“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others”.
―Jonathan Swift
I like to call visualization: strategic thinking while having fun. When you read about principles of strategic thinking it might sound too managerial and business oriented, but it is actually a sort of visualization: where you tactfully visualize and plan your desired outcome. Once you develop the ability to relive in your mind what you would like to experience, you are somehow training and preparing your mind (and body) to achieve in matching that picture with your performance.
Often guided meditations and visualization exercises are tools with the aim to awaken all of your senses and help you more easily and vividly imagine you succeeding in your goals.
But also your writing can help you in visualizing what you want. You know you read good book if writer is capable in his words to put you in the center of the story – where you have impression you are experiencing everything written.
So the next exercise I will propose will help you not only in your visualization, but also you are practicing your writing.
The exercise is very simple, yet effective:
Your task is to name three things, topics, projects – whatever you are working on (or would like to achieve) and describe them using words you never used before to describe them; how that accomplishment looks like, feels like. Try to be descriptive as much as you can, use your senses and be precise – write a poem about it.
Let’s give it a try:
1. First word: writing
Leaving engraved deep trails, beyond all boundaries and false confinements. Soundless I’m heard above all mountains and below every ocean; materialized thoughts in the smell of graphite, focused desires in every beat of pen on paper, caught ideas with smiley face, released drama in every vowel.
Where and when I offer me to you.
2. Second word: coaching
In service, empowering, alignment of what I am with fruitful response: where other side becomes glitter in its own eyes and smiles with confidence and determination, air is filled with blooming possibilities and every atom of my knowledge is transferred and received openly, crushing any doubt, inability and disbelief.
3. Third word: creativity
Every moment, every day is new and gives new beginning; different, weird and enjoyable – there’s nothing to be afraid, no reason to hide. It’s warm, exciting, giggly, live, sharp, focused and likes to dance and cuddle.
In the sea of everything existing, it’s the laughter that connects, inspires and teach: with every key stroke, plaudit nod and receptive silence.
It’s making unbelievable desirable, silly sensible and complex simple, but truthful.
So this is my take on the exercise. Now it’s your turn.
And therefore, though thy name shall pass away,
Even as a cloud that hath wept all its showers,
Yet as that cloud shall live again one day
In the glad grass, and in the happy flowers,
So in thy thoughts, though clothed in sweeter rhymes,
Thy life shall bear its flowers in future times.
Henry Timrod