Hello Dear One,
The research is clear – we are more creative and productive (quality and quantity) when we approach work rested and in a non-stressed state of mind.
Relaxation is a key to productivity. As for using your imagination; it is a powerful goal-achieving technique used with tremendous success by high achievers in all industries especially sports, music, dance, speaking, writing and other performance based activities. Mental practice is highly effective and all research has supported its use for managing mindset and achieving goals.
A famous story is told about mental practice: “The Chinese pianist Liu Chi Kung was imprisoned for seven years during the Cultural Revolution, during which time he had no access to a piano.
When he returned to giving concerts again after he was released, his playing was better than ever. Asked how this was possible since he had not practiced for seven years, he replied: “I did practice every day. I rehearsed every piece I had ever played, note by note, in my mind.” Bernie Zilbergeld, PH.D
You have to practice in your mind the actual process of the achieving your goal…not simply the end result of celebration and success; This ( imagining the celebration and accomplishment) is helpful with keeping the end in mind.
With actually achieving your goals, the power of the imagination exercise is to vividly see yourself doing the work; taking the action steps that would lead to your success. By doing this daily you in effect get to practice and become more comfortable with the actual work to be engaged in later: just like Liu Chi Kung and his piano practice.
Albert Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” and he said he achieved some of his greatest insights first through visual images which he then put into words. He also imagined himself riding on a ray of light, when he was working on his famous relativity theory.
So who are we to not use the strategies that the great Einstein has championed?
Try this relaxation/imagination exercise:
1) Spend 15 minutes in the early morning, in a relaxed – super relaxed and comfortable chair or position. Get your mind to be as empty as possible…using deep breathing as your tool.
2) Deep diaphragmatic breathing is what you want. Filling your diaphragm as you to breathe in more oxygen will expand your stomach area; so with hand on tummy you should be able to tell instantly whether your breathing is deep enough. If your stomach expands (pushes out against your hand) you’re good, if your chest expands and/or your shoulder rises, you’re breathing shallow and will not gain the relaxing benefits of deep breathing.
3) In this relaxed position, after a few minutes of controlled deep breathing, sit peacefully for as long as you can up to about 15 minutes.
Visualize your muscle groups from bottom to top, tightening and releasing a few times each and then relaxing into a calm stillness.
4) Then immediately following this relaxation session, venture into some imagination playtime.
*Allow your imagination to visualize your optimistic state of mind working for you as you see yourself producing more of what you intend to produce today…writing, helping, sales, studying, researching, coaching, speaking, building, bonding…whatever your goal is, imagine your optimistic self in a state of blissful productivity.
*Keep this ‘movie’ in your mind going, filling in all the details you can inject and keeping it inspired, light and entertaining.
*See yourself taking the actual steps needed to achieve the specific daily goal you have for today. See yourself taking these steps again and again…making adjustments and improvements as you go.
*Pause the movie a few times and insert a few deep breaths to be sure you remain relaxed.
That’s it…
Enjoy your day, play full out and the rewards will be magnificent!!! 
Wishing you an abundance of productivity, imagination and joy,
∞♥∞
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Albert Einstein
