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Current revision as of 16:11, 29 October 2007

Mental rehearsal is a powerful tool for self-improvement and coaching. When you mentally rehears you use the neural pathways that are involved in actually using the skill for real. Mental rehearsal is widely used as a technique for improvement in music and sports. The mental rehearsal makes the new skill familiar and creates micro-movements in the muscles that you need in reality.

Whenever you mentally rehearse your outcomes, follow the following principles:

• Start from your goal.
  Imagine what it will be like to achieve it. See it in detail so you are absolutely clear about what you will have to do to get it.
• Focus on the process, not the result.
  Use your representational systems too see how you achieve the goal. Provided you are clear about the goal, it will flow naturally from this quality process. For example, to mentally rehearse a golf putt, imagine selecting the right club, feeling the weight of the club in your hand, settling yourself into position, going through your usual moves and focusing on controlling the putt. Then watch the putt go into the hole. This is what separates mental rehearsal from daydreaming. Daydreaming focuses on the result, which happens by magic. Mental rehearsal focuses on the process and good results happen inevitably.
• Be specific.
  Imagine as much detail as you can - where you are, the clothes you are wearing, every part of the skill you are rehearsing. The richer the detail, the more powerful the process.
• See, hear, and feel perfection.
  What you see (and hear and feel) is what you get. Don't be satisfied with second best; imagine everything exactly how you want it to be.
• Use all the senses.
  The more senses you use, the more memorable the the experience and the deeper its imprint. See the pictures in your imagination as clearly as you can. Hear the sounds. Feel your body movements, including your sense of balance.
• Relax.
  Relaxation enhances the effects of mental rehearsal.
• Practice.
  Perfect practice makes perfect execution. Also, the more you use mental rehearsal, the more skilled you will become and the better it will work for you.