From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
Gore's Law! Or negative visualisation/ worry
How many times have you heard successful people talk about the benefits and power of visualisation? Olympic athletes have been using this incredibly effective technique for years - with great results.
In fact , most elite athletes spend several hours every day mentally rehearsing a perfect performance. Studies have shown that mental rehearsal is even more effective than actual physical practice when it comes to shooting baskets at basketball- true! Whenever we mentally practice something , our body responds at a microscopic muscular level - so if we repeatedly vividly imagine we are shooting a basketball perfectly through a hoop , our muscles are coordinating as if we were actually shooting that perfect basket.
So when the time comes to play the game, the memory stored in our muscles is of shooting a perfect shot. If we just physically practiced, we are more likely to shoot imperfectly - near misses , or really big misses! So the stored memory is less accurate.
It doesn't matter what you visualize or mentally rehearse, if you practice these techniques, you are more likely to achieve what you set out to. Whether it's a goal you set; a car you want; a presentation you have to give; a sports performance - whatever it is, you'll do better if you visualize it first.
While contemplating this concept last week, I had a blinding flash of the obvious. If this technique is so brilliant for achieving what we want, why would it be any different for people who constantly dwell, vividly imagine or mentally rehearse negative scenarios?
Think about all those people who worry constantly. What do they do? They are vividly visualizing what they DON'T want to have happen! And some of them spend hours every day doing it! Guess what? They are drawing those negative scenarios into their lives just like those people who visualize / rehearse what they want to have happen.
Sometimes the most useful ah ha's are the simplest! If you are someone who practices for misery or disaster, do you realize what you are doing? Do you really want to attract that into your life?
If you would rather program in the muscle memory of success, you need to first become aware of what you are visualizing , mentally rehearsing or saying to yourself. If it's other than positive, think of what you would rather have happen; how you would rather feel or what you would rather see and then substitute those images over the misery selection!
What about those folks who constantly see themselves as fat? Or unattractive? Or shy, inadequate or hopeless at something? If that's how you repeatedly see yourself, then that's what you'll probably get.
Try seeing yourself as a healthy eater; as someone who has great digestion; is thin; who loves to exercise; who is shopping for new (thin) clothes etc. This starts the process at a micro level. Which then has more chance of becoming reality at a macro level - just like the athletes.
No good embarking on a weight loss program or any other self development course if , despite what you are learning or doing, you consistently see yourself as fat, inadequate, and stuck in old habits or behaviors.
So , will you join the elite athletes and mentally rehearse what you want to have happen? Or will you worry your way through life, drawing towards you anything negative?
Last weekend, I was walking with some friends and we passed a grotty old tub of a boat called "Murphy's Law". I don't know if it looked like that before it was named - but it was sure a mess that day! I thought we should have a law that says if something good can happen , it will. We decided to call it Gore's Law (or Amanda's law of optimism)! So according to Gore's Law you need to imagine what good could happen - visualize it, dream about it, believe in it - and it'll happen!
