Imagery for Success: A Whole Person Practice

In addition to improving sleep, stress management, anxiety, pain and blood pressure, imagery has been shown to help achieve success. Because everything, from ideas to actions, begins in the imagination, all you need to get started is your imagination, willingness to learn the basics, and a pinch of curiosity.

Engage your whole self

When planning, we often gravitate towards using our left logical brain.  With imagery, we add activities that engage the right creative brain. We also appeal to nerve cells in the heart and gut. To put the power of your whole self into the process of planning and imagining, we involve everything that IS you and that impacts you, including your senses, body, emotions, environment, and community.

Define success

The dictionary defines success as “the achievement of desired visions and planned goals”.  Success is truly specific to you.  If you do not have a clear definition of success right now, you can read and watch the Ikigai post first.  Even without a vision, you can still engage in the practice by identifying a quality you would like to possess such as courage, optimism or creativity.

10-Step Imagery Practice

The basic steps in whole person imagery are listed below.  For the best experience, watch the video that follows to guide your practice.

1. Relax, focus, connect to the breath, your anchor throughout.
2. Imagine yourself with success as you define it or embodying the quality you desire.
3. Connect your success or quality to your gut, your heart and your head.
4. Engage your success or quality with each of your senses.
5. Tap into your emotions around your success.
6. Imagine community supporting you in your success.
7. Imagine environment supporting you in your success.
8. Make one last connection to the gut, the heart, and the head.
9. Notice how you feel and write down anything that was remarkable for you.
10. Repeat as necessary

As you continue to practice, your imagery muscle grows even stronger. And, your brain doesn’t know the difference between imagining and actually experiencing an event.  So, the more you imagine the future you want for yourself, the more comfortable you will feel with success.

The Self-Care Solutions newsletter allows you to personalize your approach to health and wellbeing.  It offers you choices.  Safe choices.  Evidence-based choices. The articles allow you to try on different options and see what works for you. Think of each as an invitation. While not a substitute for care by your medical team, we’re here to support you in your quest for wellbeing!

References:

Imagery to improve sleep, anxiety, stress management, chronic pain, blood pressure

Imagery to achieve success