Picture it. You’ve got some ideas of what you want to accomplish in life, but you’re not really sure how to get them out of your head and make them real.
Why not try visualization? Visualization is a powerful technique that can not only motivate you to go after what you want in life, but it can be used to create a picture of yourself when you have already completed the goal.
It sounds funny but using visualization and planning backwards to Point Z from Point A can get you moving forward in life, especially when you don’t know what your next step is.
Visualize yourself at the end point, Point Z, where you have already accomplished what you set out to do.
Now, visualize everything that you did to get to that point. Work backwards and see the steps in reverse order.
For instance, let’s say that you want to buy a home in the next 5 years. Visualize yourself waking up in your own home, going downstairs and making yourself a coffee and eating breakfast in your breakfast area. Can you smell the coffee and taste your morning bagel. Hmmm good.
Notice the decor and all of the knickknacks around you. Are there any pictures on the fridge? Picture those, too.
Visualize yourself walking through your house. How many rooms does it have? How big (or small) is it? How many bathrooms does it have. What colour are the walls in the living room? What kind of furniture do you own?
What kind of backyard do you have? Can you smell the freshly mown lawn? Or maybe there is a pool out in the back, which is right besides your stainless steel deluxe BBQ.
Visualize everything that you want in this house.
Now, visualize yourself physically writing the mortgage payment. How much is it? For arguments sake, let’s say your mortgage payment is $2000 per month. See your hand actually writing the mortgage cheque.
Now you might be wondering where on earth are you going to get $2000 per month to pay a mortgage?
This is where the visualization and planning backwards to Point Z from Point A really shines. Because you’ve already visualized yourself with the completed goal of owning your own home, think of everything that you already did to make this happen.
Point Z is you owning your own home.
Point A is you renting a 1-bedroom apartment today.
What has to happen between Point Z and Point A?
You tell me. If you’ve visualized owning that home, then you’ve already made it happen and it’s real to you.
Was Point C on your journey moving to the city where you visualized owning your home?
Maybe Point H was you canceling your cable bill, magazine subscriptions, selling some of your stuff, and forgoing expensive vacations so that you can start your house deposit account using a high-interest or money-market fund.
Were Points L through F giving up every weekend so that you were able to go and look at houses with your realtor?
Tell me, was Point B going to your boss and asking for a long-overdue raise so that you earned more money and were able to start saving the difference between what your rent was and what your mortgage payment would be?
Only you can decide what you did on this journey. It’s your goal.
If you’ve managed to really be in the moment of waking up in that house, living in it, smelling it, and feeling what it would be like to own that house, you will find the motivation and know what you have to do to own that house.
Think of your goal as already being accomplished and plan backwards to Point Z from Point A. Then, work that plan until you reach Point Z.
Easy, eh?
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I just spent the last 10 minutes visualizing my goal. Ironically, my point Z is getting into a smaller shouse, having a simpler life. My point A is with the big house, the pool, the grill, etc.
Thanks for sharing this post.
TJ – Brave New Life´s last blog ..A Parting Gift – Gabrielle Bouliane
Welcome TJ,
Thank you for your comment.
Sometimes with hindsight we should have gone for the simpler path in life. It’s easy to buy in to all the stuff that we see on TV and everywhere else, but in reality our parents got by just fine with a lot smaller houses and with a lot less stuff. My parents raised six children in a 3 bedroom house – with one bathroom! It doesn’t make sense to me to have empty rooms, just for the sake of having some space around you.
Good luck with simplifying your life.
Karen
Hi Karen,
What a timely post. Visualization is a major part of the process of realization and manifesting anything you desire.
I love your concept of visualizing and then working backwards in the reverse order. It is amazing that i have just written a similar post.
Visualization is a very important part of my life and i’m discovering that the time lag between visualizing and actualizing is reducing faster every time is practise it. It is also strengthening my faith.
Olusegun´s last blog ..THE MOST POWERFUL YOU
Hi Olusegun,
Great minds think alike! I noticed that phenomenon quite a bit on the net. We all get inspired by each other, I guess.
You bring up a good point about faith and practicing visualization. Both can work in tandem to get what you want in life that much quicker.
