Imagine That! - The Power of Visualization

Have you ever imagined something so vividly that it felt real to you? Give this a try…imagine tasting a lemon…a tart, juicy lemon. What just happened in your body?

Did you salivate, squint, or even pucker a bit? This is not uncommon.

It turns out, your brain can't always tell the difference between what's real and what you're imagining.

Studies using fancy brain scans like fMRI and PET have shown that when people visualize things, the parts of their brain that handle sensory information and movement light up.

A study by Jeannerod back in 1994 showed that when people imagine themselves doing a physical activity, the parts of their brain that plan and control movement get activated, even if they're not actually moving.

Another experiment by Dr. Biasiotto from the University of Chicago tested how the effects of visualization compared to actual physical practice. Dr Biasiotto had three test groups. He got a baseline from each group on how many basketball free throws they successfully make.

Then the first group practiced shooting free throws every day for an hour for 30 days.

The second group visualized themselves shooting free throws every day for an hour.

The third group did not practice free throw shooting at all, real or imagined.

After 30 days, the three groups were tested again on their free throws.

The first group improved by 24%.
The second group improved by 23%!
The third group had no improvement.

Wow… it’s possible to get practically the same amount of improvement from imagining an activity as actually doing it! Mind blown! 🤯

And get this: when you're imagining stuff that really gets your emotions going, like your favorite memory or a scary situation, parts of your brain that handle emotions and memories start buzzing. The amygdala, which deals with emotions, and the hippocampus, which helps you remember stuff, get all fired up.

This might explain why studies show that visualization can have such a strong effect on how you feel and what you remember. Think about it... what response does your body have when you imagine doing something that scares you or when you replay one of your happiest or saddest memories.

More and more studies are showing the power of visualization to calm the nerves, ease anxiety, improve sleep and even help heal injuries and disease. The body-mind connection is truly fascinating!

Why not use that to our advantage? When we’re calm and at ease, we’re likely to be more confident and action-oriented, with an increased ability to experience gratitude and happiness. What would you imagine to help you feel calm...is it laying on a beach and hearing the ocean, feeling the soothing touch of a massage, or being soothed by a crackling fire while sipping a cozy beverage? What's your calming vision?

So, when it comes to choosing what to daydream about or replay in your mind over and over, it’s wise to be selective. It can have a big impact on how things play out in the future!

What do you want to imagine today?