Visualizing (Achievement Nudge)

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Last Updated on June 23, 2025 by Bill Truby

Good news! You can get better at golf by lying in bed thinking about it. Really! It’s true…

A research study, conducted by Pascaul-Leone and colleagues, discovered that merely thinking about a task increased the neural circuits associated with that task. Naturally, DOING the task built and expanded the necessary brain-wiring to do it. But it was a surprising development to find that visualizing that same task created, and built, the neural activity needed to perform the task too.

The proof occurred when a group of people PRACTICED playing a piano scale for a few weeks, a group of people who VISUALIZED playing the piano scale, and a group of “non-visualizers” all were asked to play the piano scale.

The first significant observation came when the brains of the three groups were looked at with imagery equipment. The visualizers had activated the same motor circuits as the actual piano players, AND had the same results of expanding that bit of the motor cortex. All of that just means they could play the piano scale much better than those who didn’t visualize the exercise at all.

This has profound implications in all aspects of life. You could play a better round of golf by lying in bed, in complete relaxation (so as to access the subconscious mind) and carefully, deeply visualize your golf swing…or swim turn, or tennis stroke, for that matter.

It would help you in making a speech, confronting that unruly neighbor, disciplining an employee, or exercising good choice for what to eat at the restaurant (knowing that you are on a diet – smile). Rehearsing, or visualizing, that first date, or proposal, will help take away some of the nervousness.

But what kind of visualizing am I talking about? Here are some tips…

Don’t just see the situation, feel it. Visualize the golf swing, or anything else, as if it were a movie, not a snapshot. See it clearly from start to finish. But step into the movie, into the actual body of the “you” in the situation, and feel what it’s like to be there. EXPERIENCE the situation from inside the body of the person in your visualization, the “you” in your movie. Don’t look on from the outside; see, feel and hear what’s going on from the inside.

And practice. Don’t view the movie once. Get relaxed, and view it over, and over, and over again – over a period of days or weeks. The repetitiveness of your visualizing builds the brain. And have fun with it…see the movie with a sense of joy, or at least gratitude. Humor, fun, joy and gratitude all create subconscious motivation…and tenacity.

I know this works. Joann used this technique when she was a competitive athlete in the field of roller skating. She told me, “When I could do the jump successfully in my mind, I KNEW I could do it in competition.” I’ve used it many times, too. I actually improved MY golf swing through visualization. But unfortunately, one time…in my visualizing a golf game, I shot one over par. Turns out, in my mental movie, I chose the wrong club on the last hole.

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This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.

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