Let’s clear up a common misconception about visualization. So many people believe they can’t visualize because when they close their eyes, they only see darkness. This post is a thought on visualization and aphantasia, exploring what it might mean if it’s not about ‘seeing’ but about ‘knowing’. What if you’ve been a master visualizer your entire life without even realizing it?
Prefer to watch? I’ve put my video below or if you’re a reader simply continue reading the post.
Redefining Visualization: It’s Not Seeing, It’s Sensing
The number one thing I hear every single day is, “I can’t visualize.” What people mean by this is, “When I close my eyes, I just see blackness. I just see the back of my eyelids. I don’t see a movie.” That’s good. You are not supposed to.
You have been taught that visualization is seen with your physical eyes. It’s not. Visualization is not seeing; it is knowing. It is sensing. It is your awareness. It is your imagination. Furthermore, it is the immersive experience of reality, and you are doing it perfectly every single second of your life.
Worrying Is a Form of Visualization
You probably just call visualization by a different name. It’s called worrying. When you worry, you’re running a crystal-clear, high-definition, sensory-rich movie of exactly what you don’t want to happen. You can feel the emotion of it. You can sense the outcome. That is visualization. You’re just pointing the creative mechanism in the direction of what you fear.
Unlocking Your Power Through Remembering
Real visualization is actually called remembering. Let’s try a quick exercise right now. Just answer these few questions internally.
- What color is your front door?
- Where is the doorknob? Which way does it open?
- What does coffee smell like?
- What does your favorite song sound like?
You just did it. You didn’t see it on the back of your eyelids. You accessed the data. You remembered. You knew. That internal knowing and sensing is the entire mechanic.
Why Visualization Is Knowing, Not Seeing
Your brain and nervous system do not know the difference between a real event that you see with your eyes and a vividly imagined event that you “see” with your mind. When you imagine and feel the reality you desire, your brain believes it is happening right now. Consequently, your nervous system begins to rewire itself to match that reality. That is the work.
So stop trying to see a movie. You’re literally living it. You are not broken. You’re not non-visual. Aphantasia does not even exist. It is just the belief in “I can’t.”
What if you can? Just close your eyes. Ask to know what your new reality feels like. What does peace feel like? What does love feel like? What does that thing you desire feel like? Sense it. Feel the emotion of it.
You’ve been a master visualizer your entire life. Now, just choose to do it consciously. It’s as simple as that. If you do want support, we have live events every single week to help you. It is right there for you. All you need to do is show up for it. You can explore our events and resources by checking out our community platform. I’ll see you there.
