The first time I was invited to take part in a visualisation exercise, I literally rolled my eyes. In my mind, it was ‘Woo-Woo’, the word I use to describe anything slightly new age, earthy or simply ‘out there’. This exercise ticked those boxes but as I trusted the source, and am a bona fide people pleaser, I closed my eyes and did my level best to pretend.
Visualisation and the Woo-Woo Wagon
The exercise requested me to climb on board a ‘virtual’ rocket ship and propel myself 5 years into the future to meet my future self. ‘What is your future self doing?’ I heard my coach asking. ‘`How is she feeling?’ ‘What would you like to say to her?’ Seriously??? I didn’t even know who I was in the present. How on earth was I to know what my future self would be doing or saying or feeling? And hence, I half-heartedly listened to the pretend journey thinking that a trip to the seaside would be the preferred choice.
What happened next surprised me. I found myself repeatedly hopping on the Woo-Woo Wagon and disappearing into virtual space.
I was curious!
What was making me revisit this strange experience?
Was it dissatisfaction with where I was?
Was it the idea of change?
Or, just maybe, …
an opportunity to dream big,
to reach for something beyond the now
to be more purposeful about my future.
to imagine something better.
What if I was more open-minded?
If you expect to achieve your goals.
If you expect to reach your potential.
If you expect to have your dreams come true,
then mastering the art of visualisation is a good place to start.
The Science behind Visualisation
Your brain has a system in it called the Reticular Activating System (RAS), which basically allows certain information in and blocks out other information.
The person in charge of that filtering is you.
The story I have been telling myself for years is that life had passed me by, that I wasn’t clever enough or confident enough or positive enough to do anything else.
The job of the RAS is to look for evidence to confirm the belief. And, no surprise, I had found plenty of evidence, and those annoying beliefs were well established in my life.
The RAS filters information and only lets in what it agrees with. This is called Confirmation Bias and is the brain’s way of protecting us. If the brain took in everything in equal value our heads would literally explode.
Enter the Woo-Woo Wagon and,
The Beauty of Visualisation
Visualisation is a way to reprogram the reticular activating system so that your brain starts to spot opportunities and evidence that things are working out.
The idea is to look at what you want to achieve, your goals, your big picture or just what you simply hope to achieve today. And then let science do its magic.
Here’s an example.
- Close your eyes or keep them open, whatever floats your boat. (The key is to be in a place that’s quiet and without the noise of life).
- Consider your life right now.
- How satisfied are you?
- Are there things you would like to be different?
- Visualise change, something different.
- It may be a leap into Woo-Woo land, or
- It may be a small step toward something you’d really like to change.
- What do you see?
- Imagine how good it would be to be there.
- Take hold of that feeling.
- Invite it in.
- Savour it.
- Play with it.
- Feel what it feels like.
You may see a more energised you?
You may see yourself taking the step toward something you’ve always wanted to achieve.
You may see yourself more confident.
You may see an improved relationship with your partner, your spouse, or your children.
You may see yourself taking a step toward putting yourself first.
You may see yourself taking actionable steps to reduce your anxiety.
Imagine all the positive emotions that you could feel?
- Confidence?
- Satisfaction?
- Relief?
- Hope.
- Maybe you feel quite proud of yourself?
- Perhaps it’s the excitement of possibility?
When you visualise in this way, you are training your brain to have a totally different filter.
Our brains don’t know the difference between something that actually happened and the things it imagines are happening.
Through visualisation, you are changing the network of neurons that act as a filter in your brain.
The more you believe in yourself and start visualising stepping into this new space, the more confident you are going to become. There’s a sense of bringing that future feeling forward and using it as an aid in moving forward.
Instead of looking for all the reasons not to do something or second-guessing and doubting your abilities, you have the chance to change the filter.
The Results of Visualisation
Today, I am super grateful that I was curious enough to explore where this journey would take me. As I said at the start, that simple journey into space was the key to where I am now.
Honestly, I didn’t see it all at first. I was initially blinded by limiting beliefs and the reason I kept taking the journey was that I wanted to change.
On about my 5th trip into Woo-Woo land, I realised that the future Mrs Me was not the large grey-haired 55-year-old I’d first imagined… in an exaggerated sort of way. I’d created this bizarre image as I had no idea of the possibilities that lay before me. I didn’t dare to dream big. But I got there in the end.
Initially, I was:
- Fearful about change
- I lacked the confidence to step into anything unfamiliar.
- I had no idea where to start.
- I believed I wasn’t clever enough.
- I was bored and dissatisfied.
The journey on the Woo-Woo Wagon helped me realise:
- I was desperate to step out of the box and focus on my growth and development.
- I needed help to overcome my limiting beliefs.
- I wanted a chance to explore my strengths and the reasons I don’t give them much credit.
- I needed someone to partner with me to get me there.
Life coaching has been transformational for me.
Over the space of two years, I have moved away from being a fearful mother at home who lacked the confidence to believe she had more to offer than being a mother. I have loved the Mothership role, but I had long forgotten the potential I had to try something else.
A stale Mother is not an effective Mother.
However, your job as CEO of the Mothership would look vastly different if you were:
- Self-aware
- Curious
- Practising personal growth and self-care
- Had a vision for your own personal development.
- Had the tools to take action.
Life Coaching has enabled me to step into my brave. I have an ACTP Professional Coaching qualification through Optimus Coaching Academy as well as a Bachelor Level 1 Coaching and Counselling Diploma obtained through the Academie Voor Coaching and Counselling in the Netherlands. My coaching business, Leonora Found Coaching is also now up and running and I have a regular stream of clients.
Conclusion
This is a picture of me that I sketched two years ago.
Safe in my box.
Bored in my box.
Dissatisfied in my box.
This is me today. 👇🏻
I have discovered what my passion is, and I am doing it. My brain seems to have had an overhaul and is sharper than it has ever been. I have a stronger desire to learn. I feel brave, confident and am clear about my future. And best of all, thanks to the Woo-Woo wagon and visualisation, I am making it happen.
I have the feeling that the initial exaggerated grey-haired lady with chin hairs now has need to take a Woo-Woo trip to me as I have left her way behind. 😉
(If you are curious about any of what I have said, or would like to chat about how coaching can benefit you, please book a call with me HERE. I’d love to hear from you.)
