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.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Overcoming Adversity Through Visualization

The speaker recounts their family's journey from Venezuela to Spain due to economic hardship, which led to a significant life change. After their family lost their home and financial stability in 2010, the speaker, at the age of 11, took initiative by starting a jewelry business to support the family. This endeavor not only provided financial relief but also taught the importance of resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. The story emphasizes the power of visualization as a tool for change, highlighting the speaker's mother's consistent visualization of a better life, which eventually materialized.

05:00

🔍 The Science Behind Visualization

This paragraph delves into the concept of visualization as a powerful tool for achieving goals. It outlines three key requirements for effective visualization: desire, certainty, and acceptance. The speaker explains the role of thought in creation and how visualization guides energy towards specific behaviors. Scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of visualization is presented, including the activation of the same brain regions during imagined and actual physical actions. The reticular activating system, responsible for filtering information, is highlighted, showing how visualization can influence one's perception and reality.

10:02

🏆 Harnessing Visualization for Personal Success

The final paragraph focuses on the application of visualization in achieving personal and professional success. It emphasizes the importance of belief in one's ability to achieve visualized goals. The speaker shares personal experiences as an athlete, illustrating how visualization helped them reach the national championships. The power of positive self-talk and reprogramming the mind is discussed, along with a call to action for the audience to visualize their dreams and goals. The speaker encourages daily visualization practice to build skills and confidence, ultimately directing one's life towards the desired outcomes.

Keywords

💡Visualization

Visualization refers to the act of forming a mental image or concept of something that is not present or that exists in the future. In the video, it is presented as a powerful tool for achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. The speaker shares a personal story where visualization helped her family to overcome financial hardship and achieve a better life. The concept is central to the video's theme, emphasizing that by clearly picturing desired outcomes, individuals can direct their energy and actions towards making those visions a reality.

💡Reinvention

Reinvention is the process of creating something new or putting a new interpretation on something existing. In the context of the video, the speaker uses her own experience to illustrate how she reinvented herself by starting a jewelry business at a young age, which helped her family to recover from financial troubles. This concept is integral to the message that individuals have the power to transform their circumstances by taking action and adapting to new situations.

💡Desire

Desire is a strong feeling of wanting to achieve something or wishing for something to happen. In the video, desire is mentioned as the first requirement for effective visualization. The speaker explains that having a strong desire to achieve a goal is essential for making visualization work. It is the driving force that motivates individuals to take steps towards their dreams, as exemplified by the speaker's determination to help her family by starting a business.

💡Certainty

Certainty is the state of being completely sure or confident about something. Within the video, certainty is highlighted as the second requirement for successful visualization. It implies a belief in one's ability to achieve what has been visualized. The speaker's mother, for instance, wrote down her dreams with certainty, which eventually came true, demonstrating the power of believing in the visualization process.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance is the act of receiving or accepting something willingly. In the video, acceptance is the third requirement for effective visualization. It involves embracing the visualized goal as a realistic and achievable part of one's life. The speaker encourages the audience to accept their dreams and aspirations, as this acceptance is crucial for aligning one's actions with their visualizations and making them a reality.

💡Reticular Activating System

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a network of neurons in the brain that filters information. In the video, the RAS is explained as a filter that allows certain information to enter the brain while blocking other information. The speaker reveals a secret about the RAS: it cannot differentiate between real and imagined memories, which means that visualization can be as powerful as real experiences in shaping one's beliefs and actions.

💡Athletes and Visualization

Athletes and Visualization refers to the practice of athletes using mental imagery to improve their performance. The video mentions a study where nationally ranked gymnasts were able to execute complex tricks for the first time after visualizing them. This example underscores the video's theme that visualization is a scientifically supported technique that can enhance performance and achieve goals.

💡Self-Talk

Self-talk is the internal dialogue one has with oneself. In the video, controlling self-talk is presented as a key aspect of visualization. The speaker shares that by using positive self-talk and reinforcing the visualization with affirmations, one can influence their mindset and behavior. This concept is tied to the video's overall message that our thoughts and beliefs significantly impact our ability to achieve our goals.

