Comments on: How to Imagine More Effectively

By: John Paul Bocaya

John Paul Bocaya — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:56:31 +0000

Hi,

This is interesting, i just googled “i can imagine specific and detailed in everything that i want”, and this article came out.. i thought no body knew this kind of skill that i always wonderin if other people is like me..

It became a habit to me since i was in grade school, i can imagine places i went, i mean the Whole Travel of going there.. everytime i go to places, i always like to be in the window side of the vehicle so i can see the views going there.. in details in my memory structures, signs people, etc. that i have saw the first time i travel, i can imagine it..

So i remember the longest imagination of my travel last for about 7 hours, as the actual travel time going to that place.. After that run, my head aches for about 5 hours..

I am now an architect, and this practice of imagination that im doin since childhood, is helping..

By: Michele Whaley

Michele Whaley — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:08:53 +0000

I have used your techniques and commented on them in my blog about teaching world languages. It has seemed to me that the very best ideas about improving and teaching and learning all coalesce at some point, so that what you are sharing coincides with some “heretical” techniques for learning languages. It’s actually possible to practice your language by imagining yourself speaking it in different situations.

It would be an honor to read the book and provide potential blurbs. Let me know. I’m in Anchorage.

By: John C

John C — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 05:12:02 +0000

My College Football coach use to tell us(the offensive linemen) to play the game in our head. He would tell us every Firday before we played on Saturday. He would convince us to put ourselves, in our mind, in every situation we could imagine. He encouraged us to do this so when the stuff hit the fan(and I promise you it was going to hit the fan at some point) we would be prepared and be able to handle it. We would be able to play through it and still execute our assignments. Being a high school coach, I have used this same approach with my teams. My baseball team and I have taken some tme to go through Brian Cains “Pride” Program and I have read several books from Ken Rivizza. They both talk about controlling the controllables. Attitude and Effort. Those are really the only things we control. So do them to your best. I feel like when I would play the game the night before in my head, My attitude and effort were always better. I could control my emotions and was able to play the game at the best of my ability.
I think that is what is being described here. I know it works because I have experienced it first hand. I need to do a better job and getting my kids to use this mental imaginary to make us all better.
On the Side Note, Being a school teacher and coach, I would love to reading the book and helping out with your quotes. Let me know if i can help.

By: Tony Kees

Tony Kees — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:55:50 +0000

Apologies! Above description in wrong blog! Not much to do with imagery.

By: Tony Kees

Tony Kees — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:29:52 +0000

Been a distant follower and believer of ‘The Talent Code’. I coach youth soccer at high levels (ODP / Academy) and I have been a personal trainer to some of Illinois’ best players. I use a process that I call “Technical Edge”, where a player first rehearses footwork patterns at a moderate pace through cones in what I call ‘the wheel’, then puts himself on his ‘Technical Edge’ by performing at max speed and exertion – cutting and changing direction so radically that athleticism and ball control are severely compromised. These ‘bursts’ last about 4 seconds, with a 10 second rest and another bout, continuing for about 3 minutes before changing the pattern. The players are pushed to live on that edge where they can’t control the ball and are way out of their comfort zone. It’s not about making perfect runs through the wheel. It’s about bumping up against their physical limitations and living there as much as possible. When done constantly, Tech Edge training produces players that become more fluid, are cleaner and make fewer errors. Additionally, confidence soars! It’s a beautiful thing! I can send short video clips if you like.
-Tony

By: Robnonstop

Robnonstop — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:52:30 +0000

In Psycho Cybernetics a book from the 60s by M.Maltz, a plastic surgeon interested in people’s self image, imagination is presented for various uses:

In the chapter “Just imagine your sane” he explains how vividly imagining being like someone considered normal by mental patients and acting that way helps improve their condition.

Artur Schnabel, world famous pianist, is quoted as saying he doesn’t enjoy practicing so he does very little actual playing and instead “play in his head” the entire piece.

The basic premise of the book is that the human mind should consciously define a very specific imagined goal and will then automatically without much intervention steer towards that goal, always tweaking, correcting, failing less. Instead of trying to directly navigate to the goal, one should just make sure to imagine it vividly instead of worrying and thinking about failing, as that would replace the goal and make one navigate towards failure automatically. Hence the name Psycho Cybernetics.

Many other stories are featured. It’s the first time I see the concept of conscious and subconscious thinking applied this practically to get better at art, music, sales etc. I think a salesman remade the book in recent years but I’d get the original instead unless you are interested specifically in sales.

By: Bob Fisher

Bob Fisher — Sat, 19 May 2012 11:58:10 +0000

You have put into words what I have experienced a number of times. As you mentioned, it only happens when practicing alone in a solitary setting. Once I can visualize in my ‘mind’s eye’ what I am trying to accomplish, down to the smallest detail, my skill level increases. It is not so much visualizing the end result as ‘seeing’ myself do it. Great post…