Visualisation

“What got you here, won’t get you there” – Marshall Goldsmith

The first step to taking responsibility for your life is accepting and acknowledging that you are responsible. You are responsible for the thoughts and actions you take.

What is going to get you to where you want to be? What do you have to do to achieve your goal?

One of the amazing features of the human being is our use of imagination. Imagination allows us to go on a journey of exploration. Through our imagination, we can visualise and explore ideas of things that are not currently present in our environment or maybe not even real. Imagination can be a disadvantage when we dwell on our fears but can be a huge advantage when we create positive alternatives that can lead to new beliefs and behaviours.

Try this exercise.

Pick something you want to achieve or something you would like to change in your life. Perhaps you want to lose weight or get fit. Perhaps you want to be a better leader or you want to secure a promotion. Perhaps you want to improve your relationships with family, friends or colleagues.

Write down what you would like to achieve or change in your life.

Take a seat somewhere. Get comfortable and relax. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing for a few moments. Breathe slowly in from the nose and out through the mouth. Take a deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds and then slowly breathe out. Feel your body slowing down and relaxing. Repeat this breathing pattern several times. Notice how loose and light your muscles feel.

When you feel relaxed and ready I want you to imagine a happy place in the future that represents your completed goal. Take note of your surroundings. What can you see? What can you hear? What can you smell? What are you feeling?

For example, if your goal was to secure a promotion, you may walk up to an office door with your name on it and your new corporate title. Knock on the door and go in. Take a good look around the office. How big is the desk? What colour are the walls? What’s the view like from the office window? What can you see? What can you hear? What can you smell? What do you feel?

Sat behind the desk is the future version of you - The promoted you.

Sit down opposite future you and ask a question:

“How did you achieve this?”

As your future self, reflect back on the journey that you went on to get you to where you are. Reflect back on what you had to do to achieve your goal. What did you have to change? What choices did you have to make?

When the future you has finished, thank them for their help and leave. Just as you are about to close the office door, take one last look at the office and your future self. Close the door.

Reflect back on what your future self has told you. Recap the choices your future self has made to achieve their goal. Compare their journey to the one you are currently on. What are you doing which is the same? What do you need to change? What choices do you need to make?

Everything in your life is a result of the choices you have made. If you want different results, you need to make different choices.