You have big goals in your life. You’ve even heard visualization is the key to reaching those goals. But you still hold back. Why? The most common reason: you don’t have enough time.
Well, who has enough time? According to a Gallup poll, 48% of American’s feel like they don’t have enough time to get the things done they want to. Between work projects, family obligations, the need for a social life, and a little thing called ‘sleep,’ the day tends to slip past without exactly giving you extra hours in the day to use on something so time-consuming as visualization.
Right?
Hold up there! In truth, you can use visualization for success in less than 30 minutes a day! Read on to find out how:
Start Out Relaxed
Anytime you’re jittery or anxious, you’re not going to get things done effectively. It’s better to start already relaxed. This is why, for optimal visualization, you start with some deep breathing to calm yourself. This sets you up for success right at the start. Still having trouble? A short round of meditation might work better.
Stay Fixed in Reality
Visualization, which requires a lot of interpretation, is only going to take up more time than you have. So, lose the fantastic imagery and stick with what you know. For example, if you’re concentrating on your work life, picture your office and coworkers as they are. Turning them into woodland creatures in a vast jungle is only going to complicate matters unnecessarily.
Focus on What You’re Doing
Most visualization puts all the concentration on the end goal. While this looks wonderful, it can require more time to work in the long run. Instead, spend less time on the conclusion and more on the journey itself. How are you trying to get there? What are you doing now? What steps do you need to follow? By using visualization as a roadmap, you’re going to find you save time in the visualization itself, and in the application of the visualization later.
Use All Your Senses
Here’s where you want to put in the bulk of your visualization time. Layer in every one of your senses when creating your imagery. You want to feel, touch, taste, and hear the experience as well as see it. Why? Again, this is where the power of the visualization comes from. Making as complete a picture as possible leads toward faster success in the long run.
Using these steps, set a timer, if you want to keep it at the 30 min level. 30 minutes is great but you can always go longer or shorter. As you grow more accustomed to the process, it might even take a little less time. The nice thing? These steps are designed to arrive at the ultimate goal faster, too, leaving you with more time for all those other goals you have, like sleep.
What are you imagining? Pay attention to your emotions before and after. Do you notice a difference? Which feels better? Hold on to the better feeling and visit this space as often as you can.
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