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What's The Biggest Problem Visualization Has Helped You Overcome?

by The Niche Man
24 replies
Visualization continues to stand the test of time as an effective goal achiever and problem solver. What's one of the biggest problems, fears or obstacles have visualization help you overcome or defeat? Thanks for sharing.

For example one of the biggest issues visualization help me overcome was a fear of public speaking.

Here's my story:
I spent each morning visualizing myself speaking to thousands of scowling stone faced old men - with no sense of humor.

After doing that each morning for 30 days - talking in front of 100 people was a snap. That's what worked for me. What's your technique, method or tip?
#biggest #helpe #overcome #problem #visualization
  • Profile picture of the author jasdon
    Seven years ago, after many unsuccessful attempts I managed to stop smoking. I put it entirely down to visualising myself turning down a cigarette from friends during times when I would've usually enjoyed one. I saw myself saying 'no thanks, I don't smoke anymore' - and that was that - never wanted one since. I smoked for 25 years.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by jasdon View Post

      Seven years ago, after many unsuccessful attempts I managed to stop smoking. I put it entirely down to visualising myself turning down a cigarette from friends during times when I would've usually enjoyed one. I saw myself saying 'no thanks, I don't smoke anymore' - and that was that - never wanted one since. I smoked for 25 years.
      First congratulations, stopping smoking has to be one of the hardest habits to kick. I've had ton of relatives who died from it. Brothers in law, cousins, uncles, aunts and friends.

      In fact, many smoked after coming back from the doctors office, coming out of the hospital emergency room, even after radiation treatments! So anyone who has the fortitude to quit, deserve a major congratulations.

      And you did it in the face of one of the most difficult situations, saying no to close friends who smoke. Most people have to get away from smokers for a while in order to quit.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
    To you both above, thats really inspiring and terrific to read and im glad as im new to visualising and im only just beginning to learn about it and use it, i so wish i had known about it earlier (i know we all do it, i mean in a focused way to overcome or become what we want etc)

    even though i have no successes to add here may i kindly ask a question and also request you kindly look at my other posts which are dealing with the queries i have regarding visualisation please?

    My query is that The Niche Man, you sir said that you were visualising in the morning. I know many many sources say do it in the morning and in the evening both just upon waking and just as you sleep, do they mean literally in the bed? cos i have tried this and i fall back to sleep and the night time one is ok except some nights im not asleep for ages and so then feel ive missed that slumber time for reprogramming

    Please can you help with some advice? thank you
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by JamesBuk View Post

      To you both above, thats really inspiring and terrific to read and im glad as im new to visualising and im only just beginning to learn about it and use it, i so wish i had known about it earlier (i know we all do it, i mean in a focused way to overcome or become what we want etc)

      even though i have no successes to add here may i kindly ask a question and also request you kindly look at my other posts which are dealing with the queries i have regarding visualisation please?

      My query is that The Niche Man, you sir said that you were visualising in the morning. I know many many sources say do it in the morning and in the evening both just upon waking and just as you sleep, do they mean literally in the bed? cos i have tried this and i fall back to sleep and the night time one is ok except some nights im not asleep for ages and so then feel ive missed that slumber time for reprogramming

      Please can you help with some advice? thank you
      The more accurate way to describe it is when you're drowsy. That way your suggestions and visualization have an easier time getting past your conscious mind and into your subconsious mind. The main thing is to start getting into the habit of doing it as close to your bed time as possible (just before you fall asleep, so your subconsious mind has a chance to work on it while you're sleeping).

      Then do it again upon awakening to reinforce the programing. Make it a habit like brushing your teeth and watch "how, when and where" you do it magically work out. The main thing is to get started ... and keep doing it.
      Practice makes progress!
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      • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
        Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

        The more accurate way to describe it is when you're drowsy. That way your suggestions and visualization have an easier time getting past your conscious mind and into your subconsious mind. The main thing is to start getting into the habit of doing it as close to your bed time as possible (just before you fall asleep, so your subconsious mind has a chance to work on it while you're sleeping).

