Welcome to your ultimate ergonomic products guide!
 

Welcome to our Ergonomic Product Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

Article #138: Imagery - The Key to Unlocking Your Performance Potential (Part 1)

(Browse for more articles)
 
Imagery - The Key to Unlocking Your caused your body to respond in a very
Performance Potential (Part 1) real way? It is important that you
11th May 2007 realize that the set of images and the
Author: Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D. beliefs that you create in your mind are
""Imagination is more powerful than the reality that truly exists for you.
knowledge." -Albert Einstein This 'reality' in fact, serves as the
Did you know that as children, we enjoyed mental computer program that directs you
a significant mental advantage over the to perform in a manner that is consistent
adult population…an advantage that the with the images in your mind and the
majority of us let slip away as we grew feelings that are associated with those
into adulthood? Because of a lack of images. I can illustrate this point with
consistent practice, we gradually lost a specific example.
the ability to use an effective mental Imagine that I placed a wooden board flat
skill that most children seem to possess on the floor in front of you. The board
naturally - the skill of mental Imagery. is six inches wide, perfectly stiff, and
Imagery, the Language of the Mind 20 feet long. If I asked you to walk the
Because humans think in pictures, there length of the board without touching the
isn't a single thought that we create in floor, do you think that you would you be
our mind that is not somehow associated able to do it? It is likely that, not
with a mental image (and often, with only would most of you be able to do it,
feelings) of some sort. We frequently but you could probably do it with your
talk about seeing with our 'mind's eyes closed or even do it backwards if
eye'…this simply means that when we you put your mind to it! We have now
imagine something in our mind, we established that is it likely that you
generally see a picture of what we are could easily walk the full length of this
thinking about, just as if we were 20-foot board when it is placed on the
looking at it through a camera lens or floor in front of you.
through our own eyes. Some people refer Imagine that I placed a wooden board flat
to this process as "visualization", but I on the floor in front of you. The board
prefer the term "imagery" because it is is six inches wide, perfectly stiff, and
broader and more easily incorporates the 20 feet long. If I asked you to walk the
other senses beyond vision. In effect, it length of the board without touching the
would indeed be accurate to describe floor, do you think that you would you be
imagery as the language of the mind. You able to do it? It is likely that, not
can confirm the truth of this statement only would most of you be able to do it,
for yourself with the following simple but you could probably do it with your
exercise. eyes closed or even do it backwards if
Take a few moments to think about your you put your mind to it! We have now
mother - before you read any further… established that is it likely that you
Now as you did this, you probably 'saw' could easily walk the full length of this
(with your 'mind's eye') an image of what 20-foot board when it is placed on the
your mother looks like, what color her floor in front of you.
hair is, how tall she is, what she looks Imagine if I now took that same 20-foot
like sitting at the dining room table or board (that is six inches wide, perfectly
in front of the TV, or wearing a favorite stiff, and that you know you could
outfit. You might have pictured her from traverse with ease when placed on the
the front or from the side, in profile. floor) and suspended it between two
You may even have 'seen' your mother buildings, 100 feet in the air! Even
working in the garden or in a favorite assuming there was no wind whatsoever and
room, etc. Whatever you 'saw', it is that I could make it perfectly stiff - as
likely that you created a set of images it was on the floor - do you believe that
or mental pictures in your mind (and you could still walk the length of the
perhaps even an associated emotional board between the buildings… with ease?
response) that reflects how you see your Likely not and yet, it is the same board
mother, standing there by herself as if with the same physical dimensions and
in a portrait or how she might look in a features. Something in the mind of most
variety of different situations. Consider individuals would stop them from even
this: How would it be possible to think attempting to walk the length of that
of your mother if you couldn't 'see' her 20-foot board and if they chose to try to
in your mind's eye? do it, the tension level (and fear) that
Now, take a few moments to think about they would feel would be much greater.
your home… Many of us would 'freeze up' and not be
Again, it is likely that you 'saw' (in able to move at all. But what has
your mind's eye) some image of what your changed?
house or apartment looks like, perhaps The only thing that has truly changed in
from the outside, what your front lawn or this new situation is your perspective
driveway might look like, or what one or regarding the physical challenge or
more of the rooms might look like. You danger that you face. Because the
may even have seen an image of your consequences of falling off the board
spouse or children watching television in when it is placed directly on the floor
the den or of all your family members in front of you are non-existent compared
sitting down to a meal around the kitchen to the consequences of falling off the
table. Again, you created in your mind a board when it is 100 feet off the ground,
set of images and feelings that reflected you think nothing of walking the plank
your perception of 'home' and what it is while on the floor and indeed, can
like when the important people in your execute the stunt with ease! As soon as
life occupy it. It should be clear to you your perspective regarding the challenge
from this simple little exercise that we that you face changes (you imagine all
do indeed 'think' in pictures, no matter the nasty things that could happen and
what we are thinking about. In fact, try may even 'see' yourself falling to the
thinking of something without "seeing it" ground in your mind's eye), your ability
in your mind's eye… your car, your desk to perform the task changes as well. This
at work, your favorite hat, etc! is a really important point to keep in
The Impact of Imagery on Our Emotions mind…
Images that you put into your mind The Bad News is that we create our own
directly influence how you feel. These set of mental images, and these images
feelings in turn affect your behavior and directly influence our feelings,
this set of behaviors influences your behaviors, and our ability to perform.
personal performance in anything that you The Good News is that we create our own
do. set of mental images and these images
Think back to a situation where you were directly influence our feelings,
watching a particularly sad, scary, or behaviors, and our ability to perform.
exciting movie? Your body responded It depends completely on the kind of
directly to the images and feelings that mental images that you put into your mind
were developed on the TV or movie screen, since the images you process there become
as you watched the show. Sometimes you the dominant thoughts that control how
felt tension or even fear in anticipation you feel, how you behave and ultimately,
of the next scene (when the villain or how you perform. We'll explore this
the creature jumps out of the shadows), process of imagery further in the next
or relief when the hero who was hanging installment of the Performance File.
by his fingertips from the ledge of the Jacques Dallaire, Ph.D is the principal
tall building manages to swing back up consultant of Performance Prime. Dr.
onto the roof to safety. When watching a Dallaire has extensive experience gained
particularly sad movie, you may even have over the past 32 years working with more
begun to cry. Yet, intellectually you than 1000 high-performance athletes and
knew that these situations were not real, business professionals. More information
they were roles played out by actors about our revolutionary business and
following established scripts that simply group performance seminars, mental skills
became part of your imagination. products, and free access to Dr.
How is it that these "imagined pictures"






1- A- B- C- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47- 48- 49- 50- 51- 52- 53- 54- 55- 56- 57-