It cannot be denied that the pandemic changed us; it inserted a pause into our lives that has been hard to recover from. Have you noticed the different ways it may still impact your motivation? Perhaps it caused you to rethink your possibilities. Or did you put your life on hold and give up on some dreams? How do you get your motivation back? There’s an amazing NLP skill that puts you back in control so you never need to feel helpless like this ever again. It’s future pacing — this is where you direct your mind to go into the future, visualizing something tangible and positive.

What exactly is future pacing and why does it work?

Future pacing is a neuro-linguistic programming technique that you use to create positive expectations, which gives you the experience of enjoying the desired results right now!

When you anticipate something it activates the well-being and reward part in your brain. Many of us get just as much fun from planning our vacation as experiencing it. And think about the last time you heard an inspiring speaker who made you want to get up and get going! While you sat and listened, had those words made you healthier or made you more money, or done anything tangible for you yet? In a way…yes. They triggered a state of high motivation in your brain. You saw and heard in your mind’s eye how the world would receive your achievement. You actually felt how it would feel then. You were there!

Olympic and high-performing athletes tap into the power of future pacing all the time. They see themselves on the platform, receiving the gold medal, as the crowds go wild. They see and feel their muscles straining as their bicycle streaks past the Finish Line at the Tour de France. They hear the basketball swoosh through the hoop to score the winning point.

When you experience the anticipated result by seeing, hearing and feeling the rewards, you drive positive expectations deeper into your mind and body. It grounds you. Your expectation begins to work for you, not against you.

How you can make future pacing a daily practice.

Visualize the future you desire. Rather than dwelling on how bad the world has become, form an idea of your positive future (a vision board helps) and bring it to mind multiple times during the day.

Keep your focus on where you’re headed. People realize their greatest potential when they focus on one thing at a time. Work hard at creating routines and systems that will get you to where you want to go. Master your craft — one aspect of it at a time. Meditate, journal, and talk with others about it.

Spend your energy wisely. Understand that every thought, word and action is taking your energy. Ensure your energy is going toward the realization of your dream. When you awaken every day, eat with your vision in mind; move with it in mind; speak with it in mind; live with your dream always in mind. Start manifesting your vision now in your personal and professional life. And you will begin to feel the rewards, right now.

Attract others into your community.  As you work at mastering your chosen course, you will naturally draw others into your community and they’ll be thrilled to help you fulfill your vision. Your passion as a leader will spark greatness in others, which will keep your flame alive.

Plan something spectacular for when your current reality is over and a new normal is present. By planning something big, you’ll instantly benefit from future pacing a transformational experience. 

When you get good at practicing Future Pacing, you’ll embody your big dream — your whole mind, body connection will live it naturally. And when you practice embodiment, you value, motivate, and bring out the best in yourself and the people around you, which can leave a lasting impact. If you’d like to explore this further, download my free report, 10 Steps to an Embodied Practice. Even if you don’t plan on becoming a coach, the principles can be applied to both your life and your business.

Your “Dream Big, Start Small” here’s the one thing you can do today. 

When you see yourself experiencing the fruition of your goals, hopes, and dreams, it activates the well-being and reward part of your brain. You begin living as if you’ve already achieved it.

Olympic and high-performing athletes tap into the power of Future Pacing all the time. They see themselves on the platform, receiving the gold medal, as the crowds go wild. They see and feel their muscles straining as their bicycle streaks past the Finish Line at the Tour de France. They hear the basketball swoosh through the hoop to score the winning point.

I invite you to practice Future Pacing today — “dust off” your dreams and begin imagining in full detail what it will feel like to achieve them.

Photos by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash