An incredible skill that has been practised for thousands of years and recently grown popularity in the Western world.
Mental imagery, also known as visualisation or guided imagery, is the process of creating vivid, sensory images in your mind. This can involve imagining sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and physical sensations.
Mental imagery is often used as a tool for stress management, enhancing athletic performance, and promoting relaxation.
Meditation, on the other hand, is a practice that involves focusing your attention and calming your mind. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as by focusing on your breath, repeating a mantra, or visualising a peaceful scene. Meditation has been shown to have numerous benefits for physical and mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and increasing feelings of well-being.
There are several myths surrounding mental imagery and meditation, including that they are only for spiritual or religious people, that they require years of practice to be effective, or that they can only be done in a quiet, solitary setting. In reality, anyone can benefit from these practices, regardless of their beliefs or lifestyle, and they can be easily incorporated into your daily routine with a little bit of effort and dedication.
To implement mental imagery and meditation into your daily routine, start by setting aside a few minutes each day for these practices. Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can sit or lie down and focus on your mental images or your breath. You can also try using guided imagery or meditation apps or videos to help you get started.
Remember to be patient and persistent, and try to make mental imagery and meditation a regular part of your routine for the best results.
If you want to learn all about the mental imagery and meditation skillset, head over to the CHW_Club where our mental performance course has a section devoted to it. We cover:
Why, how and when to use mental imagery and meditation
How visualisation can be used to help people identify what needs to change and how they can see a path to get there.
How to use mental imagery to increase the quality of preparation, build confidence and decrease the time it takes for skill acquisition.
How mental imagery and meditation can be used to reduce the stress of goal achievement so that you can remain calm under pressure and focus on what matters most.