The Science of Visualization
The science of visualization is real my friends! As a child, you may have spent hours daydreaming about the life you have always wanted. You might have visualized your wedding day as a little girl or dreamed of becoming a firefighter or a pilot! Maybe your dreams have come true for you, and maybe you still have more dreams brewing within. Dreaming about the life you want has incredible power!
In fact, did you know that when you visualize your brain doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined events? That’s right! You release the same chemicals when you imagine, as you do in reality! When we meditate (visualize) we are changing our brain chemistry and influencing our biochemistry. This has to do with the brain’s ability to change structure or function in response to both internal and external stimuli, in this case, our thoughts or vision.
Chemical Changes when Visualizing
- Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol decrease
- Seratonin increases which improves our mood
- Endorphins increase enhancing our sense of well-being
- Oxytocin increases which helps us feel connected to others
- Dopamin is neutralized or increased which activates our reward centers
Have you heard the saying, “neurons that fire together, wire together” or “where attention goes, energy flows?” Both phrases describe that what we put into our minds, creates deep and long lasting impressions, for better or for worse. Whether we consistently are optimistic or consistently pessimistic about our present or future, matters! When we speak or think negatively this fires and wires neurons that create our reality. And in the end, we likely will attract more negative things to happen to us.
Neuroplasticity- the science of visualization continued
But the alternative happens when we think positively or use positive affirmations to create a new reality. When we replace a negative thought with a positive thought, we are affecting the brain’s reward center. It’s even better than the dopamine rush we get when we see all the Facebook Likes following a post. In fact, the best time to write or say our affirmations is in the morning when our neuroplasticity is the highest. And people who are more optimistic or use positive affirmations and visualizations in their daily practice have better relationships, improved heart health, and generally have a higher income and are happier than those who don’t.
My Visualization Become Reality
I have been creating the life I have wanted ever since I was a little girl. I used to write poetry about waterfalls, and short stories with waterfalls. As I got older, my meditations were always visualizations of me laying in grassy meadow listening the sound of waterfalls. And then one day, I grew up and owned my own business and purchased a beautiful property in Northeast Alabama. And low and behold after closing, what did I find, but a beautiful waterfall on the property. I truly believe that it was my dream come true. A manifestation of my heart’s deepest longing and desire. Some people might say it was serendipity, the occurrence or development of beneficial events by chance, but I believe the brain seeks what is in alignment with our thoughts. The many moments I wrote about waterfalls and visualized their meaning to me brought that energy into my life, becoming a reality. For the past ten years I have continued to learn about the philosophy of yoga and the science of our brain and the science of visualization. And the more I learn, the more I am convinced that these practices truly work. I consistently visualize what I want, create positive affirmations, show gratitude for what I have, and write out my aspirations and the steps to getting there. Writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them! And we all know that actionable steps are vital to making your dream a reality.
Where Can You Get Started
Have you thought about visualizing what you want in the New Year? My friend Marie of Way of the Blossoming Soul and I, Sarah Cummins of Waterfall Yoga Therapy have created a workshop series that will help you learn the practices of visualization, gratitude, and positive affirmations to evaluate what it is you want in each part of your life. And in this fun, interactive workshop Manifesting the Life you Want; Fold-able Pocket Vision Board, we will assist you in creating actionable steps towards your deepest desires. The workshop will be offered Jan 11, 2025 from 2-4pm CST in person in Huntsville Alabama as well as offered via Zoom online and through a recording of the event if you cannot attend live. This means anyone can participate from anywhere, at any time.
The science of visualization and spoken! Invest in your future dreams by starting with this workshop. Register here.
And you’ll receive two bonus follow-up calls that will continue to motivate and inspire you to stay on task with your actionable steps towards living the life you desire. Taking action is a critical step to manifesting the life of your dreams!
