THE NON FLUFF EMOTIONAL STUFF™

Visualise Yourself Succeeding - And Then Go Do It!

Have you ever found yourself dreading an upcoming event—like a difficult conversation, a big presentation, or a personal challenge? You’re not alone. When we anticipate important or difficult tasks, our brains often react with fear. Even just a little bit of fear can spark a wildfire of negative emotions: nervousness, intimidation, worry, even jealousy. And when we let these emotions run the show, they hinder our ability to succeed.

So how do we move forward with confidence? How do we stay grounded and perform well in moments that really matter?

One powerful, science-backed answer is visualisation.

What is Visualisation?

Visualisation (also called mental imagery) is the practice of imagining yourself successfully performing a task or achieving a goal. But here’s the thing—it’s not just daydreaming. It’s a skill. It involves intentionally using your mind to see yourself succeeding—hearing the sounds, feeling the emotions, smelling the surroundings, noticing what you’re wearing, and engaging all of your senses to make it real.

Why is this so effective?

Because your brain doesn’t actually know the difference between something vividly imagined and something experienced in real life. Brain scans show that imagining a sunset activates the same regions in the brain as actually watching one. Incredible, right?

Visualising Success Can Change the Outcome

Let’s look at some real-world examples that show just how powerful visualisation is:

📌 Basketball Experiment:

Three groups of players were studied. One practiced free throws daily. The second did nothing. The third simply imagined practicing—correcting their shots in their minds. The first group improved by 24%. The group that only imagined it? Improved by 23%. The second group? No change. (Reported in Research Quarterly.)

📌 Muhammad Ali saw himself victorious long before he stepped into the ring.

📌 Michael Jordan always took the game-winning shot in his mind before the real one.

📌 Tiger Woods has used visualisation since childhood.

📌 Natan Sharansky, imprisoned in the USSR for 9 years, visualised himself playing—and winning—chess matches. Years later, he beat world champion Garry Kasparov.

These aren’t just stories—they’re proof that seeing your success mentally can translate to success in real life.

How to Visualise Like a Pro

Visualisation works best when you’re specific. Vague ideas lead to vague results.

Here are some key tips:

🧠 8 Tips to Get You Started

1. Write your visualisation down. Get clear. Be detailed.

2. Relax with music. A calm brain is a creative brain.

3. Make it vivid. Engage all your senses—what do you see, hear, smell?

4. Act ideally. How do you want to behave in this situation?

5. Feel it. Imagine what success feels like. Pride? Peace? Confidence?

6. Find a role model. If visualising yourself is tricky, imagine someone you admire doing it.

7. Reflect on past wins. Draw strength from previous successes.

8. Practice, practice, practice. Like any skill, this gets stronger with use.

What if You Can't Visualise Clearly?

That’s okay. Most of us have been told what to think for so long that we’ve forgotten how to think creatively. The good news? You can retrain your imagination.

Try these exercises to reawaken your inner visualiser:

👁 LEVEL 1: The Apple

Start with something familiar. Picture an apple in your mind. Zoom in. Spin it. Change its colour. Keep distractions at bay.

👥 LEVEL 2: A Familiar Face

Now think of someone you know well. Focus on their features. Now change their hairstyle or clothes in your mind.

🌳 LEVEL 3: The Environment

Imagine a forest. Hear the birds, smell the leaves, feel the breeze. Bring in all the senses.

🎤 LEVEL 4: Your Ideal Outcome

Create a story about something you want to do—like delivering a confident speech. Record yourself talking through the scene. Then relax and listen back. Let your imagination follow your voice.

Remember...

Visualising success doesn’t guarantee it. But it does give your brain a head start. It calms your emotions, boosts your confidence, and primes you to act in alignment with your goals.

Next time you’re faced with something big—before you panic—pause. Take a few minutes to see it turning out well. Let your body, brain, and spirit feel that success in advance.

You’ll be amazed at what changes when you show up like you’ve already succeeded.

You’ve got this.

VISUALISING YOURSELF SUCCEEDING IS JUST ONE CLICK AWAY! SHOP NOW >

Written by Alisa Pettit

It’s never too late for a lane change. Insite Mind is the brainchild of one woman who after a decade spinning in the hamster wheel of the accounting world gave it up to live out her heart work. But it didn’t come without challenge and a little nudge from the universe in the form of a book Dealing with Difficult People. Upon opening it Alisa was surprised to find in black and white text “maybe it’s you”. So after several ego deaths and many personal development books along the way Alisa Pettit found her way to coaching. Now a fully fledged positive mindset coach and personal mastery guru Ali’s work helps people find their way through mindset teachings.

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