The power of visualization

One of the techniques that Morris Goodman and Dr. Ian Gawler used
to crystallize their beliefs and aid their spontaneous
recovery was through the use of creative visualization.
Goodman, for example, kept visualizing himself in the future,
fully recovered and walking around with no mechanical aid. He
kept visualizing himself having total control over his reflexes
and bodily movements.


But can seeing pictures in our mind actually affect our
physiological responses? Absolutely!

In fact, medical science has now shown that the human
mind cannot tell the difference between actual experience and
what is vividly imagined. Whether you physically see, hear,
touch or taste something or you vividly imagine it, the same
neurological impulses are activated within our nervous system.

Many people have made use of the power of visualization to help
them to perform at their peak. This is especially so in the area of
competitive sports where this technique is known as ‘mental
rehearsal’.


For many years, the Russians had always won and dominated
the gymnastics event in the Olympic games. The Americans
trained just as hard and could not understand how the Russians
were always able to perform at near perfection. It was much later
that the Americans found out that the Russians had used sports
psychologists to teach their athletes to train mentally as well as
physically.

Besides physically practicing, the Russians’ secret was in
spending a few hours a day to visualize themselves doing the
perfect jumps, twists and landings. It was this that allowed them
to tune their performances to near perfection! Today, all top
athletes use the power of visualization to perform at their peak.
In his book, Tiger Woods talks about how he visualizes himself
hitting the perfect ball and watching it land, even before he
actually swings his club.