The Misunderstanding Between Visual Thinkers and Verbal Thinkers

"I have a clear image in my mind, so why can't I take action?"
Have you ever had an experience like that?

I can picture the future,
and I know what I want to do and what I want to challenge myself with.

And yet, for some reason, reality
never seems to move forward.

This is something I have experienced myself.

For the longest time,
"Maybe I haven't fully visualized my vision,"
"Maybe the sense of reality is too weak,"
"Maybe I'm actually resisting it somewhere deep down,"
I kept searching within myself.

But later on, I realized something.

This phenomenon wasn't a matter of 'ability,' but
stemmed from a 'difference in premises.'

▶ When you are thinking, which one are you?

In this world, when people think,
there are those who think primarily in 'words',
those for whom 'visuals' are dominant,
and those who perceive things in 'space'.

I'm sure there are people who don't fit into these three categories,
but for the sake of convenience, I will proceed with these three types.

For people who think in words,
"what they want to become" comes to mind as words,
and they expand their imagery from there.

On the other hand, people who think in visuals or spatial terms
have an image
as an atmosphere or sensation from the very beginning.

What kind of place is it,
what is the temperature like,
and what kind of presence is in the air?

That description comes first.

This is where misunderstandings easily occur.

However, this is not a matter of superiority or inferiority,
but simply a difference in thinking characteristics.

It is not about which is correct or better,
and I hope you will read on with the premise
that each has its own way of grasping things.

▶ Examples of when you feel a sense of discomfort

For example, a workshop on creating a visual board.

The reaction changes when you are told,
“Let’s try to imagine it more concretely.”

For people who think in words,
it helps to expand and deepen their imagination
regarding the place, the texture, the scent, and so on.

However,
for people who think in visuals or spatial terms,
the task of converting what is already in their heads
into a different form begins.

Moreover, that conversion process
usually results in a loss of precision...

It’s like trying to describe a landscape or the feelings you had at the time
using English you just learned...
It ends up being a clumsy translation.

I was the same way.

In my head, there was something I could clearly feel.

But, in the process of converting that into the form of "words" so I could convey it to others,
and then further narrowing it down to photos or illustrations that matched both what I had originally envisioned in my head and what I had expressed in words,

the feeling of
"Wait... this isn't quite right"
would just keep piling up.

"Wait... this isn't quite right"
would just keep piling up.

Even so, I kept trying to force it to fit, thinking,
"Maybe I'm just doing it wrong,"
"Maybe if I look for images that match better, it will feel right."

What was the result?

I became unable to move forward.

▶ It's just a difference in "premises"

But this wasn't that I "couldn't do it,"
but rather that I was just working hard while holding onto a mismatched premise.

It might be seen as "wasted effort,"
but I think it's hard to notice unless you know that there are differences in patterns regarding how people think, imagine, and direct their thoughts.

It might be seen as "wasted effort,"
but I think it's hard to notice unless you know that there are differences in patterns regarding how people think, imagine, and direct their thoughts.

It might be seen as "wasted effort,"
but I think it's hard to notice unless you know that there are differences in patterns regarding how people think, imagine, and direct their thoughts.

▶ When you feel like things are "off," it's necessary to stop and pause

If you are: - Unable to move forward even though you have a clear image - Not feeling right even though you are doing the work - Feeling more uncomfortable the more you are told to "be more specific"

If you find yourself in that state,
I would like you to stop and pause for a moment.

What is it that you are 'trying to see'?

Not 'what you want to obtain,' but
'what kind of feeling you want to experience.'

If that is misaligned,
no matter how correct the method seems,
or how many people are using it,
even if you keep trying it,

unfortunately, it will never
'feel right.'

People who think visually
already possess the 'experience'.

There is no need to go out of your way
to convert it into another format,
and lose precision in the process.

'How can I make this happen?'
is important, but

when you have come to a standstill,
more than that,

'What is it that I am drawn to?'

Please turn your attention to that.

By just slightly
adjusting your focus,
you should find the insight to start moving again.

Until next time.

Thank you for reading this article to the end as well.
Thank you.

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I hope to be a place like that.
When you need to, please reach out from here.

Other articles are also organized
by theme according to their sensory focus.

There might be something
that matches your current feeling.
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