AlittleBetter.net

Power of Self-Imaging

August 14, 2009

Have you ever heard of how powerful your self-image is? I had, but I was skeptical, so I put together an experiment to test this…

My school had a very crowded long hallways, and I had two classes that were on opposite ends of the hallway. Since I had to go twice anyways I decided to try something out. The first time I was going to go through the hall I would repeat over and over again in my mind “I’m as small as a mouse” while at the same time picturing myself to actually be that height. Now the hallways at school were normally rough, but this time was ridiculous. People didn’t even seem to notice I was there. I was pushed into the lockers three times, brushed past like I was nothing, and had my books knocked on to the floor. No one helped me pick them up.

I was unpopular so it could have just been that effecting how people treated me. I would have to try another test to double check the first one.

This time I decided that instead of picturing myself as smaller than I was, I would picture myself as a giant. I went so far as to plan an area of about a foot and a half to be filled with this mentally projected image of myself. The bell rang, and I started through the same hall that I had gone through before with the same students going in between classes.

Without a single word from me, the behavior of those around me was completely different from my first pass. Where as in the first pass, people bumped in to me constantly, and I was pushed against the lockers multiple times in this pass people actually stepped out of my way. What was more amazing was that the students were not just stepping out of my way, they were stepping out of the way of the image I was projecting in my mind. It was the same packed hallway, but people were getting out of the way of an image that they couldn’t see, but that I was telling myself I am.

I don’t know how far the effects of this experiment go, but I do know that how you view yourself effects very profoundly how others will view you. So how can we use this? If you think of yourself as a failure, you will be perceived as a failure. If you want to change how others view you, this experiment proves that just changing how you view yourself goes a long way.

Have you noticed an effect similar to this in your own life? Was it positive or negative? How do you think this knowledge could be used in a positive manner? Will you go out and try an experiment like this? Feel free to post any results here.

Entry Filed under: confidence. .