        Then do it again upon awakening to reinforce the programing. Make it a habit like brushing your teeth and watch "how, when and where" you do it magically work out. The main thing is to get started ... and keep doing it.
        Practice makes progress!
        Thank you Niche Man. The drowsy state makes sense but in that state im well drowsy and cant hold the image really, know what i mean? have you had this?

        ps: once you have done it at night before sleep, then do you fall asleep cos im wondering there are times when ill be awake and can have different thoughts is that ok?
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        • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
          Originally Posted by JamesBuk View Post

          Thank you Niche Man. The drowsy state makes sense but in that state im well drowsy and cant hold the image really, know what i mean? have you had this?

          ps: once you have done it at night before sleep, then do you fall asleep cos im wondering there are times when ill be awake and can have different thoughts is that ok?
          Yes, I've had that in answer to your first question. The secret is to keep practicing and like anything you'll get better at it.

          The trick is to make it fun and not hard work or effort, or that will defeat the purpose and the results. Just remember to relax and let nature (your subconscious mind) take its course. Just keep at it.
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          • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
            Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

            Yes, I've had that in answer to your first question. The secret is to keep practicing and like anything you'll get better at it.

            The trick is to make it fun and not hard work or effort, or that will defeat the purpose and the results. Just remember to relax and let nature (your subconscious mind) take its course. Just keep at it.
            thank you so much i really cant wait
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  • Profile picture of the author stopper
    About a decade or so ago I wanted to have a champion body builder's physique. I visualized myself going for a championship and becoming the first runners up. As a geared towards the competition date, My physique surpassed my expectation. I had ripped abs monster arms and chiseled shoulders.
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    • Profile picture of the author ezlegion
      Cool interactive thread The Niche Man,
      I wrote a book about how to pass your driving test the first time and how to overcome the nerves suffered (I am a qualified instructor) as I used to suffer from horrific nerves myself in these types of situations.

      One of the best techniques (according to the students/pupils) is aimed to combat the point when the nerves hit the most (which is in the waiting room, minutes before the test starts - at least that what it is here in the UK)

      The technique is for the student/pupil to visualize themselves doing a maneouvre for example: the turn in the road (in the UK)/turn about (in the US). This does 3 main things:
      1) By concentrating hard on one thing the nerves have less space to occupy in the mind (and therefore diminish)
      2) Gets the student/pupil focused on the job instead of worrying about the test itself
      3) Distances them from the obvious nerves that their fellow students/pupils are so obviously suffering from in the waiting room

      Works like a charm
      Visualisation works
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      • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
        Originally Posted by ezlegion View Post

        Cool interactive thread The Niche Man,
        I wrote a book about how to pass your driving test the first time and how to overcome the nerves suffered (I am a qualified instructor) as I used to suffer from horrific nerves myself in these types of situations.

        One of the best techniques (according to the students/pupils) is aimed to combat the point when the nerves hit the most (which is in the waiting room, minutes before the test starts - at least that what it is here in the UK)

        The technique is for the student/pupil to visualize themselves doing a maneouvre for example: the turn in the road (in the UK)/turn about (in the US). This does 3 main things:
        1) By concentrating hard on one thing the nerves have less space to occupy in the mind (and therefore diminish)
        2) Gets the student/pupil focused on the job instead of worrying about the test itself
        3) Distances them from the obvious nerves that their fellow students/pupils are so obviously suffering from in the waiting room

        Works like a charm
        Visualisation works
        That seems like a good technique to use while you're wating in the Dentist waiting room too!
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by stopper View Post

      About a decade or so ago I wanted to have a champion body builder's physique. I visualized myself going for a championship and becoming the first runners up. As a geared towards the competition date, My physique surpassed my expectation. I had ripped abs monster arms and chiseled shoulders.
      It's surprising how many body builders use visualization, going all the way back to Arnold Schwarzenegger (at least he was the first to admit it in print).

      That's one of those best kept secrets most people overlook concering body builders. All they normally talk about is weights, lifting techniques, exercise routines, diet and nutrition.

