Visualization can be an extremely powerful tool in motivating you to take action, to fine tuning your plan and carrying out your plan.
As a pilot, I spent many hours visualizing our safety drills which really brought you to the action without even being near an airplane. It trains your brain almost as well as the real thing, indeed it fundamentally changes the structure of your brain. Note when they looked at Einstein's brain, apparently he had a complex physical pattern around the area of the brain that mathematics is thought to spring from. His brain was naturally designed for mathematics.
The good news is that we can work on it.
The benefits of visualizing future events to you are numerous. First, you can try on different life-scenarios before they occur, and discard the scenarios that don't suit you. Second you can think through problems by trying on different ways of dealing with it.
I will give you an example:
Through my research about risks to the economy, I knew something bad would happen. I imagined what it would look like,( i thought something like a modern version of the depression of the 30's since my parents grew up in the 30's). I knew drastic action would be needed so my mind naturally focused on uncovering every single way of protecting myself and my family. I came up with so many conclusions from my initial thoughts that I would need a book to explain it, but needless to say, the results are powerful. That was four years ago and I am still coming up with new ideas and implementing them.
I don't know how many different ideas I've had over the years. I visualized each one as an initial rough assessment. I have discarded so many ideas that I have lost count. Anything at the idea stage has a low cost. You haven't sunk any time, effort or money into it. When things are easy, you are more likely to do it.
The neat thing about this process is that it only takes one idea to change everything.
I find the best time for this is while cycling or running, I have had many "light bulb" moments over the years while exercising. I believe it has had a profound effect on my life.
