March Or Die!!

Okay… so we’ve looked at some easy ways to clear your mind a little, or maybe a lot, and you’re feeling sharper and more focused. Excellent! But now what? What are you going to do with that clearer, sharper mind?

You’re going to start picturing yourself doing what you need to do, going through every step toward realising your goal in your mind before you go through those steps ‘in the world’. You’re going to see yourself living with and fully enjoying your accomplishments as you enter the wide, wild world of Creative Visualization.

Creative visualization is based on the premise that before anything can exist on a physical level, it must first be formed in (or on) a higher plane. That ‘higher plane’ is within your mind.

From great football plays to new car designs, works of art or the mini-skirt, everything you can now see in the world started as someone’s vision. When backed up by an unshakable belief in its value and the appropriate action, it was then able to become ‘real’.

Before Michaelangelo picked up his hammer and chisel, you can bet he knew exactly what ‘David’ was going to look like. And the objects in Dali’s paintings didn’t melt that way by accident.

Remember the barrier of the 4-minute mile? After Bannister broke through it, everybody started doing it, presumably because they could now see it as a possibility and, in a sense, dared to dream. No matter what field you’re trying to excel in, your desired result must take shape in your mind before it can be realized.

Here are some guidelines for creative visualization…

First, this is one time you want to go INTO your comfort zone, not out of it. You want to create a quiet, meditative space in which to ‘work’. Whether that’s in church, at your kitchen table, on a Tibetan mountaintop, in your office cubicle or in a bathroom stall is up to you.

The most important thing is that you have to be at ease there, and noise should be reduced to a minimum. Basically, you want to be able to shut out the world for a while.

Second, decide on your goal. What do you most want to accomplish right now? You may have one big goal you want to shoot for, or you might prefer to go through this process one step at a time. Regardless, make your visualization as detailed as possible.

If you want to add another 20 pounds to your bench-press then picture yourself doing that, complete with proper breathing and the technique you’ll use. Try to feel the lift as if you’re doing it right now, and finish with the smile and ‘F**K, Ya!!!’ your success deserves.

To really get into this process, you can add any smells or sounds, colors or other details to your vision, to make it that much more real to you. You really want to be able to see yourself fulfilling your goal, and the closer your vision is to the real experience, the better.

Third, give positive feelings to your mental image. Be optimistic about your ability to do this! Fill your mind and body with positive energy during this exercise. Feel the exhilaration and excitement, and let go of your doubts. As every guru on earth would say, “You can do it!!!”

Be consistent in performing this exercise. Set aside a few minutes every day, preferably first thing in the morning and last thing at night. This will solidify your visualizing efforts and put you in the right mood as you go through the days leading up to your task.

So, can you ‘see’ your way to success? Well… probably not by itself. All the visualizing in the world is just a daydream if you don’t back it up with the appropriate actions. But seeing yourself succeed is a necessary first step.