How Visualization Creates Wealth and Success...

I'm almost certain you're familiar with the concept of visualization. It's so important to the creation of wealth that Chapter three in Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich is title "Faith. Visualization of and belief in attainment of desire." When we use the power of visualization we bring ourselves closer to the success we desire.

Why Visualization Creates Wealth And Success...

Engaging Your Emotions. Think about the last time you had a nightmare. Maybe you were being chased or perhaps someone was after a loved one. You woke with a hammering heart, shallow breathing and I bet if you’d been able to take your blood pressure it would have spiked. Most likely even though you knew the nightmare was just a dream those emotions and physical sensations stuck with you for some time. Perhaps you spent the morning in a bad mood not really sure why but nonetheless you were cranky.

Conversely consider the last time you woke from a really good dream. (Depending on the nature of the dream you may have woken with the same hammering heart and shallow breathing but that's between you and the person in your dreams:)) Perhaps you woke laughing or with a big smile on your face. Again, you knew the dream was just that, a dream and a figment of your imagination but it still had an effect on your disposition and even your physical response.

Visualization and dreams are tightly linked. They both engage our imagination. And the interesting thing is when we use our imagination our mind and body don't really know the difference between what we imagine and reality.

Consider trying this experiment to demonstrate just how powerful our imagination is. Sit in a comfortable location with no disturbances and imagine something really awful. Close your eyes and allow your imagination to wander to the dark side for a moment. Don't go there too long, just long enough to note the physical and emotional reaction you have. Does your body tighten up? Do your muscles clench? DO you get shaky and uncomfortable? DO you get angry or frightened?

Now flip it. Imagine something really wonderful. Your deepest desire has just come true. Now how do you feel? What is your body doing? Stay here longer and note the reactions and responses you have.

This is the power of visualization. When you imagine scenarios, your body and mind react as if they were true. Many people, including Napoleon Hill, believe that when you believe something to be true, you attract it to you – you make it true.

Strengthen belief in goal and self. Now believing something to be true doesn’t necessarily make it happen. I can believe someone is going to knock on my door with a million dollar check but it just hasn't happened yet. However, what I can do is take action to make it happen. However for many people taking action is difficult due to lack of confidence or a lack of belief in our deepest desire or goal. Visualization, because it taps directly into these emotions, can strengthen our belief in ourselves and our goals.

Additionally, visualization helps paint the scene so you can better plan and prepare for success. When you visualize your success as reality you can also visualize your path to get there. What steps are you taking? What is working for you? How do you feel and what can you do to reach success?

Athletes are taught visualization at an early age. The best athletes can actual visualize their event in real time. For example, a sprinter tasked with visualizing their race will imagine themselves as the start block, hear the starter gun, visualize the race and see themselves crossing the finish time all in the same exact amount of time it takes to run their event. Harnessing this ability to visualize and honing your visualization skills will amplify the benefits of visualization.

"I train myself mentally with visualization. The morning of a tournament, before I put my feet on the floor, I visualize myself making perfect runs with emphasis on technique, all the way through to what my personal best is in practice.... The more you work with this type of visualization, especially when you do it on a day-to-day basis, you'll actually begin to feel your muscles contracting at the appropriate times."
-Camille Duvall

Perfecting Your Visualization Skills

Engage your 5 senses. When we're just beginning to use visualization we begin by simply seeing what is happening in our imagination. However adding your senses will not only enhance the experience, it will amplify the results. Your emotions, confidence and faith in your ability to succeed will become second nature.

Sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing can all be integrated into your visualizations. In the example of the sprinter running their race they will hear the roar of the crowd cheering them on as they run. They will feel the impact as their feet pound the pavement. They will smell the cologne on the person running beside them. They will taste the sports drink they consumed just before hitting the starter block. They will feel the sweat trickle down their temples and the wind whipping it dry as they focus on the finish line.

Practice makes perfect. I know, that’s a tedious cliché and I apologize however practicing visualization isn't just a fun exercise – who doesn't like daydreaming about how wonderful and successful they are? It's also an important exercise. The better you become at visualization the faster you will achieve the success you desire. You’ll be better able to tap into those emotions, thoughts and beliefs which are imperative to success.

Don't just take my word for it. Go back and repeat that visualization exercise only this time when you're imaging the bad stuff, the really awful situation, engage your five senses. Don't imagine anything too awful because it can ruin your day and send you straight to the hospital. Instead imagine something along the lines of being yelled at by a customer or watching your plasma television crash to the ground. What do you hear, smell, taste, and feel?

Flip it again and imagine something truly wonderful. Imagine yourself succeeding at a long standing goal. Imagine you have found the love of your life and you are holding each other tightly. Imagine you have just taken a bite of the most delious desert of your life. Imagine you have just gotten a raise that doubles your current salary. Imagine you have unlocked the door with your keys to your new 5,000 square foot dream home. Imagine you have just deposited a check for $1 million dollars into your bank account. Imagine you are standing atop a high mountain seeing for miles or wading in the shores of a white sand beach with a loved one. What do you hear, taste, feel, and smell?

Don't judge your visualization skills. As you practice visualization you will begin to improve however as it quite often happens you’ll finish the visualization, open your eyes, and realize you forgot to include what the air smelled like or what you heard. No worries! Like anything it takes practice and fortunately the more you practice the better you get AND you’re not competing against anyone. This skill benefits you and you alone.

"Mentally imagine you are buying the business or applying for the job that will earn your fortune. Review each step you'd take, the obstacles you might meet, the difficulties you would meet. Continue imagining each step until you mentally reach your wealth goal."
-Tyler G. Hicks

Visualization is a powerful concept. Use it, embrace it, and reach your deepest desires, whatever they may be. It paves the road for you both emotionally, physically, mentally and perhaps most important – strategically. Use your senses, hone your skills, and watch your visions become your reality.