Most top acting instructors tend to agree, that visualizing yourself performing your entire performance, from start to finish, several times each day can quickly improve your performing abilities, all without actually doing the performance.

It's true that creative visualization is an excellent method for improving your abilities.
But, just imagine how helpful it could be if you were to visualize yourself living your best life possible, and you were able to COUNT AWAY your nervousness, and any issues that were causing you stress, self doubts, or other concerns?
                                                                     Think about that for a moment...
If there are any areas of your life that you're having trouble with, such as not being very good at dating, you could simply visualize yourself going on a date, and count those issues away!

Create an imaginary "Mental Movie" in your mind of your entire performance from start to finish, just as you would like to have it turn out.
Creating a mental movie is where you pretend you are writing the scenes for a documentary style movie that you are producing that shows your upcoming event. Your mental movie should start from just before the event begins, and run all the way through to its finale.


                                                                 IMPORTANT...
In your mental movie, try to include as many details as you can think of, no matter how small the details may be.

Examples of details you'll want to include: If it is a live, public event where there will be lots of spectators (shoppers, employees, etc.), then include the sounds of those spectators (voices, laughing, walking noises).
If the event takes place outdoors, then try to include the weather conditions.
Is it warm and breezy, or cold and windy? Add any other supporting cast members, such as friends, additional people you're out with, security guards, ushers, teachers, classmates, etc.

Also notice your emotions during your event....how do you expect to be feeling?
Would you be feeling any nervous jitters before or during your event? Would you be worried about some part of your performance in particular? If so, then make sure you include ALL of those emotions in your movie.

Do you expect to feel joyful and excited afterward? Or will you just feel relieved that it's finally over?  Add all those feelings into the movie scenes as well!

The goal you're trying to accomplish by doing this is to match your mental movie as closely as possible to the actual event.
The more accurately you describe the entire event, the more effective this technique will be for you. Doing this gets MUCH easier with a little practice!


For example:
Let's say you're planning your first-ever date with someone you've had your eye on for a LONG time. You would start "writing" the screenplay for your movie by detailing the plot; naming all the characters involved; adding in the all of the sounds made by the characters; add in how you're dressed (be as specific as possible); add in YOUR emotions; and lastly, add in how YOU hope to be acting during your date.



                            DO THIS SECOND:
Then, give your movie a title that best represents how your movie makes you feel. If your movie is about an upcoming event that is worrying you, then you might give it a title such as:

                                                                  "My first date"

Or, if your movie is about you going somewhere that you're worried about, then your title might be:

                                          "This will be my scariest ________ ever!"




                              DO THIS THIRD:
Make yourself comfortable. Then, close your eyes, and with your eyes closed, roll your eyes slightly upward, as if you're trying to see the center of your forehead, and listen to your own breathing. Focus your attention on the sound of the oxygen going slowly in and slowly out. Relax. Do this exercise eight times.


Now, start replaying (visualizing) your movie in your mind over and over, several times, until you are able to replay it in its entirety from start to finish -- without having to try to remember any of its individual scenes. Remember to include all of the details (noises, conditions, characters involved, feelings & emotions you're experiencing, etc.)!

                                                                  IMPORTANT
While you're visualizing, really TRY HARD to “internalize” your mental movie, by allowing yourself to deeply FEEL yourself actually BEING the exact person that you are imagining.
Focus intently on how you are FEELING while you are visualizing. What thoughts are going through your mind? Specifically, notice what emotions (even subtle emotions) are you experiencing during each scene of your mental movie? All of this matters!

For best results, do this entire exercise at least once in the morning, and once just before going to sleep. The more you do it, the better your overall results will be!




                             DO THIS FOURTH:
Next, start counting backward from 8 – while you're replaying your movie over and over in your mind. Doing the counting while visualizing yourself BEING ON THE DATE, will greatly help you to make this image become your reality.
  
                                                                            Also...
In your mental movie, if you come upon anything that is making you feel anxious or worried, (even if it's only a little bit distressing to you) then count backward from 8 – while you repeat that SAME ANXIOUS SCENE over and over in your mind until you no longer feel any nervousness or distress from it.

This will greatly help you to internalize the perfect performance, so that it occurs just the way you want it to. Then, you will be focused, and you'll feel completely calm and confident before and during your entire event. It's WORKS!!

Keep repeating this process of counting while visualizing over, and over, and over – daily...and take a deep breath and BLOW IT OUT slowly following each replay of your mental movie.

                     Powerful Visualization Method For Preventing Mistakes...

Here's another VERY helpful mental movie technique for improving your focus and confidence.

Since it can often be very difficult to maintain your mental focus after you've made a mistake during an event, do this: During the days and weeks leading up to your live performance (even if it's just a date)...

Try imagining the WORST PERFORMANCE you could possibly have, with mistakes happening all over the place. Then start counting backward from 8 while you imagine that awful performance over and over in your mind.

Doing this will help you to reduce the anxiety and worry you may feel as a result of making some mistakes during your performance. Then, you will be better able to maintain your complete focus and confidence throughout the entire event.

Keep repeating this process over, and over -- until you can no longer feel anything, except for complete confidence, during your mental movie.

Then take a deep breath, and BLOW IT OUT slowly following each replay of your mental movie.