Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said,
"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
Visualisation is a common technique used by athletes such as Michael Phelps or Marcel Hirscher. Look at any downhill skier preparing for a race. They visualise themselves racing down the hill - every turn and jump in detail.
Visualisation helps these athletes focus and manage stress.
It pulls them towards their goal.
I have been using visualisation in the form of vision boards for 15 years.
I love vision boards and have been doing them for 15 years. The first one was when I finished my NLP Practitioner course. We had a huge variety of newspapers and magazines and just started creating. I put it on the back of my office door. As the door was always open I didn't see it very often.
About 2 years later, I stood in front of the board and realised that everything I had written on it had become real. The moment was magical.
Since then I create vision boards every 1 or 2 years or at significant milestones in my life.
My intention was: how do I want my life to be? How do I want to feel? What are the affirmations that will support me?
How did I go about it?
I bought about 10 different magazines: basically any magazine that inspired me; that was close to my interests or sparked something in me. So I had a flow magazine, Elle, cooking, yoga, women in business, law, sports, decorating,....
Then I had a very long afternoon/evening to myself to indulge in these magazines. Reading or flipping through and cutting out every picture or sentence that spoke to me.
The next day I laid out an A0 sheet of paper and wrote all the affirmations on it.
Then I stuck the pictures that still inspired me on this board.
Finally I put post-its on 3 pictures and wrote down how I would feel. Example: One picture was about 3 exercises: I feel strong, confident, hot, satisfied, happy, relieved.
This vision board is in front of my desk and I see it every day. This is active visualisation and keeping my focus on my goal, consciously and unconsciously.
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