The power of self-imagery: why it may be more important than meditation
Could building a successful Self-Image be the leverage that Archimedes said we need in order to move the world?
I am coming to believe this may actually be the case.
The reality is you already do engage in imagery everyday; but you’re not conscious of it.
And the problem with your current imagery is that it is typically negative, and self-defeating.
If you’re like most people you go around all day beating yourself up - the very opposite of building your best possible self.
This is bad not just for your present moment - but also for your future.
With that said, if you’re open to an experiment to change and strengthen your self-image, please, keep reading……
Below I have outlined a self-imagery practice, a step-by-step process, for you to follow.
Welcome to your first Flow Rx study; and yes, you’re the subject.
But First, why Self-Imagery?
Over the last month I’ve been reading Psycho-Cybernetics, a classic personal development book, written in 1960 by Dr. Maxwell Maltz.
Dr. Maxwell Maltz was a Plastic Surgeon who realized in his work he was not just altering peoples faces, he was altering their inner image of themselves. Maltz realized that reconstruction of the physical image itself was not the real key to changes in personality. Rather, there was something else that when changed, truly led to a rise in self-esteem and self-confidence - there was a nonphysical “face of personality.” He came to learn that the “self-image,” the individual’s mental and spiritual concept, or “picture” of himself, was the real key to personality and behavior.
Here is a passage from Psycho-Cybernetics:
This nonphysical face of personality seemed to be the real key to personality change. If it remained scarred, distorted, “ugly”, or inferior, the person himself acted out this way in his behaviors regardless of the changes in physical appearance. If this “face of personality” could be reconstructed, if old emotional scares could be removed, then the person himself changed, even without facial plastic surgery.
This is nothing new…
Imagery, or visualization, is a mental practice with well established efficacy in the sport and performance psychology literature that I’ve taught for over a decade.
Imagery alone, without actual physical practice, has been shown to increase performance in dart throwing and shooting a basketball for example.
But the utility of Self-Imagery practice as described in Psycho-Cybernetics has led me to thinking about it’s use in a much more profound way - especially in my executive coaching work with leaders and their teams.
Maxwell described how Visualization primes our inherent Success Mechanism:
A human being always acts and feels and performs in accordance with what he imagines to be true about himself and his environment…For imagination sets the goal ‘picture’ which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of ‘will,’ as is so commonly believed, but because of imagination.
In short, everything we do is based off of our self-image which is crafting with our own imagination. As Dr. Maltz states:
“Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your minds eye and you be drawn toward it:”
In a similar way, everything that teams do, is also based off of their collective self-image.
Chicago Bulls Coach Phil Jackson stated that the success of the Bulls was in large part because “they built an Image that people wanted to be part of.”
Jordan himself said they transformed as a team after he hit a game winner against the Cleveland Cavaliers that helped them get over the “looser’s mentality.”
In short, their team’s self-image had changed.
As I mentioned from the jump, I am beginning to more firmly believe that working on the self-image is the deepest work of personal development.
Before we attempt to build any new habit, skill, or take on a big challenge, we must first use our imagination to develop the self-image that we can do it.
Self-Image is a First Principle to understanding human behavior.
But let’s be clear- this is not positive thinking or manifestation. Positive thinking will not work for an individual who has an inferior self-image.
Hard core psychological literature says our beliefs about our self impact our mood and behaviours. Emerging Neuroscience is saying the same. This is a truism.
This is true for me as a gymnast where I always visualize my flips before I do them.
This is also true when skiing off cliffs in the backcountry.
Can you think of a personal example from your own life where imagery of success proceeded an achievement? - I bet you can.
So yes, I’m bullish on imagery.
And while I am usually a devil’s advocate - and suspicious of large claims, and the people who make them - I’m confident in saying imagery may be the most important mental skill to ensure your success in any endeavour of life - business, sport, relationships, health.
Imagery may even be more important than meditation itself.
If you’re struggling in any area of your life, which we all are, I think it is insane not to engage in deliberate mental imagery on that challenge - seeing yourself conquer it and feeling good about it.
And to then take action from that starting place.
Because, as Jim Carrey said,
You can’t just visualize and then go eat a sandwich and think everything’s going to come into place. It takes work.
Below are your steps to follow for your self-imagery practice.
Self-Imagery Outline:*
Set aside a period of 5-30 minutes each day.
Complete a body scan and consciously relax your entire body with deep breaths.
Revisit a past positive and “successful” memory - an occasion when you did something well. How “big” of the success is doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the memory triggers a positive, happy, feel-good experience in you right now. Replay and relive the positive memory [as an emotional primer], then go into the future and picture how you want to be with the same feeling you felt in the past.
To begin the imagery, Dr. Malts suggests to visualize yourself sitting in front of a large motion picture theatre screen where you’re watching yourself perform at your best. Other research in Sport Psychology suggests imagining that you’re looking through your own eyes may be best. Use whichever approach helps you imagine for vividly.
Make your mental picture as close to your actual desired experience as possible. See yourself acting and reacting successfully.
Make these pictures as detailed and controllable as possible -pay attention to the small details.
Each time your mind wanders, bring yourself back. Do not judge yourself for getting distracted, it’s all good.
The biggest key is you must practice every day.
*As outlined in Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maltz
Like anything else, getting good at imagery and picturing who you want to be will require practice.
But Power Moves, those behaviours that shift your life and unlock a whole new level of performance, are surely worth it.
This is why Self-Imagery is your prescription to flow.
And if you want to help me out, please complete this anonymous questionnaire after your 21-Day FlowRx experiment to share your results. They will be kept confidential (It will also get you a free coaching call, should you want it).
Ready, Set, Go!
Seriously - like right now - begin your imagery practice and activate your Success Mechanism.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brent
P.S
Learn about more flow prescriptions by signing up for my FlowRx Newsletter - Including how to have your whole team in sync through their own collective self-imagery practice.