How to Coach Yourself and Others Better Coaching Through Visualisation | Page 26

3. Shields, Safe Places and Mental Escapes
Visualization is a wonderful tool for periodic escapes from the
mundane. No matter where you are physically you can train your
mind to carry you away to a more exotic destination or a more
comfortable place.
Daydreamers are superb
at taking mental escapes.
In
fact,
chronic
daydreamers would be
wise to train their
wandering minds from
floating away so often
and learn to focus more
on the reality of where
they are.
Mental escapes are best used for "rest" or "relaxation" not for
avoidance.
My mind has a habit of taking off to a visual world of my own
making during commercial breaks whenever I'm watching a
television program.
Advertisers won't like hearing this, but that's usually what happens:
After I've seen a commercial once, my mind doesn't stick around
when it is replayed over and over again. I'll make a preferred minimovie within my own mind in its place. When the televised show
comes back on, my mental retreat ebbs until the next commercial
break. Weird, I know.
When you feel relaxed, imagine a favourite scene. It could be a
beach, a mountain slope or a particularly enjoyable moment with
f riends or family.
Try to go into this scene each time you practice your visualisationsession. If you can create a special, safe place where nothing can
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