Can negative visualization be useful ?

[Rishabh R]

Can it decrease suffering and make us better handle setbacks etc. ?

[Rishabh R]

@Akashic thank you. Ryan Holiday talks about it too.

[Thought Art]

22 minutes ago, Rishabh R said:

Can it decrease suffering and make us better handle setbacks etc. ?

Ideally positive visualization helps with overcoming set backs. But, a balance of optimism and pessimism are useful for life generally.

[Rishabh R]

@Thought Art but in the past when I used to do positive visualization I was disappointed at the time of results.

[Thought Art]

@Rishabh R Depends how you use visualization. 
 

Visualization is something you master over time. It’s not as easy as visualizing everything going the way you want it to and then that happening. You refine your visualization over time. 
 

1. Visual

2. Experience reality

3. Self Reflect and improve

repeat
 

Visualizing that things will go badly doesn’t help either. In fact it can make things worse. 
 

Developing an optimistic view, and using visualization of how you will act, how you approach your day, your posture, your success. This helps. 

Pessimism is useful as well when down constructively. 
 

The point is that you are working towards improving your life, while balancing pessimism and optimism, facing the truth, visualizing your success, refining your skills and lifestyle until you are living a powerful life.

 

Edited December 29, 2023 by Thought Art

[Rishabh R]

14 minutes ago, Thought Art said:

@Rishabh R Depends how you use visualization. 
 

Visualization is something you master over time. It’s not as easy as visualizing everything going the way you want it to and then that happening. You refine your visualization over time. 
 

1. Visual

2. Experience reality

3. Self Reflect and improve

repeat
 

Visualizing that things will go badly doesn’t help either. In fact it can make things worse. 
 

Developing an optimistic view, and using visualization of how you will act, how you approach your day, your posture, your success. This helps. 

Pessimism is useful as well when down constructively. 
 

The point is that you are working towards improving your life, while balancing pessimism and optimism, facing the truth, visualizing your success, refining your skills and lifestyle until you are living a powerful life.

 

But I think that visualizing  that what can you do when things are going wrong could be a useful strategy.

[Yimpa]

Sure, recontextualizing and expanding the meaning of something you hold very tightly helps.

For example, if you’re extremely sensitive about being a skinny person and have been bullied about it, watch a comedian who pokes fun at himself for being skinny.

 

[Thought Art]

4 minutes ago, Rishabh R said:

But I think that visualizing  that what can you do when things are going wrong could be a useful strategy.

I am agreeing with you if you read what I’m saying carefully

[Thought Art]

Use negative visualization to see what could go wrong with negative visualization and you’ll perhaps see what I’m saying

[Rishabh R]

@Thought Art I mean that having a backup plan can be fruitful .

 

[Thought Art]

@Rishabh R Okay, I’m still not disagreeing 

[Rishabh R]

@Thought Artok