Making changes in our life is often the most difficult thing we do.
We find ourselves stuck in habitual patterns—in jobs we dislike, relationships that aren’t working, lives that seem to have no meaning. For some people, this leads to feelings of hopelessness and depression. For others, there is a sense of confusion and not knowing in which direction to go.
But it doesn’t have to be this way because what we imagine we can actualize. What we picture can and does happen. Think of the basketball player who visualizes the free throw before throwing the ball. Think of the job candidate who the night before imagines the interview and the next day aces the interview and gets hired.
So how can you, here and now, make changes in your life that are profound and lasting? How can you reverse the direction in which you seem to be going? The answer: learn to undo habitual response patterns and start instead to act from your new perspective about how the world works. One of the best ways to do this is by using visualization.
Here is a visualization exercise you can use before your next job interview
Sit in a comfortable chair with both feet on the floor and arms on the armrests of the chair or on your lap. If you are comfortable doing this, close your eyes:
- Breathe out slowly three times.
- Imagine yourself walking into the interview room. See the interviewer smile at you before beginning to ask you questions.
- Sense yourself relaxing as the interview progresses and feel your confidence building.
- Before the end of the interview, see the interviewer shaking his or her head in affirmation.
- Sense and know that you have done your very best.
- As you leave the room, see in your mind’s eye an email from this company saying that you have been chosen for this job.
- Breathe out one time and open your eyes.