Goal Setting Mindset: the Power of Autosuggestion and Visualization

Before you set goals, you need to re-frame your thinking so you can support yourself and your efforts.

We've talked a bit about the power of intention, and how a strong belief in yourself and your ability to be successful is the keystone to achieving great things. This part of a greater concept, called positive self-talk, and it has a powerful impact on your reality.

Positive thinking and self-talk is an important technique to practice and cultivate. When you program a positive stream of subconscious thoughts into your mind, you can control your reality, and ultimately the outcome of your goals.

When you set out to practice positive self-talk techniques like autosuggestion and visualization, you may find that you have a stream of negative thoughts that continually run through your mind. This is okay - you work is to correct each negative statement that flows through your mind.

For example, each time you say to yourself, "I'll never be able to finish this..." or "I'm a terrible public speaker..." take a moment to stop and correct the thought. Instead, say "I will do the best I can to finish this project," or "I will get myself some training and become a better public speaker."

Positive self-talk means getting rid of the negative thoughts that run through your mind on a regular basis - some that you may not even hear!

Autosuggestion is a kind of positive self-talk that will improve your performance in all areas of your life, and give you a better shot at achieving the goals you set.

Autosuggestion is the technique that harnesses the power of your internal dialogue - your constant stream of thoughts and judgments and beliefs - and uses it for positive, affirmations. Often, this involves changing negative beliefs and perceptions that we learned from our parents, friends, partners and experiences.

You can practice autosuggestion anywhere, and at any time. It is especially helpful to spend 10 to 15 minutes practicing autosuggestion before a stressful situation, like a meeting or sports game. All you need to do is sit quietly, breath deeply, and allow yourself to be open to the thoughts and ideas you are about to tell yourself. Then repeat positive statements about yourself and the future outcome of a goal or intention or event.

Some examples of positive autosuggestion include:

Here are some helpful tips for your autosuggestion process.

Visualization complements autosuggestion and harnesses the power of your mind's eye to realize your goals.

Visualization is another mind tool that successful people use to program their brains for success. It's simply visualizing in your mind how something is going to happen or play out on a repeated basis. Visualization is commonly used in sports training, and has been proven to improve performance better than just practice alone.

The technique can be used by anyone, however, and will generate the same results on performance and outcome. When we visualize an event or situation, or an object or possession, we attract it into our life.

Teach yourself this step-by-step visualization exercise.

Visualization should be done with a relaxed and positive attitude, as well as with an openness and willingness to accept whatever outcome may present itself.

1. Sit comfortably in a quiet space - your office, home, or in nature.
2. Pick a goal or intention to focus on.
3. Relax your entire body, and take several long deep breaths.
4. Tune into your inner voice, and connect to the feeling that you truly believe this goal or intention.
5. Begin to visualize the achievement of that goal, or realization of your intention.
6. Create a clear and detailed mental picture, using all five senses.
7. Allow yourself to feel how you believe you will feel when you have achieved your goal, and how much you desire to reach that goal.
8. Finish with a positive affirmation about the outcome of your goal or intention.
9. Repeat this process at least once per day, for about 10 minutes.

Powerful positive people have the strength to create powerful positive change in their lives and the lives of those around them.

You are a powerful, positive person! Successful people have no secrets - they're just determined, focused people who have set goals and programmed their brain to think positive, and think big.

Spend the next few days working on your autosuggestion and visualization skills. You might feel a little silly at first, but I promise that these are powerful psychological tools that will retrain your brain for success.