💡Beliefs

Beliefs are the acceptance that something is true or real. The video emphasizes that what one believes has a profound impact on their reality. The speaker suggests that by visualizing and reinforcing those visualizations with belief, individuals can create the skills and mindset necessary to achieve their dreams. Beliefs are portrayed as the foundation upon which visualization and success are built.

💡Director of Your Own Life

Being the 'director of your own life' is a metaphor used in the video to convey the idea that individuals have control over their own destiny. The speaker encourages the audience to take charge of their lives by visualizing their goals and dreams, much like a director controls the narrative of a film. This concept aligns with the video's central theme of personal empowerment and the power of visualization in shaping one's reality.

💡Emotions

Emotions are feelings that reflect a person's state of mind. In the video, experiencing emotions during visualization is stressed as a way to enhance the effectiveness of the process. The speaker advises involving emotions to truly feel the achievement of the visualized goal, which can help prepare one for the real-life experience. This aspect of visualization is crucial for creating a vivid and impactful mental image.

Highlights

The power of visualization in achieving goals and overcoming adversity.

A personal story of moving from Venezuela to Spain and the challenges faced due to economic hardships.

The family's investment in a project that initially provided a comfortable life.

The devastating impact of company debts leading to the loss of their home in May 2010.

The importance of staying together as a family during difficult times.

The entrepreneurial spirit of a young girl selling jewelry to support her family.

The growth of a small jewelry business into a thriving enterprise with significant profits.

The concept that life is about reacting to circumstances rather than what happens to you.

The three options one has when faced with a problem: let it destroy you, define you, or make you stronger.

The story of a mother visualizing a better life for her family after a major loss.

The practice of writing down positive visualizations as a tool for manifesting desires.

The scientific basis for visualization, including the role of the reticular activating system.

How athletes use visualization to improve performance and prepare for success.

The importance of controlling self-talk and using positive affirmations in visualization.

Oprah Winfrey's quote on the power of visualization and the impact of belief on reality.

The challenge to visualize for one minute every morning to build skills and confidence.

The call to action to become the director of one's own life through visualization.

