Change can be scary, in large part because it challenges a sense of safety that already exists, sometimes referred to as a comfort zone. Visualisation is one of the most effective techniques and a powerful cognitive tool which can help you to harness your internal power, which can then act as a focus for boosting and sustaining your motivational levels.
What is visualisation?
Visualisation is a cognitive technique which uses your imagination to help you achieve a goal. It usually involves creating a mental landscape of experiences, whether imagery, smell, taste, sound or touch, and can help a patient walk through a situation in their mind as a means of rehearsal, to help achieve the desired outcome in real life.
If you are looking to invite any type of change into your life, then visualisation is a recommended tool for success. Here are some of the changes it can help with:
1. Lifestyle changes
Many people make what are referred to as lifestyle changes at different points of their life. Whilst sometimes these are practical changes such as moving house or job, the more important lifestyle changes people make tend to revolve around their health and wellbeing, such as overcoming unhealthy habits, addictions or simply exercising more.
There can be a number of reasons that make someone realise they need to change their lifestyle, some positive, some negative. For those who need some additional help, visualisation is a powerful way of motivating themselves to start that change and continue it till they get the result they want.
2. Chronic illness prevention
One of the most powerful reasons people make lifestyle changes is to try and prevent themselves from getting a chronic illness in the future, as a result of current habits.
Whatever the change desired, using the process of visualisation or visioning can harness a mental energy that can boost and sustain new levels of motivation. This can quite often be about something like giving up smoking or cutting down on their drinking. One of the most common areas people want to change, and one of the most difficult, is losing weight.
Obesity is far more common than people realise and is often one of the reasons people develop other chronic illnesses. Losing weight is a good way of stabilising and maintaining one’s health in the present, and a good way to lay the foundations for your health in the future. But first you must learn to overcome the negative thought processes that act as barriers to change, something visualisation can help with.
3. Psychology of weight management
Trying to lose weight is one of the most difficult things for many people to do and it can be a continual battle to motivate yourself on a daily or weekly basis. However, visualisation is one of the most effective ways there is to help you do this. Learning to imagine yourself as slim and healthy, either as a mental picture or by using photographs or collages, helps reinforce a positive mental attitude. This positive mental attitude comes from within you and will stay with you.
Learning how to motivate yourself is an ongoing need, and knowing that you have the power within you to continually reinforce that can be a real source of strength.
4. Self-confidence
Low
self-esteem or self-confidence can impact all areas of our life, presenting a
major barrier to any kind of change. However, visualisation provides a safe
place in which you can imagine your goals, challenge your negative beliefs and
act out your successes without having to feel judged. Over time, you can begin
to implement small changes which can lead to big successes, and help you
realise your goals with confidence.
If you would like to know more about visualisation, get in touch with me today.
As an experienced health psychologist, we can work together to help make you
the person you really want to be.
