I See: visualising and what it can do for you.

Yup, we’re heading into wanky territory with this blog, so buckle up.

Those of you who know me will be all too familiar with the term, wanky, but for those of you who don’t know me that well yet, fear not. I’m not leaving you out. The term ‘wanky’ is one that I use instead of pretentious. It is a term used fairly often to the point past classes of drama students kept a ‘wanky count’ – a note of how many times I’d say ‘wanky’ throughout a class. If you weren’t yet counting, we’re at five.

Anyway… today’s ponder is all about visualisation. I know a couple of posts back I talked about embracing the journey, and that life was rarely about the destination (if you haven’t read that blog, I’d encourage you do), however, today is about creating the destination. Visualising the end goal, or end point you want to reach. After all, without a vision, how can you have a focus?

I shall articulate my meaning by reflecting on the days of me and my learner motorbike Enyo. As part of the learning journey to achieve my full license, I had to learn how to do a slalom and figure of eight on the bike. Time and time again I’d fail, losing my balance, or putting my foot down. Big no-no’s for the test. I was practicing all the time, in any car park or space I could find, but something just wasn’t right. It wasn’t until my instructor – Shout out to Kevin! – said to visualise the end goal and focus my attention on the end cone. Not each cone as I get to it.
Yes. Before anyone points it out, this could be seen as a contradiction to what I have said previously in the embracing the journey post. But, if you account for the slalom being one part of the greater journey of getting the license, and the fact I’m still embracing the process, I think I (just) get away with it.
Back to the cones. The advice that Kevin gave me in that moment, proved to be the key that unlocked the next level up, so to speak. The next time I tried the slalom, I nailed it. So, I did it again to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, then again, and again. I got it right every time from then on. All because my focus was on the end cone, I was visualising the manoeuvre before it happened, and visualising the end goal.

What is Visualisation?
Visualisation is a tool of the imagination. It’s the ability to focus on something in your mind, so clearly and with such strong belief, and minute detail, that you can (arguably) bring it into being.
Now, before you all start rolling your eyes at me, please keep in mind I’m writing this from the perspective of a drama lecturer, whereby most of the work I do is around the imagination. Imagining something and then bringing it to life, whether that be characters, stories, ideas etc. Also known as visualisation. As part of the acting training, students are taught the basics of visualisation. They are taught the basics of most acting approaches, and through their own practice and exploration, they can choose what they stick with and what doesn’t work for them. Visualisation, for the most part, is one that becomes a staple in the actor’s toolkit.
Thinking of visualisation beyond the rehearsal room, it’s the same principle as having a vision, setting a goal, having a destination in your mind. The main difference is that you can see it as clear as day. There is such a strong sense of certainty that it is going to happen, that you couldn’t possibly argue with yourself. I’m saying that as someone who argues with herself on the regular.
It takes practice and there are exercises you can do to help you develop the skillset – maybe that’s another blog topic – but when it works, it really works! I mean how else do you think people create something from nothing. You can do the same. It all comes down to the vision!

What does it mean to create a vision?
The idea of a vision is (aside from a definition for eyesight) comes from the world of business. When first planning a business, you set out the following,

1. Mission – who you are, what you stand for, and what you offer to the world.
2. Vision – where you want to be in the future.
3. Aims – the things you are setting out to do or provide. The ‘what you’ll do’.
4. Objectives – the steps you’ll take to achieve the aims. The ‘how you’ll do it’ in a way that can measure your success.

The vision is all about the future. Acknowledging that right now, in the present, you can, and do have the power, to imagine what your future could be like. Where you want to be, what you want to be doing, who you want to be doing it with. That’s the vision. The biggest challenge is believing that you can have that. That’s visualisation.

How can visualisation be useful?
I know there will be some people reading this, who I’ve lost with this one. And that’s totally ok! I’m under no illusion that not every post will resonate with everyone. That’s just not how we as humans function.
However, the imagination is a powerful tool, regardless of your belief in visualisation. Think back to when you were growing up. Imagination, make-believe, role-play, world building… It’s all connected. I know when I think back to the imaginary friends I had growing up, I believed without a shadow of a doubt that they were real. That belief was present through playing with barbies, playing ‘schoolies’ (when I’d pretend to be a teacher and the dolls I had were pupils – I know I’m not the only one out there.) and even when roleplaying Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was all real, but in my head, and in the heads of my friends. Did it matter for one second that none of us were dressed like Power Rangers when we played? No! We saw it in our heads and committed to it. There was never any doubt.

I guess that is the difference now, isn’t it? We’ve lost the belief and the magic in the what ‘could be’. The unwavering belief in what we can’t see. Becoming the adults we are today, we’re often impeded by fear and doubt. It stops the joy, it stops the creativity, and most importantly, it stops the imagination. Well, I for one think it’s time to reclaim the imagination!

So, if you’ve made it this far, you deserve a gold star, but instead, here’s a challenge for you. Take twenty minutes with a blank sheet of paper, in a quiet space, and ask yourself what could your future look like? What is within your control? Let your mind wander and write it all down. Acknowledge each one of those possibilities. Then pause and smile. Because that’s your starting point right there. That’s the beginning of your vision and your visualisation.

This has been a SmartPonders.
Thanks for reading!
Steph x