When visualisation is mentioned as the key to success, 90% of the time it is done with about the same depth as when the “experienced” language learner advises the beginner to “do Duolingo”, as if that is the holy grail and what language learning is about, but no, that is what drilling is about. However, the productive skills like speaking and writing, plus reading comprehension, are nowhere to be found with that.
And just as there is a more or less scientifically proven best practice for language learning, there is also a best practice for setting the right goals. This means that visualisation does have a place in the pursuit of goals, but nowhere near as much as it is focused on.
Two fun facts as an introduction, both the result of neurobiological research:
- The only neural pathway responsible for setting goals and moving towards them passes through the amygdala, our “emotional” brain, which is also responsible for the sense of fear, along with three other brain areas. This is important information to better understand the process of working towards goals, since many of our goals are linked to avoiding something bad, a mess up or a failure (for example, many of us take up sport to avoid sitting in our local GP’s office enjoying retirement, or, in 20 years’ time to have the chance to catch up with our grandchild in a sprint before they, on an annoyingly noisy plastic motorbike, roll onto the pedestrians’ crossing on Villányi road, where drivers usually have no intention of slowing down). So some of the anxiety and fear is built into the journey towards the goal.
- Making errors should not be demonised, because it is very useful for neuroplasticity: when we are trying to learn something new, erring makes the brain more alert and more efficient in continuing the attempt. So, while making mistakes should not be a goal in itself, it is a good entry point for brain flexibility.
And finally, to get back to the title: research shows that visualisation is helpful when you set a goal, but hinders you afterwards, and the reason is that after a while the image of a healthy retirement fades in your mind and you don’t produce enough adrenaline to jump out of bed as if you were playing capoeira at an artistic level on the 459th day, slightly hungover, in preparation for your annual performance review that day. So when the goal is properly set, the frequent and vivid imagining of failure is what will move us forward towards the coveted goal in the morning, because it is then that the fear centre of the amygdala kicks in and helps us move away from failure and towards the goal.
It’s as simple as that. And this time, for once, it’s not negative thinking, but conscious adrenaline production.
(If you want a little more Latin terminology on this topic, I recommend this podcast for instance: https://hubermanlab.com/the-science-of-setting-and-achieving-goals/)