Transcripts

visualize it

you can make it happen remember that

if you can visualize something you can

make it happen

when i was only 5 years old my family

and i

moved from venezuela to spain because of

the situation of our country

my dad had to leave his company my mom

her job and we had to say bye to family

and friends

in spain my parents decided to invest

everything that they had

into a project that was going really

well and allowed us to live a very

comfortable life

i said everything was going really well

until may 2010 wow i remember that day

as if it was just yesterday

i was sitting in my room finishing some

school work when i hear that my parents

called my name and my sister's name we

ran downstairs

expecting to find dinner ready but what

we actually found

is my dad covered in tears and my mom

struggling to put into words what she

was about to tell us

because of company debts the bank was

taking our house

at the time my only concern was staying

the four of us together

i asked if i had to go back to venezuela

with my father maybe my mom and my

sister had to stay in spain or vice

versa

but as always in the case i didn't

really understand the problem too well

we were lucky enough and we could move

in with my grandparents

but that doesn't mean it was much easier

because we lost most of our personal

space

many of our friends my mom didn't have a

job neither did my dad

and i knew even though it was only 11

that there was something that i could do

to help us all get out of the situation

that we were stuck in

so i started thinking about something

that i was good at

something that i enjoyed and something

that i could make money with

the answer was always jewelry so what i

did

is i started selling bracelets necklaces

earrings to my friends and family

eventually

i got a spot in the local market where i

would go and sell every single sunday

then some shops started buying from me

on a monthly basis

and i remember how one day i was at the

local market

and a businessman came to me and he said

i would like to get a thousand units of

this one

in my head i was thinking he must be

crazy but i obviously took the

deal i lowered the production cost by

ordering abroad

i employed my sister and in around three

months

we finished a production process however

our project continued for

around two years at this time i was

between 11 and 13

but my profits were actually over 5000

euros

because that is a reality life is not

about what happens to you

it's rather about how you react to the

different circumstances that emerge

because when a problem comes up

you have three different options you

either let that problem destroy you

you let it define you or you let it make

you stronger by reinventing yourself

and starting this business when i was

only 11

is exactly how i reinvented myself

however my story doesn't end up here

a few christmases ago i go back home

from university

and we're living in a beautiful house my

mom has a great job so does my dad and i

was in my room again reading a book

when i hear that my mom calls my name so

i go to her room

and she asks me if i could read a

paragraph

from her notebook out loud the paragraph

literally said my name is maria isabel

i'm living in a beautiful house with a

very good dog

i'm working in my dream job and i'm

earning x amount of money

my husband is also working in his dream

job

and he's earning x amount of money my

daughter anna

is studying abroad as she has always

wanted to do

and my daughter daniela is still in high

school figuring out her future

we're very happy and united family so my

mom

goes through the pages of this very

thick notebook and

i figured out she'd written the same

paragraph once and once again

until she filled up this very thick

notebook i promise it was at least

written a thousand times

i look at her and i ask mama you bored

are you obsessed with us what's wrong

with you

so she tells me go to the first page and

look at when i wrote this down

2010 may 2010

when we lost everything my mother was

able to visualize

exactly what she wanted and just asked

her she wanted it

and she made it happen because when you

visualize something

you can make it happen it was through

visualization

that we were able to direct the course

of our lives and focus on our goals

and the same way that visualization

changed my life and

all of my family members lives it will

change your lives here as well

thought precedes creation it guides the

energy in the physical world

in order to attain certain specific

behaviors and for creative visualization

to be fully effective there are three

requirements that need to be met

the first one is that you need to have

the desire

you need to have that desire to achieve

what you've decided to visualize

after having the desire you need to have

the certainty

you need to have the certainty that you

will actually achieve this

and that you will do it through

visualization as well and finally

you need to have the acceptance the

acceptance of whatever you're

visualizing

is a goal in your life because we all

definitely here

have those dreams that we would love to

achieve but they seem really far from

achieving

however visualization is the perfect

tool

that enables you to use your imagination

in order to figure out what you really

want work towards that specific goal

and not get lost around the way and it

doesn't take that much effort

a scientist from india found

that when you visualize yourself lifting

your right hand the same brain region is

being activated

that when you actually lift your right

hand however

research on visualization goes actually

much further than that

so there's a strong scientific basis for

how and why

visualization actually works there's a

system in your brain

which is called the reticular activating

system which is basically a network of

neurons

that are responsible for filtering

information in and out of your brain

in other words what this filter is doing

is letting information come into your

brain

and blocking other information from

entering

the way i like to think about this

filter is as if it was google

you get the opportunity to search

trillions of web pages out there right

however you have specific keywords

that allow you to filter some so you can

select them

or ignore others

the point of this reticular activating

system is really important

