How visualisation can change your life | Ana Isabel Bacallado | TEDxUniversityofGlasgow

Summary

The speaker shares a personal story of overcoming adversity through visualization, from a challenging childhood to success in business and athletics. They emphasize the power of visualizing goals, backed by scientific evidence, and the importance of desire, certainty, and acceptance in achieving them. The talk encourages the audience to use visualization to direct their lives towards their aspirations, offering a step-by-step guide to harnessing this mental tool for personal growth and success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Visualization is a powerful tool for achieving goals; if you can imagine something, you can make it happen.
• 🏠 The speaker's family faced financial hardship and loss of their home due to company debts, which was a turning point in their lives.
• 👧 At a young age, the speaker found a way to contribute by starting a jewelry business, which helped the family financially.
• 📈 The speaker's business was successful, earning over 5000 euros and demonstrating the impact of perseverance and creativity in overcoming adversity.
• 💡 The importance of reacting positively to life's challenges is emphasized; one can be destroyed, defined by, or strengthened by problems.
• 🔄 Reinvention is key to overcoming difficulties, as shown by the speaker's transformation from a child to a successful entrepreneur.
• 📝 The speaker's mother used visualization to imagine a better life, which eventually came true, illustrating the power of consistent positive thinking.
• 🧠 Visualization activates the same brain regions as actual physical actions, indicating a strong scientific basis for its effectiveness.
• 🔍 The reticular activating system in the brain filters information, and visualization can influence this process by creating positive imagined memories.
• 🏅 Athletes use visualization to enhance performance, and the speaker applied this to achieve success in sports and other areas of life.
• 🗣️ Controlling self-talk is crucial; believing in one's visualizations can change reality and help achieve goals.
• 🌟 Oprah Winfrey's quote encapsulates the power of visualization: one becomes what they believe in, not just what they want.

Q & A

What was the main reason the speaker's family moved from Venezuela to Spain?

The speaker's family moved from Venezuela to Spain due to the situation in their home country, which forced the father to leave his company and the mother her job, and they had to say goodbye to family and friends.

What significant event occurred in May 2010 that impacted the speaker's family?

In May 2010, the speaker's family faced a crisis when the bank took their house due to company debts, which led to a significant lifestyle change for the family.

How did the speaker's family adapt to their new situation after losing their house?

The speaker's family adapted by moving in with the grandparents, which resulted in a loss of personal space and many friends, and both parents being unemployed.

What business did the young speaker start at the age of 11 to help the family financially?

The speaker started a jewelry business, selling bracelets, necklaces, and earrings to friends, family, and eventually local shops and a businessman who ordered a thousand units.

How much profit did the speaker make from their jewelry business between the ages of 11 and 13?

The speaker made over 5000 euros in profit from their jewelry business during that time.

What is the concept of visualization as described in the script, and why is it important?

Visualization is the act of creating a mental image of something you want to achieve. It's important because it helps direct the course of one's life, focus on goals, and is a tool that can change lives by using imagination to work towards specific objectives.

What are the three requirements for effective creative visualization according to the script?

The three requirements for effective creative visualization are having the desire to achieve the visualized outcome, having the certainty that it will be achieved, and having the acceptance of the visualized goal as part of one's life.

How does the reticular activating system in the brain relate to the concept of visualization?

The reticular activating system is a network of neurons that filter information into the brain. It cannot differentiate between real and imagined memories, which means that visualization can be as effective as real experiences in programming this system to focus on achieving goals.

What is the significance of the study involving nationally ranked gymnasts and visualization?

The study found that nationally ranked gymnasts were able to execute complex tricks for the first time after visualizing them, demonstrating the powerful effect of visualization on physical performance.

How did the speaker apply visualization in their athletic career and what was the outcome?

The speaker applied visualization by imagining themselves crossing the finish line at the national championships, supported by family and coaches. This mental preparation, along with physical training, helped them achieve their goal of making it to the national championships.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the use of visualization for achieving personal goals?

The speaker advises to visualize the desired outcome as often and in as much detail as possible, using all senses and emotions, and to do it in the first person and present tense to create a vivid and clear picture that feels like it's happening right now.