Are you operating at your highest level?  On a scale from 0 to 10, zero being your lowest level possible (practically a 24/7 couch potato) and 10 being your high on life everything is easy and flowing optimally (practically superhero level and just crushing your health, career and life goals).  What would you say your number is? 

Probably somewhere in the middle, I’d guess.  What if we could raise that number?  What if it felt easy and natural to move towards the higher end of the scale?  Would you do it?

You probably said, yes!  Well, I would too.  Now comes the reality of it.  You have to make some changes.  You have to prioritize your physical and mental health.  You need to operate in a way that prioritizes self-care over Netflix and beer/wine.  Not saying those can’t have a place in your life but they can’t be at the forefront if you really want to improve.

When you think of the high performers in the world, who do you imagine?  A lot of people think of elite athletes.  What does an athlete do to become the best?  They practice (a.k.a. rehearse).  Over and over and over again.  They go through the motions millions of times.  So many times that they don’t even have to think about it to do it.  Their subconscious mind takes over and it’s practically seamless.

Another thing they do is visualize.  I’ve heard of many coaches teaching athletes the art and power of visualization.  Before his record breaking year at the Olympics, Michael Phelps’ coach had him visualize the entire race in his mind.  Every single detail.  Over and over and over again. When did he have him do this?  As he woke up in the morning and as he fell asleep at night.  He was using the power of hypnosis!  Right before you wake up and as you fall asleep you pass through the theta brainwave state.  A meditative state, where you have access to the subconscious mind.

This isn’t just for elite athletes and navy seals (oh yes, they use it too).  This is for all of us.  This is about as low a barrier of an entry as it comes. So let’s start today.  Because, I bet at the top of the email you said you wanted to improve.  Now, I’m sharing with you how to do it.

Visualization is an exercise to picture a certain event as accurately as possible.  This uses the principles of neuroplasticity to help rewire the brain in a desirable way.  This is a way to create and strengthen new neural circuits.  The conscious mind takes up a lot of energy and can only focus on a limited number of things at one time.  If you learn to quicken the pace at which your subconscious mind can learn and adapt, you save energy and make desirable changes more easily take root.

In my practice, visualization is one of the many tools I use with my clients while in hypnosis.  But you can use these principles to do it yourself.  If there is a habit you want to start or a project you want to go well, you can use visualization.  Go through it with very fine detail.  This works best as you fall asleep, as you wake up and even in the shower.  At these times, your brain waves slow down and your subconscious mind comes forward.

What new neural networks will you create to tip the scales in your favor?