Would you like to take advantage of the secret world-class athletes use to achieve peak performance?
Research has shown that athletes who visualize proficient performance in addition to practicing their skills do better than those who only practice. Golfers improve their strokes. Basketball players make more of their foul shots. Athletes in virtually every field improve their performance when they visualize success.
You can use the same process to gain confidence and perform better in any challenge you face. Whether it’s giving a dynamic presentation, moving beyond procrastination to complete an important project or nailing a job interview, visualizing success will help you succeed.
Here’s how to visualize your success:
1. Relax:
Make sure your body is comfortably supported. Uncross your arms and legs. Close your eyes.
Breathe deeply, imagining that you are breathing in calm and peace. Allow that calm to circulate throughout your body, bringing relaxation to every muscle. As you exhale, imagine yourself releasing any stress or tension.
If you notice tightness in any part of your body, give yourself permission to relax even more deeply, releasing that tension as you exhale.
You may notice distracting thoughts. Let them go on the next exhalation and turn your focus back to your breathing.
2. Imagine yourself in your own personal screening room:
Once you are deeply relaxed, imagine yourself seated in your own personal screening room. This may be like a small theater with rows of seats, or perhaps you are just seated in a comfortable chair in front of a wide screen TV.
You have a remote control device in your hand which you can use to pause the action or replay it as often as you like. Get comfortable and when you are ready, press the ‘Play’ button to start the action on the screen.
3. Observe your success on the screen:
Notice yourself on the screen, moving through whatever challenge you face with skill and aplomb. Observe just what you do that insures success. Notice the thoughts which provide you with a feeling of confidence.
You can replay this scene as often as you like. Let yourself become really familiar with what success looks and feels like for you. If you notice any hesitation or uncertainty, pause the action and ask yourself what you need to know to help you. Then replay that part, informed with your new awareness, as often as you need to until you are perfectly confident of your ability to do your best.
This easy procedure can help you to gain confidence in your ability to rise to any challenge. By visualizing success in this way, you will become familiar with what optimal performance looks and feels like.
The more you practice, the more natural the winning behaviors, thoughts and feelings will become. They’ll be available when it’s time to enact the scene in real life. You will be empowered to do your best. When you succeed, your confidence improves and you make your good life better!
Jeannette Samanen, Ph.D.
Jeannette’s professional development began with graduate school at the University of Oregon. Her first post-doctoral position was at the Boston University School of Medicine where, as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology), where she specialized in stress management and behavioral medicine. Jeannette has had over 30 years of experience as a life coach and psychologist and derives great pleasure from helping clients transform their lives for the better.
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