Writers face many challenges. We write, we blog, we market, we post, we wait, and on and on we go. The process is sometimes fun, sometimes tedious, and at times, downright exhausting. So how can we keep up the momentum to actualize our goals?

One method is visualization. Visualization practices have been around for thousands of years. Meditation practitioners use visualization as a means of cultivating focus and controlling emotions. Use of visualization practices has become more popular in the West in the form of guided imagery and pop psychology phenomena like the Secret (yes that book about thinking about stuff and having it come true).

Today I will teach a form of goal visualization for daily practice. It requires no previous meditation experience. All you need is an open mind. This simple process has worked for me again and again. I hope it brings you as much success.

Step 1: Visualize your goal. When I began writing fantasy fiction I wanted to finish a novel. Once I knew what my goal was, I focused on it. I visualized myself holding the completed manuscript in my hands. As I held it, I imagined what feelings I might experience at this moment: joy, or perhaps contentment. Resting in this visualization I said the following words in my mind, ‘No matter how long it takes, or what obstacles arise, I will work hard to accomplish this goal.’

Step 2: Visual the process of accomplishing your goal. When I began writing my novel, I didn’t know how long it would take or how to approach the task. If your goal is something concrete like getting into medical school, this step requires you to research the necessary steps needed to actualize your goal. Once you know this, you can begin visualizing (and planning) your process. Once you have a good idea of the process required to accomplish your goal, you can start imagining yourself doing it. This will help you build confidence for the next step.

Step 3: Engage your visualization process. Once you know the steps needed to accomplish your goal, and you have visualized a path to get there, you must act. In my case, I chose to write for 1 hour a day. To support my action, I would often preface my writing with a few minutes of visualization. First, I would visualize the finished manuscript in my hands and imagine the sense of accomplishment and contentment it would bring me. Then I would reflect on the progress, however small, I made toward accomplishing my goal. It’s important not to be self-critical at this point; instead, visual ways of improving your process. In my case, I found I wrote better in the morning than at night when I was less focused.

Step 4: Visualize past your goal. This must be done with caution. Goals are often milestones for other goals. Say publishing a novel after writing it. Visualized goals should be big with defined steps, but not so big that they paralyze us into inaction. Also, don’t mistake fantasy for visualization. A fantasy is an escape. Visualization is a tool. I can derive a certain amount of momentary contentment fantasizing about what it would be like to be a famous author, but a fantasy offers no path of accomplishment. Only visualizations can do this. So dream big, plan well, and when you see the end of the tunnel, see past it.