Bev James: Preview Your Future Success Through Visualisation

Hi, Bev James here. As Managing Director of The Coaching Academy, I have spent years mentoring and coaching successful business owners and Olympic athletes.

I found that the most successful people use visualisation to achieve success. Paul Tournier said:

“Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can"

In some way or another, we all have ways in which we want to “win”.

Do you have a goal that you want to achieve? Do you have an image of the kind of life that you would like to have? Or do you even have an idea about the type of person you want to be, or ways that you could improve your life?

Having a desire to achieve a goal is common. But what makes the difference between dream and success is putting that desire into good use, and turning your dream into a reality.

How do we turn our goals into reality?

There are many factors that determine whether or not we succeed at achieving a goal:

• how we are programmed to behave
• our daily habits and decisions
• our approach to life
• and many more…

It is clear that although your goals make us think more in the future, and yet, it’s what you do right now that will take you closer to your goal. That means that your actions, behaviour and decisions today will either move you closer to achieving your goal or will hold you back.

How can visualisation help me to change my present reality to the future?

In order to visualise success, there is a famous question that is used by many coaches:

“Imagine yourself having achieved your goal. What does it look like… what does it feel like… who is around you… what are people saying around you?”

Notice that a coach will not speak in the future tense. They won’t ask you what it WILL be like. Instead, you jump into a time machine, and your imagination makes that future end goal much more present in your reality.

For example, if your goal is to become a healthier, more active person, you may visualise this goal by saying:

“I am feeling healthier, I am eating the food that make me feel healthier, and that help me to eat less fat. I am going for a run three times a week, and I make sure that I attend my yoga class every week. My friends and family are noticing that I am looking healthier, slimmer and happier. I feel confident.”

So visualisation shows you the steps, behaviours and habits that you need to make today, in order to achieve your goal. It’s where your future dreams meet your present reality. When you know this, you can start to change your behaviour and make sure that the decisions that you make daily will help you to achieve your goal.

You can clearly see that you need to go to for a jog three times each week, starting this week, and to eat healthy meals, starting today.

By feeling, thinking, and most importantly acting like a winner today, tomorrow and onwards, you won’t be able to help but achieve your goal!

As Muhammad Ali famously said:

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”

And so, he was.

Wishing you all the best,

Bev James