Soulpreneurs: Visualize your Process (more than your Goals!)

Millions of people have tried “manifesting” with the Law of Attraction. They imagine themselves holding piles of money… sitting in a fancy house… or driving the perfect car.

Then, after months or years of picturing these dream scenarios, many still find themselves disappointed: Where are those millions of dollars? Where’s that dream job or perfect relationship?

In some cases, outcome-focused visualization even leads to debt, stress over “not manifesting,” and a cycle of self-blame and frustration.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Let’s explore an approach to visualization that’s rooted in reality, supportive of everyday happiness, and conducive to genuine success…

Visualization: A Brief History (and a Common Misunderstanding)

Visualization has been around as long as humans have been dreaming for a better life. Think of Napoleon Hill’s classic Think and Grow Rich with its emphasis on picturing success multiple times a day, or the more recent teachings of “The Secret” from Abraham Hicks. The message has basically been:

1. See what you want in your mind’s eye.
2. Feel as if you already have it.
3. Stay open to receiving it.

Yet, as many have discovered, this approach often leads to unmet expectations…

The problem isn’t that outcome-based visualization is wrong — it can be helpful to create belief and clarify direction — but if that’s all we do, it fosters entitlement, attachment, and disconnection from the real, daily processes that create success.

From “Deserving” to “Opportunity”

A key insight — we don’t inherently “deserve” anything — at least, not in the sense that the universe or God is obligated to deliver your dream house or million-dollar book deal. Consider two perspectives:

• Spiritual: God or the Creator didn’t have to make you. So even your very existence is already a gift! We might say we “deserve” God’s unconditional love… but that doesn’t automatically translate into material success.
• Secular: Your parents didn’t have to give birth or raise you. Life is a precious opportunity; we have the chance to make the best of it.

Visualizing outcomes to fuel a sense of entitlement (“I deserve the money!”) will disappoint and discourage you. Instead, consider that every moment of life is an opportunity to act, serve, learn, refine. That’s what we truly “deserve” — the chance to show up and do the best we can.

The Problem With Traditional Outcome Visualization

1. Attachment to Specific Results
   If you keep imagining “I have a best-selling book!” but never practice the actual writing, you’re pinning success on an imagined future. If results don’t meet your exact vision, it leads to doubt, disillusionment, or self-blame.
   
   
2. Entitlement & Emotional Roller Coasters
   It’s common to repeat mantras like “I deserve this!” … yet if the outer world doesn’t match that story, you’ll ask, “What went wrong?” Entitlement cannot be a foundation for motivation.
   
   
3. Disconnected from the Real Actions
   Daydreaming can become an avoidance mechanism. Rather than building skills or taking small steps, you get stuck in fantasy.
   
   

My Experience With Process Visualization

I’ve been running my coaching business since 2009 in the ultra-competitive marketing industry. Gratefully, my business has grown into a thriving and authentic practice:

• Five self-published books with positive reviews.
• A waiting list of coaching clients.
• A podcast with enthusiastic ratings.
• Consistently successful online courses.

Contrary to popular “manifestation” lore, I don’t focus on visualizing the final achievements — except briefly, to set my direction. Instead, Process Visualization has been crucial to sustaining what I call joyful productivity.

Shift to Process Visualization

Rather than painting a grand vision of a million dollars or a huge following, picture yourself in the act of doing the work:

Examples of Process Visualization

1. Writing a Book

• Instead of imagining yourself on a stage holding a best-selling book, envision the daily writing session.
• Notice your posture, your breathing, and any tension or resistance you feel when faced with a blank page.
• Visualize yourself leaning into calm curiosity: “How can I express this idea well?”
• Imagine letting go of self-criticism and focusing on the message you want to share.

2. Growing a Coaching Practice

• Don’t just see a full roster of clients.
• Picture yourself sending emails or direct messages from a genuine place of service.
• If you use social media or ads, envision exploring the technology with patience, rather than frustration.
• See yourself handling rejections or “no’s” gracefully, trusting that your skill and client base grow over time.
  
  

The Compound Effect of Process

In the book The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy shares the story of two people:

• Aaron takes a job paying $5,000/month but doesn’t learn new skills.
• Barbara builds a small business, starting with just $10 a week, but improves her skills and income 10% weekly.

Here’s the resulting wealth of these people:

• 3rd month: total of $15,000 (Aaron) versus $235 (Barbara)
• 12th month: total of $60,000 versus $15,000 (Barbara)
• 18th month: total of $90,000 versus $186,000 (Barbara)
• 24th month: total of $120,000 (Aaron) versus $2.2 million (Barbara)

Of course, it doesn’t work perfectly like that. The point that’s being illustrated here is that over time, small improvements lead to massive gains.

Consistent steps, refined over and over, outperform any “overnight success” fantasy.

Practical Steps for Day-to-Day Success

A lot of people do “vision boards” or they read their vision statements at night. That might help with inspiration, but for purposeful action taking, it’s far more effective to sprinkle process-visualization throughout your workday:

1. Briefly Visualize the Outcome (Direction & Possibility)
   It’s still helpful to have an overarching goal or sense of “Yes, this is possible!” So do spend a little time seeing your future in your mind’s eye and “feeling” it if you can. Just don’t spend too much time with it, nor attach your identity to it.
   
   
2. Schedule the Specific Actions
   Put the relevant tasks on your calendar — e.g., “Write 500 words,” “Set up an Instagram Ad,” or “Email 3 potential clients.” When you plan it, take a moment to visualize yourself doing it calmly and joyfully. This reduces mental resistance and sets a positive tone.
   
   
3. Re-Visualize Before the Task
   When the time arrives, pause for a minute. Close your eyes, sense how you want to feel while doing the task, and see yourself doing it with ease.
   
   
4. Do the Task, and Notice Tension
   As you work, pay attention to any frustration, tight shoulders, or self-doubt. That’s a sign you’re “practicing” tension and fear. Pause, breathe, and recall the calmer mental picture and positive feeling you would prefer to have as you do your work.
   
   
5. Repeat & Refine
   Each time you do the task, you’ll see what worked, what felt awkward, and how to improve. Take a moment afterwards to mentally rehearse again what you wish you had done differently.

Keep repeating these steps every day, so that you enjoy your journey more and more. And you’ll make consistent progress on your biggest goals!

Process-visualization starts creating a bit of muscle memory. The practice of the actions strengthens that muscle memory. Your mindfulness about the process allows you to see what you need to adjust, so that you can enjoy the actions even more.​

Eventually, you’ll get to an advanced level where you don’t even need to set aside time to visualize anymore. You’ll find yourself being able to easily imagine what outcome you want, and then take actions from a practiced state of joyful productivity.

This article was originally written in 2017. Updated in 2025.