I've been thinking a lot these days about the power of using mental images when facing physical challenges. I do it a lot when I am physically uncomfortable during exercise. I think about athletes I admire, I visualize being an ass-kicker in whatever mode of exercise I am engaged in.
These same techniques for other kinds of discomfort. When I am facing a difficult conversation, when I need take a professional risk that takes me a mile or so outside of my comfort zone.
If I can push through - no, if I can MASTER - moments of real physical discomfort with the use of words, mental pictures and breath, why can't I master just as effectively the real life moments of challenge and discomfort by using my mind and my breath?
While teaching a group exercise class recently, I had participants use long stretches of cardio work to create change in their minds. Before we started the physical work, I asked them to picture in their mind's eye a particular challenge they recently faced or are about to face. I asked them to use the intensity of the cardio work to facilitate a movie in their minds. I encouraged them to be the director of that movie, to write a script and direct themselves to be their perfect, their best self. Watch it play out in your head, I instructed. Picture yourself in that challenging situation and handling it beautifully, masterfully...
By directing these moments in our mind, by using mantras regularly to keep our minds focused on where we want them to be instead of the default of negativity and self-judgement, we create little changes on a daily basis. And these changes in our minds begin to manifest as changes in our thoughts, in our actions and in the way we see the world around.
These same techniques for other kinds of discomfort. When I am facing a difficult conversation, when I need take a professional risk that takes me a mile or so outside of my comfort zone.
If I can push through - no, if I can MASTER - moments of real physical discomfort with the use of words, mental pictures and breath, why can't I master just as effectively the real life moments of challenge and discomfort by using my mind and my breath?
While teaching a group exercise class recently, I had participants use long stretches of cardio work to create change in their minds. Before we started the physical work, I asked them to picture in their mind's eye a particular challenge they recently faced or are about to face. I asked them to use the intensity of the cardio work to facilitate a movie in their minds. I encouraged them to be the director of that movie, to write a script and direct themselves to be their perfect, their best self. Watch it play out in your head, I instructed. Picture yourself in that challenging situation and handling it beautifully, masterfully...
By directing these moments in our mind, by using mantras regularly to keep our minds focused on where we want them to be instead of the default of negativity and self-judgement, we create little changes on a daily basis. And these changes in our minds begin to manifest as changes in our thoughts, in our actions and in the way we see the world around.
RSS Feed