{"id":19598,"date":"2020-06-04T19:58:24","date_gmt":"2020-06-04T19:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=19598"},"modified":"2020-06-11T20:39:49","modified_gmt":"2020-06-11T20:39:49","slug":"power-of-visualization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/power-of-visualization\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Visualization and How to Get Started"},"content":{"rendered":"Here’s your guide to the power of visualization, including benefits, expert tips, and the mechanisms at work behind it.<\/em>\r\n\r\nSome people are born with the notion that they’ll achieve greatness. Meanwhile, others need to put more work into viewing their future in a positive light. Daily visualization\u2014or creating a mental vision board\u2014can help solidify and reinforce a positive outlook to help you feel empowered and manifest your goals.\r\n

Benefits of Visualization<\/h2>\r\nFor many, visualization can feel cheesy, forced, or inauthentic\u2014but it doesn\u2019t have to. Also, the benefits of visualization are well worth any initial hesitation. In fact, many studies show that positive visualization work can help decrease both physical and emotional stress levels<\/a>, as well as allow us to function more optimally. It can even be an effective tool for pain management.\r\n\r\nNext, visualization in the form of positive-outcome predicting can have a huge impact on how we shape the course of our lives. A 2016 study<\/a> shows that this type of thinking drastically reduces unproductive worry-mentality and decreases stress.\r\n\r\n\"Woman\r\n

A Life Coach on How to Get Started<\/h2>\r\nVisualization doesn\u2019t need to feel much different than daydreaming. Rather than engaging in negative self-talk<\/a>, start replacing doubt with thoughts of \u201cwhat if.\u201d Otherwise, you can simply imagine your ideal scenario. It\u2019s so broad, that it could be anything, and it doesn\u2019t have to be an image of an entire perfect life laid out before you.\r\n\r\nFor instance, every night before bed, think about your realistic dream home, kitchen, garden, or family tradition. It could also be a trip, an outfit, or even a declaration of love.\r\n\r\nJacki Carr<\/a>, a renowned goal coach and motivational speaker, is a huge proponent of visualization as an instrument to help people find their driving force. If images of bliss and success don’t arise easily, Jacki suggests more tangible visualization tips to help get started.\r\n

Create a Vision Board<\/h3>\r\n\u201cI’m first and foremost a vision boarder. I truly love carving out space to sit and dream with magazines and glue,\u201d she starts. \u201cOften I’ll need an activity to create a pause or disruption in my day to make the space to design my future. I truly believe that glue equals commitment.\u201d\r\n\r\nOf course, you can also practice visualization without props, but it can certainly help to get your hands dirty.\r\n

Move Your Body + Reflect<\/h3>\r\nAnother pro tip to harness the power of visualization: get in the right headspace with movement. After, Jacki also recommends guided meditation<\/a>, perhaps after a dance or yoga class, to explore the edges of your mind and see yourself 10 years in the future. Here, Jacki suggests reflecting, with questions such as:\r\n