Different individuals have a propensity to process information in the brain differently: either via hearing (auditorally), feeling (kinesthetically), or seeing (visually). In other words, the way you think about things and solve problems will often involve the use of one part of your brain more than another. Everyone uses some combination of all of their senses, but each individual will tend to rely on one more than the others. Some people will “look for the answer”, while others will feel about it, and others will listen to their inner voice.
Clues to the way you process information may be found in your profession. For example, artists tend to be visual, musicians tend to be auditory, and massage therapists are often kinesthetic.
Your language traits can also reflect your sensory predilection. For example, you might be inclined to use phrases like, “let me get a feel for that”, or “I see what you mean”, or “sounds about right to me”.
Of course, the name “guided imagery” implies using inner vision. But a good guided imagery program will help you engage all of your senses. In fact, the words “sense” or "experience" can often be preferable in a guided imagery script to words like “see”, allowing the listener to choose which sense they engage, rather than forcing them to try to use one they might be less comfortable with.
For example, if I suggest that you “experience this healing energy reaching every part of you” you can easily interpret that suggestion in the way that works best for you. But if I say “feel this healing energy reaching every part of you” if you’re primarily a visual type of person you’d have to do extra work to follow along. Sometimes to cover all the bases, a good script will suggest that you “see, feel, and hear this healing energy reaching every part of you”, challenging you to use all of your senses.
You might enjoy noticing which sense seems to be your primary one, and then experiment by trying to use your other senses more when thinking about things, or solving problems. Doing that is one way to stretch your brain, and get a new perspective. Warning: Don't stretch your brain too far, too fast, or you might risk the dreaded "brain snap"!
Just kidding. Brain snap is actually very rare! (Still kidding. There's no such thing as brain snap at all. I just made that up.)
If you feel like your brain is about to snap, check out the guided imagery & guided meditation programs listed below, and on the left side of the page, for some great de-stressing and deep relaxation.
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