      You hardly if ever hear them talking about visualizatioin techniques, I've often wondered why? Perhaps competitive edge.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasdon
    I also used visualisation unwittingly in my teens to help me in my chosen sport. 7

    I used to shoot clay targets (Olympic Trap) and first got into the GB Junior team at age 15.
    A round of Olympic Trap consists of 25 targets, and I used to do everything in batches of 25; bouncing tennis balls on a racket; knocking golf balls over an obstacle...whatever. I know that doing that helped me hit 25/25 clays, and once I'd done that I moved up to doing things in 50s, and so on. I also used to visualise myself accepting tropheys and medals.

    I won a World Cup Gold Medal in Moscow in '87 and silver in the European Championship the same year. From 16 to 21 I was only beaten by another UK junior once - that was over maybe 60 competitions.

    I'm 42 now and still hold the UK record for the youngest person to shoot 100 ex 100 at OT - I was 18 and 5 months at the time.

    All of this I attribute to my visualising.

    Writing this feels like I'm showing off, but I don't want it to be seen like that - I just want to give the credit for what I achieved to my visualising positive outcomes. I wasn't aware of it's power at the time; no-one ever spoke about it - it just felt right at the time. It was much later that I learned of intentional visualisation.
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    • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
      Originally Posted by jasdon View Post

      I also used visualisation unwittingly in my teens to help me in my chosen sport. 7

      I used to shoot clay targets (Olympic Trap) and first got into the GB Junior team at age 15.
      A round of Olympic Trap consists of 25 targets, and I used to do everything in batches of 25; bouncing tennis balls on a racket; knocking golf balls over an obstacle...whatever. I know that doing that helped me hit 25/25 clays, and once I'd done that I moved up to doing things in 50s, and so on. I also used to visualise myself accepting tropheys and medals.

      I won a World Cup Gold Medal in Moscow in '87 and silver in the European Championship the same year. From 16 to 21 I was only beaten by another UK junior once - that was over maybe 60 competitions.

      I'm 42 now and still hold the UK record for the youngest person to shoot 100 ex 100 at OT - I was 18 and 5 months at the time.

      All of this I attribute to my visualising.

      Writing this feels like I'm showing off, but I don't want it to be seen like that - I just want to give the credit for what I achieved to my visualising positive outcomes. I wasn't aware of it's power at the time; no-one ever spoke about it - it just felt right at the time. It was much later that I learned of intentional visualisation.
      wow awesome and congratulations!!! Im from the Uk so well done and your definately not showing off, you've encouraged me a great deal. to help me and other further, with ur visualizing is sounds like u did it when awake rather than a relaxed state yet it worked would you say thats correct or was there a particular way you realised in which you were doing it?
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      • Profile picture of the author jasdon
        Originally Posted by JamesBuk View Post

        wow awesome and congratulations!!! Im from the Uk so well done and your definately not showing off, you've encouraged me a great deal. to help me and other further, with ur visualizing is sounds like u did it when awake rather than a relaxed state yet it worked would you say thats correct or was there a particular way you realised in which you were doing it?
        It seems to work for me when I'm pretty chilled out, doing something rather than just sitting and visualising.

        I've read many times that you need to put a lot of emotion into your visualisations but for me it doesn't work that way. I get best results when I casually 'day-dream' about what I want. If I actively try to inject feelings into my visualisation it feels like a form of desperation, and it doesn't work so well. The very fact that I choose to visualise about attaining something provides enough of the positive emotion or desire - artificially adding emotion tips it over the edge for me.
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        • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
          Originally Posted by jasdon View Post

          It seems to work for me when I'm pretty chilled out, doing something rather than just sitting and visualising.

          I've read many times that you need to put a lot of emotion into your visualisations but for me it doesn't work that way. I get best results when I casually 'day-dream' about what I want. If I actively try to inject feelings into my visualisation it feels like a form of desperation, and it doesn't work so well. The very fact that I choose to visualise about attaining something provides enough of the positive emotion or desire - artificially adding emotion tips it over the edge for me.
          I totally understand, its being chilled out and relaxed about it and its good that you have found what works for you well played
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  • Profile picture of the author jonnyq888
    For me, visualization and affirmation helped me to become more confident in myself and my abilities. After that, it was almost like a positive feedback loop. I continued to do better, which built my confidence, which helped me do better...

