Visualizing a task can help you perform it. Athletes use visualization often. Picturing a sporting event in thr minds and imagining it down to every last detail helps them perform at their peak when it’s time to do the actually event.
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The subconscious brain is unable to distinguish whether you really performed the task or not, so it acts as if you have. When you think or feel something deeply enough it triggers an involuntary reaction in the body. For example, if you imagine eating a lemon your mouth will start to produce more saliva. If you imagine tying your shoes and really concentrate on that thought your fingers will twitch involuntarily. Your brain  sends signals to your muscles. These currents are then stopped short by your muscles just before performing the task. This is called ideo-motor response.

Ideo-motor response was discovered in the mid 1800′s. It is used in hypnotherapy.

Visualization can be used as a kind of self hypnosis. Just as worry, stress and imagining the worse possible scenario can doom you. Imagining the best scenario can help you do your best. When you have a high stress assignment that you must perform well for coming up you should imaging it going well before the event. Imagine every detail going smoothly. Doing this will increase your confidence and help the event go smoothly once it happens.

Ideo-motor response can be used the other way around also. Certain actions are done as an automatic response to how you feel. If you don’t feel that way you can do that action and trigger the same emotional response in your brain. If you’re feeling unhappy and you smile, you start to feel happier.

Your brain is a powerful tool. Knowing how to use it can help empower you in your life.

Photo by Sir Merv