I have long been an advocate of setting audacious goals and using visualization as a tool to help you achieve these goals. Success starts in the mind.

However, visualization can be counter-productive and even sabotage your goals if done improperly, so I believe it’s important to address this.

People who visualize taking the practical steps necessary to reach a goal have more success than those who simply visualize the outcomes, like a new house or car. So says psychologist Richard Wiseman in his book 59 Seconds: Think A Little, Change a Lot.

He cites studies that show how those who, for example, visualize themselves practicing tennis have more success than those who visualize themselves winning a tennis match.

The reason it can be ineffective to focus exclusively on the outcomes of achieving your goals is that it doesn’t prepare you for the inevitable setbacks you will face. Also, some outcomes are beyond your control, and if you focus exclusively on outcomes, you are likely to become quite unhappy when you don’t achieve your outcome, as sometimes happens. More on that in a minute.

First let’s take a look at 5 steps to help you with this type of action-based visualization: Read the rest of this entry »