Are you using visualization to help ensure the results you want in the future? If not, you should be.

How good is your imagination? Now, when I ask that question, most people invariably say that they have an active imagination. If that's true for you, too, then you should certainly be using visualization techniques to help you get the results you want in the future. 

Why? Well, because if you do it right, it works. How do I know? From over 40 years of experience - personal and otherwise - for one thing. But don't take my word for it. Do some research on your own. Go to the library's periodical index, or better yet, log on to your favorite search engine and see what you come up with. You'll find more than enough to keep you busy for quite a while, and almost all of it will point to the same thing. 

The imagination is a powerful tool that, when used properly, can enhance the results you get. High-performance athletes know more about this than most of us. In fact you might want to start your research with the May 1985 Psychology Today and an article called "Visualization by Athletes." The article is a bit old, but the information still holds true, as I have found with our work with the Olympic swim team.

What you will read may amaze you. Just keep in mind that visualization isn't solely for athletes. It is for anyone who wants to improve performance, in any endeavor. Since we are one month or so into the New Year, and most resolutions have already been broken, now might be the best time to get your imagination in training.

Visualization techniques are not difficult to learn. In fact, you already use them all the time. It's simply a matter of bringing conscious control to the process.