Creative Visualization expert, Dr. Harry Alder, explains that ‘right-brain thinking is largely subconscious, so we have little direct control over our intuition, dreams and the ideas that can sometimes flood our imaginations. But there are creative visualization techniques that use right-brain imagery to bring about specific and tangible results. Being successful is about achieving goals, and your mind is designed to steer you along whatever pathways that will lead you to those goals. The goal starts out, however, as a clear picture in your mind – the inward experience of some outward reality. But first, let’s see the power of this process of creative visualization at work.

The effect of so-called mental rehearsal on performance has been well researched and astounding results have been documented. One case history cites the experience of an amateur glider pilot who had a major flying test coming up. His only issue was that after all the flying hours he’d undergone he was yet to carry out a single proper landing. He was extremely anxious about this, and was losing sleep over it. The night before the test, he lay awake all night imagining that he was making one perfect landing after another. Following his test the next day, not only did he pass with flying colours, the instructor’s comments were even more significant: of the many tests he had conducted, of professionals as well as amateurs, the landing he had seen that day was probably the most perfect.  Two fundamental principles help account for the success of mental practice.

First, the brain cannot differentiate between any visualized practice and its equivalent in the external, objective world. The neural messages are the same, so to all intents and purposes, actual experiences are being recorded. Secondly, negative practice is unnecessary and detrimental to growth, development and change: Do not practice mental failure, just success. Every time you go over an incident where you did not rise to the level of your own expectations, you are reinforcing that very same pattern in your neuron nets. And unless these memories are ‘unlearned’ or are replaced by positive experiences, and you find yourself in the same situation again (in the job interview), you are more likely to repeat the less satisfactory outcome.

To view other videos in the “Marketing You” Video Series about marketing yourself to employers and recruiters please view Introduction to Marketing You, Success and Creative Visualization, 60 Second Pitch,  Job Interview Tips, Resume Writing and Resume Cover Letters videos. The next video in this series is Creative Visualization and Achieving Your Goals.

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