Today we’ll talk more about visioning, one of the key skills I use in coaching to help clients get to their next level. Visioning is an incredibly powerful process—so much so that if it’s done incorrectly, it can get in your way rather than helping you! Let’s look at the five keys that help make your vision work for you.
Be mindful of your words
Here’s an example of why you need to tailor your vision to reflect your desired outcome carefully. Let’s say you are carrying an entire tray of coffee to your living room, and you think to yourself, “I don’t want to spill the coffee.” You immediately envision the coffee spilling. On the other hand, if you think, “I want to enter my living room gracefully and serve this coffee to my guests,” then that is what you will “see.” The front brain is very literal and simplistic in this way, which is why you have to learn to dream about what you want (using positive language) rather than what you don’t want (negative language). The brain doesn’t experience a difference between “I want to spill the coffee” and “I don’t want to spill the coffee.” Either way, you envision the coffee spilling. You have to be careful not to create what you don’t want accidentally.
Get present
The other amazing thing about creating a vision is that if it is clear, detailed, and well-constructed, and you are deeply committed to and immersed in it, the brain thinks it has happened. This is a great way to practice an outcome you’d like to manifest—when the situation comes up in real life, you are already in control because your brain has “seen it before” and knows it can be done. This technique is frequently used to enhance performance in sports, and it really works. But it can work in nearly any situation, from getting ready for a big presentation to advance your career to preparing for a complicated conversation with a family member. Visioning can improve outcomes in every aspect of your life, professional and personal.
Although visioning may sound simple, it takes practice to do it well, and some pitfalls can be counterproductive. It’s essential to have an experienced guide to help you build and refine your vision. In the coaching process, as your guide, I ask clarifying questions along the way to help you deeply process different aspects of getting to a thoughtful, well-crafted vision.
Focus on the positive
When building your vision, it can be challenging to stay in a positive envisioning mode because reasons, why it won’t work can pop up and distract you. The creative process of envisioning comes to a halt when worries block the way. But those worries come up for a reason, and as a skilled guide, I help you acknowledge your internal objections and work with them to let them go, for now, so your envisioning can continue.
Leverage your preferred perception mode
Another aspect of envisioning that I focus on with clients is making sure that cues take into account your preferred modes of perception. For example, if you are primarily an auditory processor, a vision with a lot of visual cues will be harder for you to connect with; a powerful, effective vision is tailored to your exact preferences so that you can fully experience it.
Get started
And speaking of experience—if you think it’s hard to imagine what a powerful, effective vision is like, you’re right! It isn’t easy to imagine, but once you experience the process of crafting a vision, you’ll know what it’s like to hear options and ideas that resonate deeply and are right for you. While advice can be helpful and has its place, there’s no substitute for first-hand experience. This is a lesson I’ve had to learn, too—many years ago, I was lucky enough to learn the practice of Taoist Self-Healing Meditation from a Chinese Master, David Cheng. The students often asked him what books we could read to learn more about what he was teaching us. He often said with a twinkle in his eye, “Americans read too many books. Throw your books away and experience for yourself—then you will know.” I’m still an avid and enthusiastic reader, but he had a good point. When you’re ready for the next step, the right thing to do is move forward!
If you’re ready to learn more about powerful, effective vision creation, visit me at dianedreizencoach.com to schedule a Discovery Session.
Warmly,
