Dayton Wellness Collective

Using imagination to plant the seed of creation to envision and grow a new future reality

When I was around 19 years old, a bright pink book with red letters in the “new age” aisle caught my eye in the local bookstore. Coffee in hand, I started perusing the pages, immediately drawn to the title and subject of mysticism. I didn’t know at the time that this very book would begin my lifelong fascination with energetics. Most of my reading in that stage of my life was biology and pathophysiology sciences via my nursing school curriculum. But I loved the unexplainable, the web of interconnectivity that we can’t see with our human eyes but can feel with our human body (if we just sit still long enough). Things that have been scoffed at by the scientific community, likely due to the hubris that evolved in the hearts and minds of scientists from centuries of modern materialism. 

Modern materialism isn’t at all modern as it started in England around the 1550s. Defined as the ‘science of the observable material world’, they believed that “everything in the universe, including human beings, thought, and emotion could be explained entirely in terms of matter and motion.” But it seemed a bit too egoic to me. I mean, what of all the things that are there that our eyes can’t perceive? That our ears can not hear? Are we still arrogant enough to discount the fact that our original 5 senses (there are 22 -53 senses now) can only perceive a small bandwidth of our natural environment? Aren’t the best and most innovative scientists the ones with a bountiful imagination that think outside the box of modern materialism? It was an interesting internal struggle to navigate, especially while studying to be an RN in the daytime while simultaneously striving to be a mystic healer in the evenings. My grandfather was a scientist. I adored the scientific process. Science was always my favorite class to take in school. Yet, the more I read about mysticism, the more I was hooked. Explorations of the power of energy and visualization felt so utterly captivating that it quickly became part of my daily practice.

Twenty some years later and I’m still so eager to learn about the untapped potential of the mind. Visualization practices have slowly moved from old texts into mental/emotional/spiritual wellness spaces. Serene faces on TED talks explaining how they manifested their new life utilizing visualization practices. Psychologists writing about how visualization techniques have helped their clients overcome previously crippling fears. Swim coaches swearing that visualization helped their team win gold.  

When looking up visualization studies, the scientific community seems to primarily focus on the relationship between visualization and motor control. Countless articles explain how professional athletes visualize their sport in addition to practicing with their bodies. This is commonly referred to as neural rehearsal – imagining a movement activates regions in the motor cortex and basal ganglia as physically performing it, therefore building stronger neural pathways. Although that’s wonderful, it’s not especially applicable to the majority of us not training for the Olympics. But as of late, more focus has been placed on something more tangible for the masses – how visualization changes our neuroplasticity (more on that soon!)

What is Visualization

Visualization in psychology refers to creating mental imagery in the mind’s eye or in one’s imagination, relying primarily on the occipital lobe (the visual processing center) and the prefrontal cortex (generates the imagined image). Visualization can include conjuring up images of places, past memories, possible scenarios, or future creations (to name a few) and is used to influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. And the benefits are far reaching. Utilizing this practice can help unlock a vast array of elements of your life  including:

• reaching goals that once felt completely out of reach 
• reducing chronic levels of stress and anxiety by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system
• enhancing self confidence and feelings of sovereignty
• enriching emotional regulation
• improving overall mental and physical wellbeing 

Not bad for just an imagination practice, eh? But how can visualization be so powerful? Many reasons that we will get to below but mostly because of one very fascinating reason that we touched on earlier in the article – seeing an object and imagining the same object lights up virtually the same neurons in your brain. Translation? The brain (specifically your subconscious that sneakily rules your inner dialogue) isn’t completely differentiating between what you are seeing (physical reality) and what you are expertly imagining (internal reality). Therefore you are able to align your subconscious with your conscious goals, preparing your mind and body for success prior to it occurring. But how does this work? And how would one do this expertly? Let’s dig deeper into the neuro science of creative visualization

The brain’s response to visualization

We’ve already discussed the mirror neurons that light up when we expertly visualize but I’d like to mention two other areas of the brain when performing this practice – the reticular activating system (RAS) and the amygdala. The RAS is a helpful feature in our brainstem – it acts as a filter to screen out unnecessary information. It allows us to focus, maintains alertness, and plays a role in how we perceive and interact with our environment. Visualizing helps fine tune your brain’s filter mechanism as your mind becomes actively programmed to notice opportunities and resources that are tied to your vision. The amygdala is a small almond shaped structure found deep in the temporal lobe and regulates the limbic system (emotional processing, memory, and learning) Vividly imagining positive outcomes soothes the amygdala while stimulating the release of dopamine (that neuro chemical responsible for feeling good).

