Whenever you begin any new tasks or projects, where do you start? What is the first step that you take? Do you write down your goal? Do you plan the steps you need to take? Or make a schedule in your diary? You’ll need to do all of this of course, but I’ve found that the best place to start is visualising your outcome. If you intend to achieve a certain goal, then your aim should be visualising your outcome as often as possible.
If you begin at the end, you’ll achieve your outcome quickly and instinctively as it’ll become an extension of you. Your goal will seem easy to achieve if you spend time picturing yourself as having already completed your project. When you imagine the goal as complete you make it easier to create that reality.
Keep Your Goal In Mind
We all have goals and desires that we wish to fulfil but why is it that so many of us fail to achieve them? I’ve made goal achievement one of my specialist subjects and I’ve tried lots of different techniques to help me achieve my goals over the years.
What I’ve learnt is that people start out with good intentions but get distracted from their goals along the way. By keeping your end goal front and centre daily and even hourly, you can divert the distractions that life sends your way by visualising your outcome at intervals during your days, weeks, and months.
The easiest way to do this is by including visualisation time in your routine, in your life and your home. Keep that end goal at the forefront of your mind so that you’re constantly motivated to work towards it.
Outcome Visualisation
The most powerful way of visualising your outcome is to create a picture in your mind of you achieving your goal. This is called outcome visualisation. Imagine yourself reaching the conclusion of all your hard work. Where are you when you achieve it? How are you feeling when you receive your reward? What emotions are you feeling? Who is there with you? What are you wearing? What are you thinking? Put as much detail into this mental image as possible.
Visualise this scene for as long as possible. Feel the sensations in your body while you are doing so. The longer and more often you picture this scene the better. Set a timer on your phone and devote a set number of minutes each day to focusing on this vision of your future.
Add To Your Routine
I like to do this as soon as I wake up in the morning, before I get out of bed. Each morning I’ll visualise my goal for five minutes before I start my day. I also visualise my goals while I’m out on my daily morning walk. I find this time while I’m outside in nature is perfect for visualisation. By utilising the time in this way, I feel like I’m doubling up on my productivity. Not only am I exercising and moving my body, but I can also visualise my outcome without the usual distractions of work and phone calls etc.
Another ideal time to fit in a visualisation is right before you go to sleep. Much like in the morning, you’re in a deeply relaxed state when you’re just about to fall asleep or wake up. Your brain waves drop into theta waves that occur in the range of 3-8 Hz. During this time, you’re in a very positive mental state and from this state you’re able to create your own reality. That’s why it’s so important be focused on an outcome you’re consciously working towards.
Process Visualisation
You can also use process visualisation in much the same way. This involves visualising every step you plan to take to achieve your outcome. When you use both techniques together, you’ll achieve even better results. By focusing your attention on your own personal goals and what you’re most passionate about, you actively engage in creating your own reality. This is one of the most positive actions you can take to move your life forward in the direction of your choosing.
By taking positive action each day to visualise your future and your preferred outcomes, you’ll make steady progress. But doing the morning, evening and walking visualisations aren’t the only way to incorporate your goals into your life. You can set yourself up with lots of little reminders that will bring your outcomes to the forefront of your mind throughout your day as you go to work or when you’re at home.
Use Affirmations
You can use affirmations that you repeat to yourself at certain times of the day. For example, when I’m making my morning coffee, the mug I drink from has my outcome in the form of an affirmation printed on the side. So, whenever I drink from that mug I’m reminded of my goal, and it prompts me to visualise it for a minute or two.
The same happens during the day with the water bottle I have on my desk. I also love to journal, so my favourite notebook that I use each day for journaling has my affirmation on the front cover. When I visualise my outcome before journaling, I’m able to get more clarity on the next steps I must take to make my dream a reality.
These little reminders may seem simple, but they are the nudge you need to go back to the visualisation. Even if it’s only for a few seconds, it all counts. With the morning, evening, and walking visualisation time, plus all the little extras throughout the day, you’ll spend some serious time visualising your outcome over the course of a month.
Vision Boards
The other way I like to visualise my outcome is by creating a vision board. I know it’s not as popular as it once was but creating a vision board really helps me to see the steps I need to take to achieve the result I desire. Just looking at it won’t do much to help me achieve but it’s the chain reaction that it causes when I see it on my wall that moves me closer to my goal.
The emotions that are evoked within me by the images I placed on the vision board, remind me of all that I’m capable of and all the work I’ve done so far. When I see it in my home I’m motivated to act. It puts me into a state of motion in which my goals are achievable. It’s the catalyst that gets my day going in a positive direction and I’m encouraged to keep up the momentum. To keep working toward a future I’ve chosen for myself.
Final Thoughts
By taking charge of your own future in this way. By giving yourself the opportunity to direct the course of your life into something that you desire. Into something that you’re prepared to work for and be proud of once you reach your goal, you increase your chances of achieving it. Your mindset is a powerful tool you can use to enhance your experience and your life. Use it carefully and consistently and you can open a channel to receive everything you want and more.
If you’re interested in using visualisation as one of the tools to help you reach your goals, why not sign up for one of our coaching programmes. You can apply here or fill in the form below to schedule your free consultation.
