lives. It is a technique that has been used for decades in various fields, (i.e., sports, business, therapy) to achieve specific goals and improve mental and physical well-being.
Psychological benefits of using visualization
Increased motivation and self-esteem
Visualizing oneself achieving a goal can increase feelings of self-efficacy, or the belief in one’s ability to succeed. In turn, this can lead to increased motivation and self-esteem.
Improved focus and concentration
Visualization can help to focus the mind and reduce distractions, leading to improved concentration and productivity.
Reduced stress and anxiety
Visualizing a calm and peaceful scene can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Also, it can promote feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Improved performance
Visualization has been shown to improve performance in a variety of fields. Athletes use visualization to mentally rehearse their movements. Executives use it to envision successful outcomes for their companies.
Improved physical health
Visualization can also be used to improve physical health. For example, it has been used to help patients with chronic pain to reduce their symptoms. Also, it’s been used to help individuals recovering from surgery to speed up their healing process.
While visualization won’t instantly solve all your problems, it is a useful tool to help achieve specific goals and improve mental and physical well-being. The psychological benefits of visualization are real and include increased motivation and self-esteem, improved focus and concentration, reduced stress and anxiety, improved performance, and improved physical health and athletic performance. As with any self-help technique, it’s important to approach visualization with realistic expectations. Be sure to consult with a therapist or professional if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.
When you start attracting what you want and good things start happening with greater frequency, it feels like magic. However, not everything you wish for will come to pass instantly and this is actually a good thing. It could be too much to cope with. Plus, if you had everything you desired at once, you probably wouldn’t appreciate it.
Think of the law of attraction as a technique that can help you change your thoughts and beliefs, which in turn can change your reality. Although you can wait for things to manifest, it helps to take steps toward your goals. Don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen. Action and attraction work hand-in-hand and are not mutually exclusive!
Is there any scientific evidence that the law of attraction works?
I asked ChatGPT if there was any scientific evidence proving the law of attraction works. Here is what artificial intelligence says…
“The science behind the law of attraction is a topic of debate among researchers and scientists. Some studies suggest that there may be a connection between positive thinking and positive outcomes, while others argue that the concept of the law of attraction is not supported by scientific evidence.
A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, found that participants who practiced gratitude and positive thinking had better moods and reported higher levels of life satisfaction. Another study, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, found that participants who wrote down their goals and visualized achieving them were more likely to achieve those goals than those who did not.
However, other studies have found little or no evidence to support the idea that positive thinking can attract positive outcomes. A review of studies on the law of attraction, published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the law of attraction can be used to manifest specific outcomes.
Unlike the laws of physics, such as gravity, the law of attraction is not an accepted scientific theory and it is not supported by the scientific community. However, positive thinking and visualization can have real psychological benefits such as increased self-esteem and motivation, and that has been demonstrated with various studies.
These studies generally found that visualization can have a positive impact on athletic performance. The meta-analysis studies found that visualization was effective in improving overall performance, skill acquisition, and self-confidence in athletes. They also found that the effects of visualization were stronger when it was combined with physical practice.”
This confirmed my own experience that attraction and action work better together.
These studies are observational and further research is needed to confirm the causal relationship between visualization and athletic performance. However, it’s clear that visualization can be an effective tool in sports psychology, helping athletes to improve their performance, overcome obstacles, and reach their goals. I’ve used these techniques with my coaching clients to help them overcome their fear of asking for a raise by visualizing a positive outcome and it works. I believe that the brain works subconsciously to achieve goals once it has received a positive suggestion and a visual image. So go right ahead and make your vision board and doodle images of your ideal life. That is all part of taking action and turning your ideal vision into physical reality.
As a final thought, when I was learning how to mountain bike in Colorado, I struggled with the gears and kept going perilously close to the cliff edge. So, my instructor/ brother-in-law reminded me to keep my eyes on the path ahead, not over the cliff edge, as our body follows our vision. Good advice for any situation. Keep your focus on what you want to happen in your life, not on what you don’t!
RESEARCH STUDIES
There have been several studies that have looked at the use of visualization to improve athletic performance. Here are a few of them:
- Munroe-Chandler, K. J., Hall, C. R., & Pong, R. W. (2010). The effects of mental imagery interventions on sport performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22(1), 94-110.
- Murphy, S., & Jackson, R. (2000). The effects of imagery interventions on sport performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 12(1), 22-38.
- Jensen, M. B., & Bunk, O. (2019). The effectiveness of mental imagery in sports: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 41(5), 470-487.
- Dimmock, J. A., & Jackson, R. (2008). The effects of mental imagery on physical performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 20(2), 143-162.
- Guillot, A., Collet, C., & Blaye, A. (2013). The effects of mental imagery on performance in sport and physical activities: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35(1), 57-68.
