In the mid 1960's, Olympic athletes were hooked up to all sorts of electrical tracking wires and were asked to perform their event in their imaginations. The results were astounding. Scientists found that every muscle circuitry fired just as if the athlete was physically running, jumping, or throwing. The secret is, in your imagination, your performance is always perfect! You would never imagine performing poorly. Since the mind can't tell whether the event is real or imagined, your performance improves!
So, why doesn't everybody use visualization? Good question. I think it is because we like to see immediate results. Visualization takes practice just like any other activity. You don't learn to play the piano without practicing. You don't improve your skills at any sport without practice. Yet, the people I challenge to visualize often give up after only a few days. Then they declare that it doesn't work! They should have grown up with my Mother. Her favorite words when I complained about my less than natural abilities to play the piano were, "Practice. Practice. Practice!"
This past week I was talking with my oldest daughter, Jamie, who is completing her registered nursing degree. She mentioned that her friend was stressing about completing the program. Jamie explained that she should just imagine standing on that stage and getting her diploma. I suggested they both do the 'happy day diploma dance' before they went to class each day.
Graduation is May 15th. Until then, if you see two or three nursing students doing some kind of a celebratory dance in the hallway at Iowa Lakes, please let them be. They are not having a mental breakdown. In fact, they are having a mental rehearsal of a happy, happy day. And when they appear to be reaching out to shake your hand, just shake it firmly say, "Congratulations!"
What do you want to accomplish? If you can imagine it, you can do it. It just takes practice. Here's to your success!
you are so darn smart!
ReplyDelete