imagine all of the information that

we're exposed to every day

entering our brain it will probably

explode

so the reticular activating system let's

put us

ourselves in an example let's say that

you think

that you hate public speaking and you're

terrible at it

this system is going to spend all day

trying to actually

find evidence that confirms that

specific belief

however you can't actually program this

filter

and there's a secret that i want to

share with you and that is

that the reticular activating system

cannot differentiate

between real and imagined memories so

you kind of differentiate between what

happened to you

and what you imagined and that

translates to your visualization

athletes of course have known about this

incredibly powerful skill for a very

long time

a famous study found that nationally

ranked gymnast

gymnasts executed for the first time

several complex tricks after they

actually visualized

i was an athlete myself for over 14

years

when i was around 16 i really wanted to

make it to the national championships

i was training six times a week three

hours every day

i was going to a physiotherapist a

nutritionist following a specific diet

i was getting my eight hours of sleep i

wasn't partying

but what i didn't realize at the time

was that i was training my body

but not my mind so from the moment

that i started visualizing myself

crossing the finish line my parents and

my sister on the stands shouting my name

my coach and my teammates supporting me

the wind blowing on my face

my legs on pain and the excitement of

finally achieving something

that i had worked so hard for from that

moment

i actually made it to the national

championships what i did

is that i prepared myself and my mind

for success

another key thing at the time was being

able to control

my own self-talk i believe what i

visualize

and then i convinced my mind using the

appropriate language

to put an example let's think that

i consider myself a very lazy and not

hard-working person

do you think those thoughts are going to

change my reality

of course they won because if you fight

for your limitations you're only going

to keep them

so in my case what i kept thinking was i

am a champion i'm going to make it

there was no possibility of failure

there was no such a thing in my mind

oprah winfrey summarizes the power of

visualization

just perfectly create the highest

and the grandest possible vision for

your life because you become what you

believe in

and what what i find so interesting is

that you don't become what you want

you become what you believe in so if

you're able

to visualize and to make of your mind

your best friend you can get ready

for your next athletics competition but

also for the interview that you have

next week

maybe you can get ready for the surgery

that you have next week

you can even prepare to live your best

life

can i get a quick show of hands in this

room how many people here

have a dream a short-term long-term

dream it doesn't really matter

okay that seems to be most of you

however if you didn't put your hand up

do not feel bad

visualization still applies to you

what it can do it can help you

understand where you see yourself in

maybe two years time five years time

understand that picture better and then

towards that to work towards that goal

i will ask you i'd like to ask you all

now to please close your eyes

and picture yourself achieving that goal

and if you didn't have a goal seem

an image of yourself in two years time

maybe you're finally visiting that

exotic country

that you always wanted to go to or

you're in that job interview that you've

always dreamed for

maybe you're starting that final you're

starting that business

hunting it that dissertation finally

visualize exactly what you want just as

you want it to be

and now listen to your inner guidance in

order to affirm

that what you're visualizing is what you

really want

is something positive and is also meant

for your highest good

involve all of your senses now

what are you seeing around

can you see the sea or the mountains

maybe you can see high-rise buildings

because you're in the middle of a city

maybe you're in university or in your

hometown

what about the sounds is it noisy around

you

can you hear the birds singing maybe

your friends are shouting your name

and the smell or the taste can you smell

any food can you smell the seaside

now it's time to actually involve our

emotions

so imagine you open a door you don't

really know where this door is coming

from

you open the door you go in and you find

a table of 30 people

to realize that they are your friends

and family

you just realize that they're toasting

for you they're shouting your name

wow you can also smell your mom's

favorite recipe she's cooked your

favorite recipe for everybody

and again they're toasting for you

they're celebrating the person that you

have become

they're celebrating all that you have

achieved

they're celebrating the person that you

have become today

feel the energy in that room

breathe that energy i want you to

breathe in as much as you can

how happy are you now

how do you feel

when you're ready you can open your eyes

visualize this dream as often and in as

much detail as possible

do not forget the two main pillars

have a vivid and clear picture utilizing

all of your senses

and then your emotions if you experience

the emotions

you're going to be ready for when the

actual situation comes up

and another key thing is to do it in the

first person

and in the present tense just as my

mother did

because what you are visualizing is

happening to you right now

so be extremely clear in the way that

you're visualizing and create exactly

what you want to happen

if you visualize and you believe your

visualization you're creating

your beliefs and you're creating those

skills because you're reprogramming your

brain

and then that is you achieving your

dream that is you making that dream

reality

so i want to challenge you all to

visualize i want to challenge you all to

leave this room and start visualizing

one minute every single morning

because again that's going to help you

build skills build confidence

and then again that's you make it that

dream reality

visualize and become the director of

your own life because dear world

if you visualize something you can make

it happen thank you