A Clear-Eyed Look at Visualization: THE MAPES METHOD™
Your brain doesn’t fear success-it fears loss of control and uncertainty.
The human brain is wired for survival, not success.
It prioritizes safety, stability, and energy conservation, interpreting “uncertainty” and “loss of control”, integral components of major life changes—as potential threats to survival.
– James Mapes
Do you visualize? Are you familiar with what visualization or mental rehearsal actually means? If so, do you visualize willy-nilly without using this powerful mental tool of applied imagination to benefit your life?
If you are familiar with the field of mental health, you know the value of visualization/mental rehearsal. In addition to positively using visualization for small daily goals, visualization is a major technique in performance coaching, education, sports psychology and therapy.
Mental rehearsal involves creating vivid mental movies of experiences, action and what I will call “ideal end-results” or “outcomes”, without physically performing them. My favorite examples are musicians who can practice in their minds as well as professional athletes and surgeons who use this skill to hone their performance and surgery patients who can enhance their healing.
This might also include communication with family, friends or customers. Perhaps more personal goals like asking your boss for a raise, limiting screen time for your children, losing weight, quitting smoking, motivating yourself to write or trying to declutter.
So, what is the answer to my first question? Do you visualize?
Most likely, whether you are aware of it or not, you do visualize – constantly. In fact, 97% of human beings are able to visualize and form mental pictures and images in their mind. This includes being able to use all their senses woven in their visualization-sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste—to create a vivid, immersive mental image.
The question is: how many of these people, including you, use visualization to help achieve either a goal, a relaxed state or better prepare you for handling disruption?
Side Note: Surprisingly, research shows that 3% of the population are unable to visualize or form mental pictures and images in their minds.
Aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily visualize mental images.
When I first started in the self-help field, teaching visualization for numerous positive outcomes to students around the world and then to corporate audiences, I assumed that everyone could visualize. That assumption was sadly incorrect.
That was a huge surprise to me.
In my former marriage, my wife was a brilliant actress, playwright, and director. Many times, over the years, I worked with her in a positive way, to help her visualize what she believed success was. She constantly told me that she could not visualize. I thought she just didn’t know what visualization or mental rehearsal was. As the years passed, she felt guilty or was lacking in some way about it. Despite her inability to visualize, she was a successful artist.
What about the 97% who can visualize?
Most people accept the standard definition of visualization as- “see the goal,” “feel the success,” “rehearse the win.”
There is a far more sinister side to visualization and a more productive side.
THE DARK SIDE OF VISUALIZATION
While visualization can boost confidence, motivation and performance, it can also be damaging if it only leads you to ‘positive fantasizing.’ Simply imagining a successful outcome without contemplation and visualizing the necessary steps can harm motivation and limit achievement.
Our brain is tricky. Focusing only on the ideal end result can manipulate your brain to subconsciously believe you have already achieved it, stifling your ability to work hard or blind you to seeing opportunities.
ENLARGE YOUR GOALS WITH VISUALIZATION
If you want to know the ‘How-to” of visualization and the specific steps of visualizing, you can read one of my books or Google it. There is a ton of information. Below are two links to articles I have written on the subject:
https://www.jamesmapes.com/articles/enlarge-goals-with-visualization/
https://www.jamesmapes.com/james-mapes-blog/the-versatile-value-of-visualization/
I have something far more important to discuss and it is a perspective that very few address.
Most people visualize the outcome but very few are aware that, for true success, you must choose to visualize the moment things go wrong.
“Your brain doesn’t fear success; it fears uncertainty and loss of control.”
-James Mapes
VISUALIZATION IS NOT ABOUT SEEING SUCCESS; IT’S ABOUT REHEARSING UNCERTAINTY.
I have never been a fan of acronyms but after pondering this important aspect of successful visualization, I’ve submitted to my prejudice.
Thus, is born The Mapes Method™
The core philosophy of the Mapes Method™ is “Don’t just rehearse success. Rehearse your ability to respond.”
Stop. Observe your thought (mental movie). Say to yourself, “Isn’t that interesting.” Let go. Then choose your next move.
I have used this method for years in rehearsing my shows, corporate presentations, stage or movie scripts and in personal coaching.
The Mapes Method™ put simply: “Anticipate disruption. Stay present. Respond with intention.”
The 5-Step MAPES METHOD™ framework
M – Mental Movie (Ideal End-Result)
– Visualize the event or other circumstance going well.
– Feel the confidence, rhythm, and timing.
This builds familiarity and belief.
This is where most people stop and why they often fail. Move on!
A – Adversity Insertion (When things could go wrong)
– Add “what could go wrong?” This may seem counterintuitive but is absolutely necessary.
You intentionally insert or script disruptions such as: Forgetting a line. Speaking or performing before a tough or hostile audience. Or perhaps dealing with a technical failure such as the microphone not working or the projector failing. Or breaking your diet.
This builds ‘psychological flexibility.’
Don’t avoid problems, rehearse them and your ability to respond!
P – Pivot to the Present (Isn’t that interesting)
Shift from reaction to awareness. This is your signature move for the Mapes Method™.
The very moment something goes off, you pause, come to the present, observe and mentally say, “Isn’t that interesting.” Then, smile internally.
This instantly interrupts panic and creates the space to regroup and make a new positive choice. Then and only then can you respond creatively.
E – Empowered Response (Freedom from the restrictions of fear)
Once you liberate yourself from the default position of fear, you become creative and “design your response.”
I have successfully paused (you will never lose your audience or your partner’s attention with a pause/slowing down) and then used humor (usually at my expense) to get out of a tight spot.
As in my early days as an actor, calmness and paying attention allows me to improvise.
S – Self- Identity Imprinting.
You will become the person who handles anything.
Here are four mantras I use and invite you to do the same. “I play with the unexpected. I make friends with failure. I am composed in chaos. I recover quickly and gracefully.”
Imprint this: The difference between amateurs and professionals is not mistakes, it is how fast they recover.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
You will make mistakes because that’s just how life is.
Recovery speed is the skill you will develop.
IMAGINE THAT!
James Mapes is the founder of Quantum Leap Thinking™, creator of The Transformational Coach™, expert on the psychology of “applied imagination,” best-selling author, highly acclaimed business speaker, consultant, seminar leader and personal excellence coach.