A Relaxation Tip – First Masters The Art of Visualization

When you were a child your imagination allowed you to transform a pile or bricks into a fort or an old dress into a magnificent party dress and this simple art, known as visualization, stays with you for a lifetime, even though you tend to use it. less as you get older, or become less aware of the fact that you are using it.

Today, psychologists frequently use visualization exercises to help their patients achieve a positive self-image or manage difficult emotional situations. They know all too well that an image embedded, often in great detail, in the mind can have a powerful impact on the body. By using this same skill and channeling it into a visualization exercise, you can help your body relax.

Many exercises, including those used in relaxation and meditation, make use of visualization, so it is important to master the art of visualization before moving on to various relaxation and meditation exercises.

You may find that the visualization is quite easy to master, or you may find it a bit difficult at first. Using your imagination is a bit like using the muscles in your body: it gets stronger with exercise. All you need is concentration and preparation to let your imagination run wild.

To get started, try this object visualization exercise:

1. Choose an everyday object from your home and then sit at a clear table with nothing but the chosen object.

2. Look at it carefully and try to catch as many details as you can. Pay special attention to things like the size, shape, color, and the way the light hits it. As you look at the article, try to memorize as many details as you can.

3. Now close your eyes and picture the object in your mind. How much of your details do you remember and are there details you can’t remember?

4. Still sitting with your eyes closed, take a moment to think about how you feel. Do you feel under any stress while trying this exercise? Do you find the exercise interesting?

5. Okay, erase that image from your mind, and while you’re still at the table with your eyes closed, think of another everyday object in your house, and once again try to picture it in your mind in as much detail as possible. you can.

6. When you are satisfied that you have a clear image of the object, open your eyes and go looking for it. How close was the image you painted in your mind to the actual object? Also, try to identify the details that you missed on your visualization.

7. Once again, take a minute to consider how you feel and whether or not you find this exercise stressful.

8. Now return to the table and once again, sitting with your eyes closed, try to remember and imagine an object from your childhood. Think carefully about how much of the object you can remember and whether or not you can remember the details clearly. Once you have the object in your mind’s eye, see if you can place it in its original environment.

9. Your image will almost certainly be missing bits and pieces and your mind will try to fill in the gaps in your imagination. Can you tell which parts of the image are real and come from your memory and which are created by your imagination?

10. Next, imagine a common everyday object, such as a vase, but this time imagine an object you’ve never seen before. In other words, create this object in detail in your imagination by giving it size, shape, and color. Once you have the image, imagine yourself holding the object and think about how it feels. Is it, for example, rough and heavy or smooth and light? And once again, as you hold the object in your hands, think about how you feel.

You may be surprised that throughout this exercise you are asked to keep thinking about how you feel. At first, you may find the visualization exercises a bit stressful. This is quite normal and nothing to worry about. As you continue to practice, you will find that the visualization becomes much easier and any feelings of stress soon disappear.