Visualization is the practice of creating a picture in your mind of an outcome you wish to have in any situation. This technique is touted as being one of great power because it sends a message through your subconscious mind to begin creating the results you want and sets in motion all of the untapped resources at your command, whether you are aware of their existence or not.

The implications of this technique are not limited to anything other than your imagination, but I will discuss the applications of visualization in physical fitness. It is no secret that professional athletes have adopted a widespread use of visualization, in addition to business executives, and other professionals whose performance determines their livelihood.

How does visualization work? I would be lying to you if I said I could tell you exactly how it works, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone that could completely and accurately explain this phenomenon. However, it is evident that it does indeed work, and it is not necessary to know the exact ins and outs of it to be able to utilize this resource. Apparently, what happens is that your subconscious mind, which speaks in the language of pictures, is given a message by the thought picture you hold in your mind, and does everything in its power to make that a reality. The subconscious does not make a distinction between fiction and reality, which is evident to anyone who has had a dream that seemed so real they did not know they were dreaming. So by sending a message that we want our thought picture to be a reality, our subconscious attracts what is necessary and uses what is available to make that thought picture as real as the chair you are sitting in right now.

Thought pictures that are rich in sensual detail are said to be the most powerful forms of visualization. When thinking about your fitness goals, develop your end goal into a picture that is saturated not only with vivid images, but smells, sounds, tactile sensations, and tastes. By simply thinking in this way about being at the gym, feeling the weight of a barbell in your hands, a drop of sweat sliding down your cheek, hearing yourself exhaling as you press the bar above your head, and feeling the contraction of your muscles as you complete a set of a new record weight, your mind will give you results similar to, if not as good or better than, if you had actually performed the exercise. In this analogy you can still add smells and tastes, but let's be serious, this is a gym we are talking about!

The power of our minds is beyond that of anyone's understanding, why not use it to the fullest potential we can to make our lives more full, pleasant, and meaningful? There is no difference in our ability to will ourselves through some pain to achieve some goal, or hypnotize ourselves to believe what we already believe, than to visualize ourselves achieving success and seeing it unfold in reality.