I’ll be sure to check out your similar post.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen
Karen,
I have recently thought about sitting in silence and kind of just visualizing as you have suggested. I think most of us are kind of scared to do it because what if what you’re visualizing doesn’t work out? It’s kind of like having an honest conversation with yourself.
This is definitely something I need to start doing, at least 15 minutes a day if only to quiet my brain!
Moon Hussain ´s last blog ..Are You Embarrassed Of Saying “Passive Income” Out Loud?
Hi Moon,
Good for you for making the attempt to really listen to yourself. It can be scary, but you might be surprised to hear from yourself what you have to say!
Let me know how it goes.
Karen
A lot of times I actually can’t visualise things but I could in this post. I don’t actually really want a home just yet (or in the next five years really) but I could very much see what you were talking about here.
And I really like the idea of planning backwards with letters as you described here. It makes sense and it makes it easy to take each step towards your end goal.
Great article Karen!
Eric´s last blog ..Have You Done It Yet And If So, Have You Learned?
Hi Eric,
The home was just an example. It doesn’t really matter what your goal is. It’s the point of visualizating it as already yours and telling yourself what you did (or are prepared to do) in order to complete the goal.
I’m gald that it makes sense to you and that you liked it.
Really appreciate you commenting.
Karen
I’d like to kindly add that visualization applies to both small and big dreams. I love the ideas and specific steps in this post, and will practice them during my free time.
I also think that visualization can boost our confidence as it lets us experience how it feels to achieve what we are aiming for.
Thanks Karen.
Julius´s last blog ..Web Accessibility Fears and Ways to Conquer Them
Hi Julius,
You’ve hit on a major point – that of building your confidence knowing that you already completed the goal and you just have to figure out how you did it. Following those steps to the natural end result is the journey.
As you say, it doesn’t matter how big or small your goal is. Visualization works.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen
Visualisation is a powerful technique that’s often overlooked by people. I try to visualise my goals at least twice a day.
I even take young people through visualisation exercises when I’m speaking in schools and colleges
Ben´s last blog ..6 outstanding ways to support someone in their dreams
Hi Ben,
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it.
You are probably far more advanced than many if you not only use visualization, but you also teach it to others. Hmmm, might be a good topic for you to write about then
By doing it twice a day, how often do you see the results?
Thanks,
Karen
Well I’ve not been as consistant as i’d like in the past. Ive generally only visualised when I’ve been working toward something. Now I’ve solidified my goals a lot I’m regularly visualising twice a day.
In the past I’ve always seen great results, for example when I took gold and silver medals at a martial arts tournament recently even though it was my first competition.
I wrote a visualisation post for Jen at reachourdreams.com but would love to write one for you.
Ben´s last blog ..6 outstanding ways to support someone in their dreams
Hi Ben,
Congratulations on the medals at your martial arts tournament. Way to go!
Anytime, my friend. Send it over
Thanks,
Karen
Great post Karen. This is what the Law of Attraction teaches about visualization, and in visualizing the small detail to make it come to life and believe you already have it. Its also the same as day dreaming except being a little more realistic, if you know what I mean. With a lot of practise it becomes easier to visualize the things that you want with more detail. I hope I’m making some sense here
Hi Maria,
I agree that the more you practice the more you will be able to utilize the full power of visualization to manifest what you want to accomplish in life. Seeing it, feeling it, believing it, smelling it – using all of our senses to make it seem real. That’s the key. Using everything you have to visualize the goal as already been accomplished is a great motivator to move you to the next step of that journey.
Thanks,
Karen
I undertook a course a couple of years ago where they introduced visualisation and demonstrated the power that it brings. It’s an incredibly powerful technique and can be used to ‘role play’ you’re way through a difficult situation, eg a negotiation, a challenging conversation etc.
Thanks karen, for sharing.
Matthew Needham´s last blog ..Wednesday Wisdom
Hi Matthew,
Are you still using visualization? Did you keep up with the techniques to get ahead? I find that with practice most things become easier.
I agree that it can be pretty powerful in many areas, including negotiation.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen
Hi karen,
thanks for posting this article.
i visualize several things at certain points in my life and the benefits received are as follows:
it boosts my self esteem because i have something to look forward to
it promotes my ability to work towards my desired goal.
it reminds me of my purpose.
it also gives me a form of assurance to succeed.
it provides the opportunity to explore several options.
i can go on karen lol!! but will have to stop now
do have a lovely day
ayo´s last blog ..Resolving Conflict In Relationships
Hi Ayo,
Thanks so much for adding all of the other ways visualization can help you. I quite agree that using the technique is very powerful and has a lot of benefits. Some may not be as noticeable as others.
