Creating images and ideas of what you want to accomplish can be a powerful strategy for achievement, affirmed by many writers, coaches and artists.

Dennis Haysbert [left] has portrayed a variety of dynamic characters in film (such as “Jarhead”) and television, including “24” and “The Unit.”

“I visualize the roles that I want,” he says. “If I hadn’t visualized playing athletes, I wouldn’t have gotten ‘Major League.’ If I hadn’t visualized playing a president, David Palmer never would have happened. You’ve got to have a sense of what you want to do; otherwise, the universe is just going to throw something at you.” [TV Guide, July 3-9 2006]

In her article Awakening the Senses, creativity coach Linda Dessau writes about the book “How to think like Leonardo da Vinci” by Michael Gelb, particularly the “Sensazione” chapter, which Dessau notes “is dedicated to re-awakening and sharpening each of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch… Gelb offers lots of exercises in this chapter to help you awaken your senses. My favourite is ‘Subtle Speculation: The Art of Visualization’.

“As he explains: ‘The ability to visualize a desired outcome is built into your brain, and your brain is designed to help you succeed in matching that picture with your performance. And the more thoroughly you involve all your senses, the more compelling your visualization becomes.’”

Other teachers and writers who talk about the power of visualization include Shakti Gawain, author of Creative Visualization, and Wayne Dyer, author of The Power of Intention

>Related section: Achievement / personal development programs

07.06.06 |

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