Visualisation As a Renovation Tool
For the last year I’ve followed the Hal Elrod Miracle Morning Routine, and one element, visualisation, has become a strategy I use to stay committed to our long-game, forever home renovation. Visualisation is a technique many people use to imagine a circumstance, place, time, or all three. I incorporate this practice into my morning routine and feel passionately that everyone can benefit from it, but especially anyone renovating! Maybe it’s something you do often without maximising the intention.
In as little as two minutes you can create power, motivation and patience, all tools in the emotional toolbox to carry when living in a project. For me this is a daily minimum two minute exercise, I take a deep breath, close my eyes and follow what comes up. This is typically home or business related. Some people prefer to build this picture in their mind, however I much prefer to write what I visualise in as much detail as possible. What time of day is it, what’s the season and weather like, what am I doing, how am I feeling, even tiny details such as what song is on the radio or if the windows are open. As I’m very ready for our kitchen extension to be finished I often visualise food preparation, so I describe the ingredients, flavours and smells. Whilst I’m out walking I often spend a lot of time continuing the visualisation, or when I have more time I enjoy writing a much longer descriptive passage.
Tips for getting started:
Set an alarm for a good time each day to complete your visualisation.
Get comfortable, have a favourite spot to sit.
Be consistent, it will get easier and become more natural.
Have a notebook to hand, or set up an app you like to use.
Take a deep breath, close your eyes and smile as you ‘jump in’ to your future.
There’s no right or wrong, go with what your mind takes you to.
Take your practice on location to places that inspire you.
Practising gratitude balances your reality with your aspiration, why not add this duo into your morning routine too?
Looking back at my journal I notice that most experiences I visualise are simple, maybe this is because I value the clarity a simple home and life can bring. This process is obviously very personal, but I want to share with you some examples so here are a few of the shorter entries from my diary that I’m happy sharing:
Monday 13th March
I put my hand on the door handle. I’m standing on the green and blue hexagon tiles in the porch. As I swing open the door to my left I see the sun hitting the warm tone of wood flooring, a tunnel of light that pulls my eyes out to the garden. A sigh of relief, I’m home.
Thursday 16th March
Today I’m visualising a period of time off from work where I’m relaxing and enjoying our completed home. I sit on the curved seating in the kitchen to do a jigsaw. Above the sideboard is a big mirror which reflects the view from the garden where the tree ferns rustle in the wind.
Monday 17th April
I’m visualising an early morning in our completed kitchen. The stable door is open and I can hear the birds. I set the round table with my best glasses and plates. There’s a large bunch of white flowers in the middle of the table. I’m making pancakes to top with rhubarb, yogurt and blueberries.
Wednesday 24th May
I am visualising a relaxed Autumn evening at home. We’re in the new kitchen listening to a Kygo album, ‘Never Let You Go’ is playing. Lee is cooking fajitas and I’m reading in the kitchen lounge area. We’ve got the stable door open and we can hear the waves at the beach.
From my experience, approaching a visualisation diary as though the event is currently happening or has already happened, by writing in the present or past tense, is comforting and encouraging. So whatever you’re striving and aspiring for, get creative, be a fly on the wall and enjoy imagining how your future would look and feel!