Mental rehearsal, also known as "sports visualization," is the secret to Olympic success according to gymnast Gabby Douglas, who last week became the first African-American to win the women's all-around gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"Someone mentioned that I was the first black American (to win the all-around gold), and I said, 'Oh yeah, I forgot about that!' I feel so honored," Douglas told USA Today.
Douglas told ESPN in June that she visualizes each routine before it happens to mentally prepare herself to deliver a perfect performance. When trying out for the 2012 Olympic team, Douglas said "I visualized the floor set I wanted to do, and then I went out and hit the best floor routine of my life. It proved to me just how powerful my mind can be."
Douglas even visualized winning a medal. "You have to dream big," she said "and I do visualize myself standing on the top of that podium in London."
Richard Suinn, PH.D, of Colorado State University, the first psychologist to serve on a U.S. Olympic sports medicine team, is a firm believer in the use of creative visualization for athletes. "Modern sports psychology focuses on exercises that strengthen the mental skills that will help athletic performance. Those skills include stress management, self-regulation, visualization, goal setting, concentration, focus, even relaxation."
Law of Attraction guru Natalie Ledwell stresses that people from all walks of life can benefit from learning how to use visualization to achieve their goals. "The secret to successful visualization is to not only visualize the goals or results you want to manifest, but to fully experience and embody how it will feel when you get there," said Ledwell.
Ledwell is also the co-founder of San Diego-based Mind Movies, a personal development company dedicated to helping others bring the full power of visualization and the Law of Attraction into their lives. Over 900,000 people worldwide have already received Ledwell's free pre-made Mind Movies, which are dynamic, moving video vision boards that help users visualize and achieve their goals faster and easier than they ever thought possible.
To find out more about Mind Movies and download 6 free pre-made Mind Movies, visit: http://mindmoviestv.com