Can You Visualize?

[figment_jii]

A somewhat random question about people's visualization skills. I've often wondered "if it's just me" or if others are like me.

Remember in grade school and the teacher would say "close your eyes and visualize [fill in the blank]"?

When someone says to visualize something do you see it clearly (like in a photograph)?

Whenever I try to visualize anything I can't really see anything. My mind's eyes sees an image (say of a Mickey Mouse), but it like I'm looking through a very dark window at an image that appears, disappears, and re-appears, over and over.

I was just wondering what other see when they try to visualize things.

 

[tkd lisa]

I'm one of those people that can't really visualize. My dreams are more like reading a book than actually "being there". And I can't see any of those 3D magic eye pictures!

 

[figment_jii]

I can do the 3d magic eye pictures, but mostly I think because it doesn't require me to close my eyes and 'see' anything. I just stare at it and let my eyes unfocus and eventually it appears.

I wonder what make it possible for some people to visualize things like they were looking at photograph and others, like me, who can't.

 

[rie'smom]

Yes, I visualize very easily-everything is crystal clear.

 

[julie_yet]

I'm pretty good at seeing things in my mind's eye. If I visualize myself it's usually in the first person.

 

[miss missy]

try this... its cool

Read this first:

Concentrate on the the four vertical dots in the middle of the image below for 30 seconds.

Now, close your eyes and tilt your head back. Keep them closed: You'll see a circle of light. Keep staring at the circle...

What do you see?



http://www.bobs-page.de/jesus.gif

 

[Aidensmom]

try this... its cool

Read this first:

Concentrate on the the four vertical dots in the middle of the image below for 30 seconds.

Now, close your eyes and tilt your head back. Keep them closed: You'll see a circle of light. Keep staring at the circle...

What do you see?



http://www.bobs-page.de/jesus.gif

I don't see anything, not even a circle of light.

However, I am very good at visualizing, and I am also a very visual learner. If someone asks me to picture something, I see it very clear. I also have what some might call a photographic memory - when I used to take tests in high school and college, I would think "Oh, that was on the top of my third page of notes!" and in my mind I would actually READ my notes from the picture in my head.

 

[Cool-Beans]

While I can visualize, say a beach with palm trees where everything is warm, it doesn't really help me - I don't feel any warmer. Just cold and thinking about a warm beach, which (for me) just adds insult to injury.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I can visualize very easily, but I'm also somewhat of a synesthete. It wasn't until I was in my twenties that I realized not everyone was.

 

[thewishfire]

try this... its cool

Read this first:

Concentrate on the the four vertical dots in the middle of the image below for 30 seconds.

Now, close your eyes and tilt your head back. Keep them closed: You'll see a circle of light. Keep staring at the circle...

What do you see?



http://www.bobs-page.de/jesus.gif

I've never seen anything like this before.. very cool! I love optical illusions and such.

But to the OP, I'm an OK visualiser. I was just thinking about this the other day actually... I mean, I can 'see' what I'm thinkin about, but it isn't crystal clear.

 

[debster812]

My swim coach in college brought in a sports psycologist to speak to us 4 or 5 times a year. One of the things he worked on with us was the ability to 'visualize your perfect race'. Some of the stuff was fascinating. Total self relaxation before visualization. Sophomore year I swam 3 races each one a personal best, and the last one I hit the EXACT time we had chosen to focus on and visualize.

I can still use some of the techniques now, even though this was back in the dark ages of the late 80s.

 

[Serena]

I can visualize pretty easily.