Getting Away From it All

Most every conversation, action, or creation begins in our imaginations with a vision.  If we couldn’t see things in our mind’s eye before they happened, we probably wouldn’t be able to accomplish much.  Some people say that the better we can visualize the things we want, the more likely they will come true. Visualization is about mentally making images, and it is often a way of rehearsing plans or thinking creatively.  It lets us imagine outcomes, notice possibilities, and plan actions.

Experts say that our minds see very little difference between things that are really happening and the things that we just think are happening.  This may be why worrying is so exhausting; our mind thinks it is all true.  Research shows that just sitting and thinking about lifting weights (even when you are lounging on the couch) will excite the same nerve pathways in the brain as if you were actually exercising.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that your muscles will actually get stronger, but your brain will believe you are getting in shape, and your skill level might improve.

Another way to use this information is when you want to relax.  Especially on those days when you are really keyed up, a calming visualization may be just the thing to unwind and release all that tension.  You don’t have get in your car and travel, you can just picture a beautiful place in your mind’s eye and put yourself there.  For example, you can imagine yourself lying on a sandy beach, walking through a leafy forest, or enjoying a Japanese garden, and your mind will react accordingly.

Or, if you would like to combine this with a writing exercise, you can put the experience down on paper.  First, tell yourself to relax and leave your worries behind.  Then describe the place you have chosen. Be sure to include all the sights, smells, and sounds that you would find in the actual situation. If you can add a pleasant taste, add that too.  Really put yourself on that beach or in that garden and describe what you experience.  When you are done with your description, bring yourself back to everyday life by counting or by some other gentle way.  

When your visualization is written to your satisfaction, you can illustrate the description with paints or pencils.  This way you can actually see some of what you imagined.  It doesn’t really matter if you don’t have a lot of experience with drawing, it is the mood and ambiance that you are trying to capture.  Colored pencils are an easy way to work with regular paper, as they don’t need water to give a nice effect.  Or you can put your vision on water color paper or canvas and see how it translates.

In addition, you might record your visualization into a voice file.  You can read the script into a recorder and then play your own relaxing voice back to yourself when you are stressed.  With an app from the internet, you can also add soft music to the background.  This is a very pleasant way to go on a quick mini-vacation without leaving your house.  Think about getting away from it all in your mind, and enjoy the sensation.