Why Imagination Might Be Just the Right Key to Your Success

It was already almost a century ago when Kenneth Craik, a very promising psychologist from the United Kingdom, coined the term “mental models.” One of the core ideas of his concept of mental models was that primarily, we need to have some mental pattern or model (mental representations of the world) in our minds (and in the brain on the physical level), which enables us to predict and respond to events and therefore accomplish and execute tasks. Today, his approach has become widely influential and has been developed further in cognitive science and psychology.

The importance of mental models becomes so visible when we talk about learning new skills. As a first-time beginner, complex tasks seem to be so out of reach that we might even struggle to understand what we should aim for. If people have restored a sense that was lost in childhood, the sense might cause more trouble than life quality in the beginning. The reason is that if there are no mental patterns that support and translate the information flowing into the psyche through this sense, it might be random noise and cause a lot of discomfort at first. Somebody who was last able to see at the age of four would not be able to interpret which objects are around or recognize faces—it would all be a mass of information with little meaning. It takes consistent training and effort to assimilate this sense.

Craik also pointed out that we carry within ourselves mental models of the world, which we continuously change and adapt. It is almost like our own little version of the outside world, created over time based on experience and immersion in the world around us. We can only consciously do what is present in this “world” in our minds.

So for growth and change, for transitioning through midlife (and other pivotal phases of transformation), we need to be able to work on the models and habits we possess in our minds and expand the scope of what we think we are and what we are capable of. One of the most powerful methods for being able to target who we internally are, to create and enhance existing mental patterns, is imagery. Why is imagery so powerful?

Imagery is used widely in sports in many ways. Have you seen the movie about James Hunt and Nikki Lauda, top F1 formula racers? It is no coincidence that in this movie, James Hunt was in bed, imagining the race trajectory and racing through it in his imagination while holding a steering wheel. It is no mistake that the first part of the book by Arnold Schwarzenegger is about imagination and being very clear about goals—he is one of the highest achievers in the whole world, and imagery is one of the foundations of his life philosophy. The best musicians talk about the clarity of vision and imagery. How would you even say something if you had no clear idea what to say? Steve Jobs attended a calligraphy class at Reed College, and this class played an important role in his success—I am quite sure that it all melted together and clicked in his mind through free-flowing thought and imagination. According to research, imagery is used on many levels everywhere in making decisions. Becoming aware of and starting to use this fantastic tool can give your life a boost.

Imagination is right here, in your own mind, ready to serve you right now. Imagination is able to integrate all your disposable mental resources together and form a focus in your mind like nothing else could. You can, with no difficulty, imagine yourself in a forest, imagining the sounds you hear around you, the smell of plants and trees, the touch of the breeze, and, of course, the visual side. Add the sense of time and space as well. Add some knowledge of this place as well. Everything you add will activate a part of your mind (based on brain activity, different memories, etc.) and integrate this into your focus on being there, in the forest. Isn’t it fascinating that focus means gathering many mental capabilities around some idea, place, or event? This is exactly what imagery can do.

Research even shows that if you practice running in your mind, your results can improve, as the nervous system plays an essential role in physical actions, and thinking of running activates the same neural pathways involved in real movement. Of course, physical practice remains irreplaceable in sports. Several of the best musicians learn pieces first in their minds and then play them on the instrument. This is all for creating mental models as clearly as possible that actually direct real-world actions. The same method is right here at your disposal.

If there is something specific in your mind that you would like to change or enhance, first imagine yourself in a vivid, multisensory way doing it. If you reiterate this imagery several times over some period of time, your mental models associated with this grow stronger, and your brain adapts to the execution of the created patterns.

If you have reinforced the vision of yourself participating in what you imagined successfully, it will soon be time to try it out in the real world. It is a bouncing principle—if you have a vision, an imagination, and you try it out, you get valuable feedback from the surrounding environment. This will alter and improve your vision, which is already a shift in quality. Keeping all the imagery active, transforming it even more, and then trying it out again keeps you growing. According to Shaun Gallagher and Zuzanna Ruczinska, the body is immersed in the process, and imagery is tightly linked to how we use our bodies in activities. So if you expand your imagination, your use of your body will expand, and through bodily engagement in contexts, you also broaden your abilities of imagination.

If you have any other questions about imagery or how to use it, or if you have some other ideas, please feel free to connect and share.

With best wishes,
Jaak