Visualizing strengthens neural networks 

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize and rewire neural pathways in response to new experiences, new ideas, or in some cases, injuries. This can include rerouting previous neural pathways or creating brand new ones (neurogenesis). Unfortunately it’s not always an improvement. Sometimes neuroplasticity can “entrench pathological states such as chronic pain, addiction, and neurological and psychiatric conditions” (ingrained trauma responses for example). Yet the fact that the brain is able to reroute and create gives hope and exciting results are coming back from studies utilizing psilocybin, found in psychedelic mushrooms, to aid in rewiring strong, stubborn, and unhealthy neural pathways.

Brainwaves has entered the chat

Neurogenesis is important for learning, memory, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility but can’t happen in a body that holds chronic stress and cortisol levels. Therefore it is imperative that prior to practicing visualization practices, one must first allow themselves to drift into an alpha or theta brainwave (aka a meditative state). 

Brainwaves are the measurement of the electrical activity buzzing around in your brain and consists of alpha, beta, theta, and delta. Beta brain waves are the highest and measure between 14-30 hz and are associated with alertness, problem-solving, and logical thinking. Delta waves clock in as the lowest frequency measuring at 0.5 – 4 Hz and is associated with restorative sleep, physical healing and deep relaxation. But in the middle of these two states lie the alpha waves (relaxed focus, creativity, and mindfulness) and theta waves (intuition, insight, and notably described as the ‘gateway to the subconscious’). So how do we get there? Deep breathing exercises, focusing inward for 5+ minutes, and listening to specific audio frequencies like binaural beats help. Additionally, visualizing from a first person perspective and engaging as many of your senses as possible will help make your visualization more vivid, therefore establishing a cognitive dissonance between your current state and your desired future. When this happens, your mind subconsciously seeks to bridge that gap by prompting actionable steps for you to make your vision a reality.

I recently chatted with Emily U, one of our lovely therapists here at the DWC. about visualization and its close cousin, guided imagery. Emily primarily works with clients who are navigating anxiety, depression, and grief at her practice Deep Sage Therapy in Beavercreek, Ohio. She learned about visualization therapy from an AEDP training that she attended that featured renowned Hillary McBride, accredited therapist, researcher, speaker, writer, and podcaster. Emily has been using visualization techniques  with her clients for the past three years and has remarkable results. From creating personal access to an internal ‘safe space’ to rewriting past narratives, to visualizing desired outcomes, Emily believes that the brain is “fascinating and powerful, that we can create worlds, control our nervous system, rewrite narratives and create sensations and meaning” and will continue her practice of “utilizing visualization to create an optimal sensation or experience in the body and nervous system,” with her clients. 

“utilizing visualization to create an optimal sensation or experience in the body and nervous system,”

-Emily U

It’s always been clear that the brain is indeed a fascinating bundle of uncharted territory. But one thing is for certain, regardless of how we drift from manifesting futures to psychological healing, to physical accomplishments – it can be utilized as a profoundly powerful tool. One that we could use to invent a new future for ourselves, for our circle, for our community, and for our world. Imagine the power that we, the people, would have if we actively imagined a brighter and more inclusive future for human kind. One that believes that wellness is a human right just as we do here at the Dayton Wellness Collective. A future that supports our most vulnerable, protects our climate, and celebrates the diversity that makes our lives so enriched. The future can start as a seed in our imagination. And we can grow the change we hope to see in the world.

-Carolyn

Come experience Emily’s guided imagery and visualization at our many workshop events including our next #ResistA Meeting and our September Weekend Camp Out Retreat !

Learn more about Emily U