The Power of Visualisation
We are all welcoming 2021 with a big smile on our faces and hopeful that it will be a great year! What we have lived in 2020 has tested every single one of us and it has brought a totally different outlook on life. We have had to completely change our habits and routines, forget our hobbies and favourite activities for a while, less time with friends and family, etc. Everything changed! (am pausing to take time for a thought of compassion for those who were personally affected by this pandemic).
We were taught and now are teaching the younger crowd to find a positive in every negative situation. What are the positives that can come out of such crazy and uncertain times? As I see it - and even though on a business level it was a struggle (the Barcelona Tennis Academy obviously suffered a lot from a lack of players due to lockdowns and the inability to travel - it was a positive year on a personal level. A year, which allowed us to realise how important it is to live in the present and enjoy all the little things, which make it so special to be alive. 2020 allowed us to take a step back, a deep breath and take a closer look at ourselves to become a stronger individual.
Other than realising how much I valued a “normal life” (family, friends, the job, traveling, etc.), I could hit the pause button and start improving aspects of my life that needed improvement. In that way, I realised how huge the power of visualisation is - how much one can grow by just visualising what they would like to see happening (an ace in tennis, a perfect swing in golf, a consistent free throw made in basketball, etc.). Actually, mentioning basketball reminds me of this study done at the university of Chicago at the end of the 90’s, in which basketball players of a same level were divided in 3 groups. The first group practiced free throws for one hour everyday, the second group just visualised making free throws (they did not touch a basketball) and the 3rd group did nothing. After 30 days, the third group obviously did not improve, the 1st group improved a 24% and the 2nd group improved a 23% (almost exactly the same improvement without touching a ball). Just imagine what would happen if you both practiced and visualised. In tennis, for example, a player should hit a basket of serves every day, but also practice visualisation from home with the eyes closed). There are examples of professional athletes even performing better with their eyes closed (Michael Jordane’s free throws or Sergio Garcia’s putting).
On a personal note, I was amazed how my golf swing had improved at the end of November, after not touching a golf club for 3 weeks because of restrictions in Cataluña to close all sports facilities. It improved just through watching golf on TV and YouTube videos.
For 2021, I wish for all of you to get back to some type of normality and enjoy time with your family and friend, to get back to playing sports and enjoy your favourite activities, but I also recommend you to visualise all the positive things you want to see happening in your lives.
Have a great year!!