    More recently, I wrote down on a piece of paper 8 things I wanted to accomplish this year and posted it above my desk. My girlfriend looked at it the other day and we both realized that I had accomplished half of the items already.

    Your thoughts are extremely powerful. It's just a matter of actively controlling them and forcing them toward the positive rather than the negative.
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    • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
      Originally Posted by jonnyq888 View Post

      For me, visualization and affirmation helped me to become more confident in myself and my abilities. After that, it was almost like a positive feedback loop. I continued to do better, which built my confidence, which helped me do better...

      More recently, I wrote down on a piece of paper 8 things I wanted to accomplish this year and posted it above my desk. My girlfriend looked at it the other day and we both realized that I had accomplished half of the items already.

      Your thoughts are extremely powerful. It's just a matter of actively controlling them and forcing them toward the positive rather than the negative.
      sounds great jonny, in regards to that piece of paper that you posed above your desk, well what actually did you do with that paper? i mean did you read it very very often, did u visualise, or anything such as this?
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      • Profile picture of the author jonnyq888
        Originally Posted by JamesBuk View Post

        sounds great jonny, in regards to that piece of paper that you posed above your desk, well what actually did you do with that paper? i mean did you read it very very often, did u visualise, or anything such as this?
        Actually, I think it was more of a subconscious thing with that paper. I would read it some times but I did not always focus on it. However, every time I looked up from the monitor, it was there. I may not have read each word but I'm positive that my subconscious picked up on what was said each time I looked at it.

        I think that if I combined real focus on what the paper said and also glanced at it every so often, that I would probably be even farther along on it than I am now.
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        • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
          Originally Posted by jonnyq888 View Post

          Actually, I think it was more of a subconscious thing with that paper. I would read it some times but I did not always focus on it. However, every time I looked up from the monitor, it was there. I may not have read each word but I'm positive that my subconscious picked up on what was said each time I looked at it.

          I think that if I combined real focus on what the paper said and also glanced at it every so often, that I would probably be even farther along on it than I am now.
          wow amazing... were each item written as an affirmation jonny?

          such as : I will be or i own...

          or was it simply a numbered list such as : 1) bmw car, 2) job at walmart

          etc
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  • Profile picture of the author Kaysa
    Visualitations have help me to belief in my social habilities and aptitudes, like talking to strangers.

    I'm usually a very shy guy and were afraid to know people. But then I've started to visualize myself having more friends and talking with people that I don't know. I think that now I radiate so much self-confidence that girls are approaching me and I easily get the respect of people that I'm starting to meet.
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    • Profile picture of the author JamesBuk
      Originally Posted by Kaysa View Post

      Visualitations have help me to belief in my social habilities and aptitudes, like talking to strangers.

      I'm usually a very shy guy and were afraid to know people. But then I've started to visualize myself having more friends and talking with people that I don't know. I think that now I radiate so much self-confidence that girls are approaching me and I easily get the respect of people that I'm starting to meet.
      Fantastic Kaysa, so your doing this visualising in a relaxed state?
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  • Profile picture of the author jonnyq888
    Really, it was a numbered list like the following:

    I want for 2011:

    1. Goal 1
    2. Goal 2

    Etc.

    But I think that your ideas are helping it to evolve into something even more powerful. I think if each were set as affirmations and I spent time focusing on them each day, I think that it would be even more effective=)

    Thanks for helping me see that!
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  • Profile picture of the author marcusalphaeus
    Visualization is indeed a very useful tool when done adequately and if it fits the individual and the situation. For myself, it has worked for a range of situations that are quite similar to you guys too, from public speaking, giving presentations to making small talks at social or business parties etc. I do find that "practicing" it regularly when I am most relaxed help. It is also useful if I get to the "specifics" like the steps I take, how the environment was like, what were the sounds around me etc, the more real I visualize it the more helpful it was
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  • Profile picture of the author HawkPrecision
    I've never been dedicated enough to use it for 30 days. I never seen results so I quit. That's a sweet success story though. I'll have to try that for my writing. Thank you!
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