"Visualization may be the most underutilized success tool that you possess."
Jack Canfield, best-selling author of Success Principles

This was demonstrated in a dramatic fashion when Y.E. Yang defeated Tiger Woods to become Asia's first major winner at the USA PGA Championship in Hazeltine.

Until now, Tiger Woods has never failed to win from the front in his 14 major victories. And so Yang's victory which sees him leapfrog from 110 in the world to 34 is all the more remarkable and he attributes his victory to being prepared for just the type of circumstance that lead to his victory.

Even Albert Einstein recognized the power of visualization or imagination. Athletes have been practicing this technique for years because it has been scientifically proven that when you visualize your body has the same biochemical reactions and the same muscle fibres are activated as if you were experiencing an event for real.

Your mind doesn't differentiate between what is imagined and what is real.

This can prove to be your undoing because many people imagine or visualize what they don't want but when you visualize what you truly want, this tool is powerful indeed. And the more intensely you visualize, the more you involve your senses the more real your visualization will seem. It's not just what you see but it's what you feel that's key.

So, for instance, you can visualize yourself at peak performance while in a high-pressure environment and this is what Y.E. Yang did:

"I've visualized this quite a few times - playing against the best player in the history of golf, playing with him in the final round in a major championship."

Y.E. Yang noticed how many golfers seem to choke when placed in a similar position. He realized that to emerge victorious from such an encounter that he would have to first of all remain calm and focused. But he also needed something else. He not only needed to control his emotions he needed to control his actions and have at his disposal a range of plays he could make in such a situation.

"When I was at home or at a tournament watching Tiger in the clubhouse, I'd usually try to visualize and try to bring up a mock strategy on how to win if I ever played against Tiger."

Y.E. Yang was thinking like a chest player or even a fighter pilot. Whatever situation was thrown at him he was going to be ready and if it was a situation he had actually visualized he would have dreamt up enough other strategic moves that he would easily be able to come up with the appropriate play while maintaining his composure. And so on this historic occasion Y.E. Yang found his authentic swing to win the day.

However, visualization is not merely for athletes. It's a tool used by all peak performers.

"I've discovered that numerous peak performers use the skill of mental rehearsal of visualization. They mentally run through important events before they happen."
Charles Garfield

And it's a tool that can be and should be used by you if you truly wish to learn how to turn on peak performance at will.