How Important is Visualization?

You probably have one of these two beliefs about visualization and vision:

1. The most common belief is that the images in your mind, while you’re asleep or daydreaming, have very little relation to the quality of your “real” vision from your eyes. What goes on in your mind isn’t real and is only useful insofar as coming up with ideas you can put into action with your body. This is basically the hyper-analytical worldview.
2. On the other hand, Bates wrote a lot about using visualization to improve vision. Here you might develop the belief that you should create an image in your mind and then project it towards what you see to try to make it fit, the same way you might get some paint of the right color on a paintbrush in order to create what you want on the canvas.

While the second belief is closer to the truth, and could be useful at times, I think it’s backwards. The problem is in your mind, and vision improvement really is about learning to use your mind differently to facilitate good vision. Your eyes are only an extension and operate far too automatically for you to be able to control them consciously.

So what’s the right approach then?

Answer: Improving your visualization ability! 

But if you try to practice while you’re awake, looking around at things, it’s going to be hard. Even merely closing your eyes for a few seconds isn’t likely to be enough.

So I recommend working on it through meditation, in a way I’ll describe.

A Bit About the Things in Your Head

While sleeping, you have probably had the occasional vivid dream, or at least vivid at times, even just for a brief flash. If you can do that while you’re sleeping, why not while awake? What’s stopping you? 

Or if you have experimented with meditation, you probably have had the same sort of thing, but it’s perhaps more interesting because you are not really asleep and might even be somewhat physically aware. Here the question is even more pressing – If you can do it while meditating, why not while completely physically present? 

The interesting thing is when you have a clear image pop in your mind, if you try to “grab” the image and hold onto it, it will fade away. Every time.

The principle of how the images elude your grasp when you try to hold them is even more obvious in your mind than it is when you are regarding an object physically with your eyes. That is to say, you may be able to temporarily get away with a certain amount of force when you are physically looking at something, so the relationship between too much force/strain and your ability to see isn’t so obvious, but with images in your mind that kind of approach doesn’t work even for an instant.

Vivid dreams are a great sign that you aren’t far from being able to see that clearly in waking life. But meditation will bring that ability one step closer to waking life, and that step makes your visualization ability more accessible and “real.” Like learning to walk before you run. There’s a lot going on in your waking life, and the best way to bring your visualization ability out is through meditation. From there, it isn’t so big of a jump to learn to use it while you are fully awake.

But even so, “using” the ability while you are fully awake is more subtle than it sounds.

With continued practice during meditation, better visualization becomes more a part of who you are. As you move from meditation to waking consciousness, things might appear clearer. Or it might feel so easy to make things appear clearer by following a couple simple rules I have described elsewhere like looking for the smallest details. Earlier you attempted to do the same thing and failed, but after visualization practice while meditating, suddenly it’s possible.

When newbies sometimes ask, “Will I have to keep doing the exercise once my myopia is cured?,” the answer isn’t so easy. The answer is if you recover your vision, you won’t come out unchanged. The way you see will be different.

Simplified Meditation Procedure

This will work best if you already occasionally notice flashes of imagery while you are half-asleep. It is merely a matter of getting to that point and addressing the imagery directly in the right way. If you aren’t able to do that yet, skip below for more suggestions.

1. Lie Down – Lie down flat on your back or inclined in an easy chair, in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for 20-40 minutes. Set an alarm if you need to.
2. Breathe – Breathe easily and relax, as if all you’re doing is resting your body, including your eyes. Be patient and allow yourself to do only this for several minutes.
3. Wander – Let your mind wander. Think of a place that appeals to you, such as the beach, the woods, your favorite hangout, or the place you grew up.
4. Notice Imagery– When any image flashes in your mind, notice it but let it go. The image might not have anything to do with your chosen place.
5. Look Around – Consider the image that popped up and what else might be around it in the scene. You might get vague impressions. Notice them, and keep “looking” around the scene, allowing it to change or morph.
6. Continue – The more you practice, the clearer the images will be and the longer they will last.

If you feel your eyes tense up, it’s a sign you are trying to grab onto the images instead of letting them appear and disappear. When you perceive the images and you feel like you “see” them with your eyes and try to use your eyes. remind yourself that it is happening outside your physical body and has nothing to do with your eyes.

If that procedure doesn’t work for you, consider trying the Gateway Experience audio CDs, particularly the first set (Wave 1) that is a lot more reasonably priced if you buy it used. It contains a series of tracks that gradually guide you towards a meditative state. He put a lot more thought and experience into it than I did with the instructions above.

Another thing that might help is limiting your sleeping time at night to 4 or 5 hours and taking a nap at some point later in the day for up to a few hours if needed. One thing this does is blur the separation between your waking and sleeping life, so that the “in-between” meditative states are more frequent and become more accessible to you.

If you feel yourself unable to lie still, it could be a diet issue that’s messing with your system and putting you on edge. When I eliminated all grains, other heavy starches like potatoes, and all high sugar foods like fruit and junk food, this become much easier for me. I’m always tinkering with my diet, and I’m still not totally happy with it, but just consider the idea that your diet could be causing this.

Another approach:

Got any visualization tips or videos to share with the rest of us? Post in the comments!

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David

I founded iblindness.org in 2002 as I began reading books on the Bates Method and became interested in vision improvement. I believe that everyone who is motivated can identify the roots of their vision problems and apply behavioral changes to solve them.

www.iblindness.org

Author: David

I founded iblindness.org in 2002 as I began reading books on the Bates Method and became interested in vision improvement. I believe that everyone who is motivated can identify the roots of their vision problems and apply behavioral changes to solve them. View all posts by David