How Do You See Yourself? 👀

If you’ve been following me for a bit, you know that I’m a fan of an established morning routine. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve crafted my own routine largely based on a framework called SAVERS, which stands for:

• Silence

• Affirmations

• Visualization

• Exercise

• Reading

• Scribing/Journaling

I’ve already written on Silence and Affirmations and here I intend to dig a little deeper into the idea of Visualization and what that looks like, or can look like (pun intended).  And to be honest, of all of the SAVERS, this is by far the most challenging one for me.

So, let’s get into it.

What even is Visualization?

As defined by Merriam Webster, visualization is:

1. formation of mental visual images

2. the act or process of interpreting in visual terms or of putting into visible form

I mentioned that this was a difficult area for me because I’ve felt like there’s a need to have a creative mind in order to actually form a visual image.  Personally, I’m much more of a data and paint-by-numbers type of person and I really struggle on the creative front. I give so much effort to my visualizations and just end up giving myself a headache. Instead of images of vibrant colors, detailed facial expressions and the beauty of nature, I seem to conjure up gray tones, blurred silhouettes and fog.

BUT I’ve kept practicing…and what’s crazy is that some of what I’ve visualized has actually become a reality.  When I started back in 2018, I used to visualize owning a house with a backyard that had a big tree that we could sit under.  I’d actually see us sitting at a picnic table sharing a meal with family and friends while the dogs ran around the yard.  During that time, my husband and I had begun to get more serious about moving out of our Brooklyn apartment and purchasing our own home, but it was far from a priority. However, I kept using this visualization each morning because it aligned with my values and priorities.  Well, within 2 years it became a reality!

I’ve also used visualizations in areas such as:

-Personal health and fitness-

• I literally see myself as an older woman, with awesome salt-and-pepper hair (like my great grandmother!) who lifts weights, walks regularly, rides a bike, volunteers, can’t get enough of being outdoors, etc.

-Desires to travel and see the world-

• I see myself taking epic hikes, surfing waves and experiencing the culture of other countries.

-Building relationships and putting myself out there-

• This one is a challenge for me but I visualize being the social person that can talk to anyone and not be nervous.

-Being a great coach and role model-

• Here I see myself not only as the caring, compassionate, nonjudgemental coach but also as the coach who finds the strengths in every client, who meets a client where they’re at and who truly enjoys celebrating even the smallest successes.

While I started this post saying how difficult it is for me, I’m realizing now that maybe it’s just been that my expectation of what a ‘good’ visualization should be was a little too high.  As I alluded to above, I’ve had this feeling like the visualization had to be a crystal clear, vibrant image or otherwise it didn’t count.  However, I’m seeing now that even my blurred imagery was an ok place to start. Over time these foggy mental images have become clearer and clearer until either they’ve actually become a reality -or- are something that I’m actively working towards.

So how does this apply to you?

I’d suggest starting to think about the following questions:

• How do you See yourself in this present moment?

• Is your current self the person you want to be?

• In other words, do your current identities align with your values and priorities?

Ok, perhaps those are loaded questions but don’t freak out.

If you can answer all of those questions on a positive note, then major high fives!  Your visualizations might just be about refining the details of your mental masterpiece and highlighting the amazing person you are and will continue to be.

But if you’re like many of us, there’s at least one aspect of your current life that you’d like to see improve or maybe even change entirely. Maybe in your visualization you see yourself:

• having your favorite nutritious breakfast after your 6am workout.

• handing in your resignation letter in order to pursue your dream or passion.

• high-fiving anyone nearby after getting your first pull-up.

• downsizing or selling your material possessions to live that #vanlife.

• smiling at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

• signing the paperwork on that house or car and being handed the keys.

• surrounded by family and friends celebrating your early retirement.

• The person who…

If it’s not clear already, I want to emphasize that Visualizations aren’t about far off wishes or random luck events like winning the lottery, finding a meter with time remaining on it, or scoring a bonus snack from the vending machine.  Instead, I encourage you to draw from your Values and Priorities and allow them to help you outline the Identities that you want to see yourself as. Regular Visualization practice keeps these images front and center and allows you to cultivate the behaviors, relationships and circumstances that you need in order to see yourself in that new Identity.

It doesn’t have to be formal and or time consuming.  Maybe you even tie it into your Affirmations to get two giggles with one tickle (just learned this phrase and love it!).  And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfectly clear or detailed.  Stick figure images are welcome!