Visualizations work in conjunction with affirmations. In fact, one of the primary functions of a good affirmation is to assist us in conjuring up a good visualization. This happens naturally after awhile.
Visualizations are useful because they speak the language of the primal brain—that part of the brain underneath the neo-cortex and the limbic system which is the basic goal-seeking complex. The primal brain, sometimes called the R-complex, is too primitive to understand language. Instead, its language is images.
Thus, while a good affirmation stimulates the neo-cortex (the "thinking brain") and the limbic system (the "emotional brain"), a good visualization stimulates the primal brain (the goal-seeking complex) in addition to the limbic system.
The basic thing about visualizing is that we visualize the image or images of the end-result rather than the means to get there. This is so even if the end-result seems far-fetched or unreachable. As Stephen Covey puts it, "We begin with the end."
If we're not sure exactly what end-result or outcome we want, we visualize what it would feel like if we did know the end-result we'd like.
Which brings us to the second most important thing: to bring in emotion. What would it feel like if we got this outcome? Would we feel satisfied, fulfilled, content, joyous? Whatever it is, it's important to create that feeling while we're visualizing the end-result. This brings in the limbic system, just above the primal brain, and in effect turns up the "volume" of the image to the primal brain.
Next, our image or images should be vivid, as much so as possible. That is, they should bring in the senses. If we want a new car, say, we can visualize what it would be like to drive that new car down the road. What would that experience look like? What would it sound like?
Next, our visualizing will be stronger if it's first-person rather than third-person. Third-person would be seeing ourselves drive the car as if we're watching it on a screen. In first-person visualizing, we inhabit that vision. We're in that car as we're driving down the road. We hear the radio, we see the sights, we feel our body in the seat, etc.
Next, we don't visualize anyone else acting in a particular way, as that would be an attempt to interfere with that person's freedom and thus would cut us off from the very energy that we're trying to access.
For instance, if we want a better relationship with our boss, we don't imagine him or her acting differently, but rather, we imagine the end-result: We imagine sitting at our desk, let's say, and feeling really good about our relationship with our boss. (This outcome might occur at our current job or some other job.)
Last, consistency is important. Visualizing every day for a few minutes is far more powerful than visualizing for a longer period whenever we happen to remember it. It takes a minimum of a few weeks to implant a new image in the primal brain; consistency helps greatly in doing so.
One final note: Patience and trust are essential. It's not helpful to keep asking "how we're doing". We just keep visualizing in great trust and leave the outcome up to existence. Things will happen—or not—whenever and however they're supposed to.
—jim sloman, fall 2000 for Mar 5
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