The Power of Positive Visualization

Many people have heard about creative visualization and how you can use it to manifest what you want. You meditate and imagine a scenario that you’d like to have happen — like the perfect house, a relationship, or financial success. Theoretically, creating an imaginary scenario will attract that person, place, or thing into your life. Having tried it, I’m not sure it’s the wisest use of creative imagination. First, it excludes any natural better outcomes than what a person is visualizing. Second, if the dream doesn’t occur, there’s a sense of failure and disappointment.
Positive visualization is different. It focuses on an internal outcome instead of the external. It’s a powerful way to create an outcome that equals or exceeds your expectations and every time I’ve tried it, it works.

Example # 1
I was going to an event I was dreading. I was using my creative juices to figure out ways to cancel. But it would have meant letting someone down, so I wanted to come through.
I closed my eyes and thought about being at the event. Then, instead of dwelling on my earlier thoughts of being bored and anxious for the event to end, I replaced this thought with a pleasurable one. I saw myself being supportive of my friend. I was showing an interest in others and asking questions. I saw myself as part of the event instead of an unwilling participant. I was laughing and enjoying myself.
It worked. I attended the event with an attitude of gratitude instead of resistance and the experience was enjoyable and seemed to go by quickly. I realized I couldn’t approach any social event with a positive attitude and be miserable unless I chose to.

Example # 2
I was attempting to repair a relationship that had been strained. We’d agreed to a meeting to have a much-dreaded conversation. My mind was telling me we would argue, and it would make things worse instead of better. Every time I thought about the meeting I got a jolt of tension.
Before the meeting, I replaced the conflicted scenario with a peaceful one. I saw myself greeting the person warmly without tension. I could see the relief in the other person’s eyes. I listened to what the other person had to say without interruption which had nothing to do with our problems. When they were finished, I expressed my feelings. I asked for what I wanted instead of what the other person did wrong — by my high and mighty standards. “It’s so nice to see you and spend time together again. I’d like us to be able to discuss things calmly and kindly — like before. You’re important to me and I don’t want us to hurt one another.” I saw us being both honest, but vulnerable and gentle as well. I decided to be alright with the outcome regardless of the results.
In real time I arrived at the meeting a few minutes early, relaxed instead of edgy. When the person arrived, I was warm instead of prickly and tense. I let the person talk. We had a brief but productive conversation about the current tensions. We’d then moved on to enjoying the current time together. We both walked away with repairs instead of damage.

Example # 3
I’m taking a public speaking course that I’ve put off my entire adult life because it felt too uncomfortable. For the past few years, I’d dabbled around the internet looking at different organizations and even attended a few professional speaker’s meetings. Watching seasoned speakers only deepened my insecurity.
Even though I’d taught hundreds of college students, and spoken publicly many times, I was repelled at the thought of a formal ‘speaking’ course. I realized starting at square one regarding another limb of my career would force me to deal with feeling inadequate. But now, too many arrows pointed me in that direction and so begrudgingly, I joined Toastmasters International.
Once I joined, I still wasn’t committed. The first few months, my attendance was sketchy. I found excuses to avoid the weekly meetings. I dreaded the impromptu speeches we were assigned. Making up a speech on demand, I felt robotic and phony.
Little by little, I started to get more involved and offered to fill some of the “roles” required to run the meeting. Having a responsibility forced me to attend.
One day, I was asked to give a formal “icebreaker” speech the following week. To make matters worse, it had to be about myself. The thought of it twisted me into an emotional pretzel, but I agreed.
After the meeting, I went to my car, closed my eyes, and thought, ‘You can do this. It’s not about you. It’s about helping other people.’ I went home, watched the videos, and read the materials on delivering the speech. I followed the instructions and then practiced.
Before the class, I visualized myself as calm, confident, and engaged with the audience. I felt good about the experience instead of panicky and rattled. When called up to speak, I felt nervous but prepared. Things went exactly as I’d visualized.
Afterward, I felt a new level of growth in overcoming a block avoided for years. Another bonus was that the evaluator’s comments were so positive and affirming, that it made my heart swell and my eyes water. I left that meeting with a newfound confidence instead of the dread I’d carried my entire life.
When our minds run on negative thoughts, the fear of the worst outcome creates anxiety and dread. When we reframe the negative scenario to the desired positive outcome, we create a calmer inner state that’s more likely to yield better results.
No matter what your situation, try a little creative positivity. Just a few moments of visualizing a good outcome can make a huge difference in your future. There’s no guarantee that life will always go our way, but we certainly have control over which way we steer our ship. And instead of a wayward circular journey that causes angst, you deserve to land safely on shore at the desired destination — or even better.

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT TO SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM ADDICTION.