Thanks and I hope you are having a great long weekend
Karen
After reading your compelling discussion of visualization, the line that summed it all up for me was your final one: easy, eh?
Because personally, I can visualize point Z fairly easily. What I need to work on is the working backwards over the steps to get from where I am now. So to answer your final question, it’s only easy if you actually do it. It’s very tempting to dream the dream, visualize the end point and then stop at that.
Thanks Karen, you’ve given me a lot to mull over today. I can’t really express any of that in an intelligible sentence but I just want to say thank you
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..Friday Friends: Hanging my head in shame
Hi Eleanor,
Thanks for commenting.
I know what you mean. You can see so clearly Point Z or your end goal, and maybe you even know how you got there, but taking action on those steps is the key. Which is why I advocate really using all of your senses to make it real for you – in order to motivate you to take action. Plus, if you visualize it clearly it becomes very real for you. Then, it’s easy to follow through on the steps
I’m glad that you enjoyed the article.
Karen
Karen!
This article caught my attention. From Z to A that is very much the approach I use thinking from the end first, and then manifesting with success that way. This is a great tool that you mention here, that many more people are begining to tune into and use for the benefit of themselves and others. I am grateful for the insights and information in this article!!!
Success your way,
Baker
Welcome Baker!
Thanks so much for the comment and offering your insights into using visualization to achieve your goals. It’s a very powerful technique, as you know.
Thanks,
Karen
It is a solid and helpful technique for not just obtaining tangible things but also for applying to situations. I have used this to help me “walk through” experiences such that the walk through was as vital a step as the end point. I do believe that once you have visualised the thing you want to attain, some good solid time spent planning will help you get there too. I use mind maps for everything I do and they’re vital to getting to the end of complicated projects.
Gayle Pescud´s last blog ..Ghana guide: Change and update
Welcome Gayle,
You bring up a very valuable point about not just achieving your goals using visualization, but also picturing yourself in various scenarios. Visualizing your successful output in difficult situations can boost your confidence and allow you to bring about that which you have already pictured.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen
Hi Karen,
I’m Jarrod from Optimistic Journey. Found you through Infropreneur, and I wanted to say that I love your concept here of Z-A. It’s better to focus on the end result then the way things look now.
I find that just simply focusing on owning that gorgeous home and driving the luxury vehicles is enough to change my mood instantly (For the better of course) Because It takes me to another dimension in life that is achieved after working so hard to achieve that goal.
Thanks for sharing, this is great food for thought!
Jarrod
Welcome Jarrod,
James has a great site so thank you for taking the time and visiting here. Plus, commenting, too.
I’m glad that you found the concept of visualization and thinking to Point Z from Point A has given you food for thought. It can be a powerful technique to seeing one possible future for yourself and then motivating you to go after what you really want in life (whether that’s the gorgeous home and luxury vehicle) or smaller goals.
Thanks,
Karen
Hey Karen,
I am using this technique for my Audi A3 S-line.
I always visualise myself already driving it.
Heres the thing I learnt from T Harv Eker:
If you cant see yourself somewhere it becomes much harder to get there.
Putting yourself in that position makes it easier for you to be there because of the comfort zone. Your conditioned mind wants to be comfortable – so we have to make our mind comfortable. So if its a normal thing there is not alot of fear around it, because we are used to it. Its like brushing your teeth its no big deal. You become to expect it and you do the things you would normally expect to do.
Eg. Tonight your gonna go home and sleep in your bed. You expect it. So when you are in your bed its normal to you! No big deal!
If we apply the same strategy to our goals we will achieve them faster than we imagine. Just gotta take action when opportunity arises.
What do you think Karen?
Aaron Darko´s last blog ..Interview with David Risley on How To Get Started Online
Hey Aaron,
That’s an interesting take on visualization and one that I can’t argue with. If you see, hear, smell, picture yourself somewhere, what’s the difference between actually being there and your perception? Taking action is the key, I agree.
Good luck with the car – you’re well on your way!
Thanks,
Karen