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Visualization Technique
Visualization is a basic process in the brain; we can all make mental images. How else do we know that we've dreamt, or recognise someone we know? The important difference is that some of us can create and control the images we make in our minds and others cannot. Fortunately, if you are having problems creating images at will, it is a skill that is easily learnt. You can develop the ability with the following visualization exercise.
1. Select a few common household objects like a book, a fork or a pencil.
2. Sit somewhere quiet where you will not be disturbed with the items you have selected laid out in front of you. Take a few deep breaths and allow all the muscles in your body to relax.
3. Concentrate on one of the selected items, for example, the book. Look very closely at it. Notice any imperfections, the way that the light is reflected from it, the texture of the cover, the colours, any words, how thick it is; all of the details.
4. Now sit back and close your eyes. Imagine that you are still looking at the book. Remember exactly what you looked at when you were looking for the details. Don't try, just let the memory of seeing the object wash over you. It is not an image in the darkness behind your closed eyes, that is just the limited light making its way through your eyelids. Do not try to focus. Imagine you are looking far away into the distance aware of everything around you with your peripheral vision. The image you are remembering is floating there. Visualization is a state of mind.
5. Repeat this process with all the objects you have collected and with anything else that you choose to recall. Easier images are ones that are bright and contain depth, colour, and motion. For example, a downhill olympic ski run, motor racing, or a football game.
6. Spend a little time every day with this visualization exercise. Images may be hazy or unclear at first, but they will improve. For many people they suddenly see it; it is a question of applying your mind the right way.
Once you have mastered creating images then you need to be able to control them. Your mind works best with images that are:
Colourful
Bright and highly contrasted.
Moving
Have depth; that are strongly three dimensional. the closer the better.
So once you have an empowering image you want to use you can turn up the controls on all of these and the image has a greater impact. If you can add sounds and feelings to the image, even better. Use anything that makes the image powerful and vivid in your imagination.
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