Guided imagery is a way of thinking that directs thoughts and emotions to a desired outcome. That desired outcome could be a more successful place, a less stressful place or a just a relaxed place. To get to this desired place all you need is a little quiet and an active imagination. To assist your imagination to this better place you can use an instructor, an audio recording or read scripts to yourself. 

Guided imagery works to guide you to this new, more positive place, because your mind and body are connected. With practice your body begins to respond to what you are imagining as if it were real. Athletes use guided imagery to put themselves in a successful place. They run through all stages of getting a goal from possession to the breakaway and shooting all the way through watching the score board light up. They can try imagining different scenarios and how they will get out of them, so that when the situation presents itself during game time they know what to do because they have “experienced” this before. 

So we may not be raking in six figures as a professional athlete but you can use guided imagery to move yourself from a place of stress to a place of calm and tranquility by imaging you are actually in that calm and tranquil place. The classic example of a tranquil place is a beach, but anywhere you find soothing: your bed, bathtub or hammock will work.