The Power of Mental Rehearsal

To start let me define the difference between imagery and mental rehearsal.  Imagery is a mental process or a mode of thought.  Imagery can be defined as a “symbolic sensory experience”.  It is sometimes referred to as “visualisation”, although this term implies that it only involves using the visual (seeing) sensory mode.  In fact imagery can, and indeed should, incorporate all sensory modes – visual (images), auditory (sounds), kinaesthetic (feelings), olfactory (smells) and gustatory (tastes).

Mental rehearsal, on the other hand, is defined the employment of imagery to mentally practise an act or behaviour.  Thus mental rehearsal is a technique as opposed to merely a mental process.

Mental rehearsal is the process of practising mentally.  For example you could imagine in your mind the specific behaviour that you want to rehearse.  Although this sounds very simple, mental rehearsal is a very powerful method of performance enhancement.

Please be assured that using your imagination to rehearse is not some strange or mystical practice!  It is a very common amongst all manner of people especially athletes.

Having conducted an extensive review of the psychological research into mental rehearsal, I can report two robust conclusions:

1. Mental rehearsal is better than no practise at all
   
2. Mental rehearsal combined with physical practise is more effective than either alone

So how can you apply these powerful conclusions to your life? For a start, I am certainly not advocating that you abandon physical practice!  However, there may be times when it may not be possible for you to practise physically.There is a famous story about an American army officer who was held captive for several years during the Vietnam war.  In order to keep himself occupied he would play a game of golf in his imagination every day.  When he was finally released from captivity, he went to play an actual game of golf for the first time in many years.  He played one of the best games of golf in his life - the many years of mental rehearsal had resulted in a huge improvement in his physical golfing performance!

However, the real power of mental rehearsal is when it is combined with physical practice.  As detailed above, psychological research confirms that, mental rehearsal when combined with physical practice is more effective than either alone.

Another way of considering this is that the person who practices physically and rehearses mentally will have a distinct advantage over the person who only practices physically.

Almost 100% of Olympic athletes surveyed by sports psychologist reported the use of mental rehearsal.  Elite athletes use this technique for one reason and one reason only – it works.  Mental rehearsal is a powerful performance enhancement method.

Until next time, yours for Increasing Life!

Simon Hazeldine
Founder
Increasing Life
Dedicated to Your Health, Wealth, Success, Happiness and Freedom

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Are you a Probability Thinker or a Possibility Thinker?

In my last blog post we explored the concept of “Increasing Life” as being a philosophy and approach of expansion, enlargement and growth in all aspects of our lives, and asked the question: "Have you chosen to adopt an increasing infinite mind-set or a contracting finite mindset?"

These mindsets are often accompanied by their respective styles of thinking: Finite probability thinking, or Infinite possibility thinking.

People with the more rigid finite probability thinking orientation will often have fixed mental models about the ways things are, the ways things must be and therefore have rigid limitations about what they think is possible.

Some amusing historical examples include:

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."

Lord Kelvin, Scientist 1897

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

Charles Duell, U.S. Office of Patents 1899

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”

Ken Olson, Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers”

Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943 

“We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out”

Decca record executive on the Beatles, 1962

By contrast people with the more fluid infinite possibility mindset will frequently challenge their own and others mental models in order to make improvements, advances and progress. They think in terms of possibility. Many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs seem to have adopted this thinking style:

“We are going to where no one has gone before.”

Richard Branson

“It's kind of fun to do the impossible.”

Walt Disney

"When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for
people telling you that you are nuts.“

Larry Ellison

"Every time you state what you want or believe, you're the first to hear it. It's a message to both you and others about what you think is possible.
Don't put a ceiling on yourself."

Oprah Winfrey

And before any of us get too amused by some of the probability thinking examples shared earlier – it is important to realise that we are all subject (to some degree or other) to our own personal limitations about what we think is possible or probable.

“In the province of the mind, what one believes to be true either is true or becomes true, within certain limits to be found experientially or experimentally. These limits are further beliefs to be transcended. In the province of the mind there are no limits."

Dr John Lilly

So are you a probability thinker or a possibility thinker?

Until next time, yours for Increasing Life!

Simon Hazeldine
Founder
Increasing Life
Dedicated to Your Health, Wealth, Success, Happiness and Freedom

P.S. When you join the "Increasing Life" community newsletter you will receive these 4 powerful free gifts:
1) "How Winners Really Set Goals" e-book
2) "Are you tough enough? How to develop your mental strength" e-book
3) "The Real Truth About Visualisation" e-book
4) "The 3 Secrets of the Billionaire Brain" video

Sign up details are at the top of the page on the left hand side - we look forward to welcoming you to our community.