In a research study by psychologists at the University of California, Los Angeles, homeowners in the community were solicited about subscribing to cable TV service. Some homeowners were just given information about the service while others were encouraged to imagine they had cable and to envision the benefits that cable would bring them. The homeowners who had mentally simulated owning cable TV wanted to subscribe significantly more than did homeowners who were just given information about cable TV.
Such is the power of mental simulation.
When you represent some event or a sequence of events in your mind, it makes the events seem more real. You can then more easily see what could be.
Since it’s so powerful, how about using mental simulation to help you win the weight-loss challenge? For example: If you’re having trouble starting on a weight-loss plan, try out one or more solutions using mental imagery. Visualize yourself getting started. What will it take to carry you through? Don’t just focus on the outcome. Look closely. Try to picture the circumstances and the process.
- The advantage of mentally simulating a problem and its solutions is that it allows you to picture elements of the problem and solution very specifically. When you mentally rehearse the process, you are, in effect, making a detailed plan. This detailed plan will make it a lot more likely that you will reach your goal.
- When you mentally rehearse the outcome you want (i.e., reaching your weight-loss goal), you will be giving yourself more weight loss motivation.
- When you mentally simulate applying one or more weight-loss solutions to your weight problem, you are more likely to believe the “events” in the solution will come true. This is an added bonus. Mental simulation can not only give you a weight-loss plan and weight-loss motivation, it can also increase your belief in your abilities.
Why don’t you try it out for yourself. Our question to you is two-fold:
WHAT PROBLEM ARE YOU HAVING RELATED TO WEIGHT LOSS, AND HOW MIGHT YOU USE MENTAL SIMULATION TO HELP YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
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