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Imagery - The Key to Unlocking Your Performance Potential (Part 1)

Imagery - The Key to Unlocking Yourfollowing established scripts that simply
Performance  Potential  (Part  1)became  part  of  your  imagination.
11th  May  2007How is it that these "imagined pictures"
caused your body to respond in a very real
Author:  Jacques  Dallaire,  Ph.D.way? It is important that you realize that
the set of images and the beliefs that you
""Imagination is more powerful thancreate in your mind are the reality that
knowledge."  -Albert  Einsteintruly exists for you. This 'reality' in fact,
serves as the mental computer program that
Did you know that as children, we enjoyed adirects you to perform in a manner that is
significant mental advantage over the adultconsistent with the images in your mind and
population…an advantage that thethe feelings that are associated with those
majority of us let slip away as we grew intoimages. I can illustrate this point with a
adulthood? Because of a lack of consistentspecific  example.
practice, we gradually lost the ability to
use an effective mental skill that mostImagine that I placed a wooden board flat on
children seem to possess naturally - thethe floor in front of you. The board is six
skill  of  mental  Imagery.inches wide, perfectly stiff, and 20 feet
long. If I asked you to walk the length of
Imagery,  the  Language  of  the  Mindthe board without touching the floor, do you
think that you would you be able to do it? It
Because humans think in pictures, there isn'tis likely that, not only would most of you be
a single thought that we create in our mindable to do it, but you could probably do it
that is not somehow associated with a mentalwith your eyes closed or even do it backwards
image (and often, with feelings) of someif you put your mind to it! We have now
sort. We frequently talk about seeing withestablished that is it likely that you could
our 'mind's eye'…this simply means thateasily walk the full length of this 20-foot
when we imagine something in our mind, weboard when it is placed on the floor in front
generally see a picture of what we areof  you.
thinking about, just as if we were looking at
it through a camera lens or through our ownImagine that I placed a wooden board flat on
eyes. Some people refer to this process asthe floor in front of you. The board is six
"visualization", but I prefer the terminches wide, perfectly stiff, and 20 feet
"imagery" because it is broader and morelong. If I asked you to walk the length of
easily incorporates the other senses beyondthe board without touching the floor, do you
vision. In effect, it would indeed bethink that you would you be able to do it? It
accurate to describe imagery as the languageis likely that, not only would most of you be
of the mind. You can confirm the truth ofable to do it, but you could probably do it
this statement for yourself with thewith your eyes closed or even do it backwards
following  simple  exercise.if you put your mind to it! We have now
established that is it likely that you could
Take a few moments to think about your mothereasily walk the full length of this 20-foot
-  before  you  read  any  further…board when it is placed on the floor in front
of  you.
Now as you did this, you probably 'saw' (with
your 'mind's eye') an image of what yourImagine if I now took that same 20-foot board
mother looks like, what color her hair is,(that is six inches wide, perfectly stiff,
how tall she is, what she looks like sittingand that you know you could traverse with
at the dining room table or in front of theease when placed on the floor) and suspended
TV, or wearing a favorite outfit. You mightit between two buildings, 100 feet in the
have pictured her from the front or from theair! Even assuming there was no wind
side, in profile. You may even have 'seen'whatsoever and that I could make it perfectly
your mother working in the garden or in astiff - as it was on the floor - do you
favorite room, etc. Whatever you 'saw', it isbelieve that you could still walk the length
likely that you created a set of images orof the board between the buildings…
mental pictures in your mind (and perhapswith ease? Likely not and yet, it is the same
even an associated emotional response) thatboard with the same physical dimensions and
reflects how you see your mother, standingfeatures. Something in the mind of most
there by herself as if in a portrait or howindividuals would stop them from even
she might look in a variety of differentattempting to walk the length of that 20-foot
situations. Consider this: How would it beboard and if they chose to try to do it, the
possible to think of your mother if youtension level (and fear) that they would feel
couldn't  'see'  her  in  your  mind's  eye?would be much greater. Many of us would
'freeze up' and not be able to move at all.
Now, take a few moments to think about yourBut  what  has  changed?
home…
The only thing that has truly changed in this
Again, it is likely that you 'saw' (in yournew situation is your perspective regarding
mind's eye) some image of what your house orthe physical challenge or danger that you
apartment looks like, perhaps from theface. Because the consequences of falling off
outside, what your front lawn or drivewaythe board when it is placed directly on the
might look like, or what one or more of thefloor in front of you are non-existent
rooms might look like. You may even have seencompared to the consequences of falling off
an image of your spouse or children watchingthe board when it is 100 feet off the ground,
television in the den or of all your familyyou think nothing of walking the plank while
members sitting down to a meal around theon the floor and indeed, can execute the
kitchen table. Again, you created in yourstunt with ease! As soon as your perspective
mind a set of images and feelings thatregarding the challenge that you face changes
reflected your perception of 'home' and what(you imagine all the nasty things that could
it is like when the important people in yourhappen and may even 'see' yourself falling to
life occupy it. It should be clear to youthe ground in your mind's eye), your ability
from this simple little exercise that we doto perform the task changes as well. This is
indeed 'think' in pictures, no matter what wea really important point to keep in
are thinking about. In fact, try thinking ofmind…
something without "seeing it" in your mind's
eye… your car, your desk at work, yourThe Bad News is that we create our own set of
favorite  hat,  etc!mental images, and these images directly
influence our feelings, behaviors, and our
The  Impact  of  Imagery  on  Our  Emotionsability  to  perform.
Images that you put into your mind directlyThe Good News is that we create our own set
influence how you feel. These feelings inof mental images and these images directly
turn affect your behavior and this set ofinfluence our feelings, behaviors, and our
behaviors influences your personalability  to  perform.
performance  in  anything  that  you  do.
It depends completely on the kind of mental
Think back to a situation where you wereimages that you put into your mind since the
watching a particularly sad, scary, orimages you process there become the dominant
exciting movie? Your body responded directlythoughts that control how you feel, how you
to the images and feelings that werebehave and ultimately, how you perform. We'll
developed on the TV or movie screen, as youexplore this process of imagery further in
watched the show. Sometimes you felt tensionthe next installment of the Performance File.
or even fear in anticipation of the next
scene (when the villain or the creature jumpsJacques Dallaire, Ph.D is the principal
out of the shadows), or relief when the heroconsultant of Performance Prime. Dr. Dallaire
who was hanging by his fingertips from thehas extensive experience gained over the past
ledge of the tall building manages to swing32 years working with more than 1000
back up onto the roof to safety. Whenhigh-performance athletes and business
watching a particularly sad movie, you mayprofessionals. More information about our
even have begun to cry. Yet, intellectuallyrevolutionary business and group performance
you knew that these situations were not real,seminars, mental skills products, and free
they were roles played out by actorsaccess to Dr.



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