How do you visualize?

I remember reading somewhere that it's one thing to be able to
meditate in a cave; it's quite another to be able to meditate
when a fist is smashing into your face. I strive for the latter,
but so far fall short.

My visualization is not merely visual. I also engage voice and I
attempt (with varying degrees of success) to feel (kinesthetic).
And it only works when I'm not feeling tremendous anxiety, which
has happened at times like after the Northridge Earthquake in
1994. I had a lot of difficulty letting go after that one. Which
indicates more about me than anything else.

I first "put myself" into a relaxed scene - usually on a beach or
in a forest tree house. I have no idea why the latter relaxes
me; I've never been in a forest tree house.

Then I start tying to sense what it is I want to succeed at; I
visualize the big steps I need to take. Then I ask myself "how,"
and if I don't know how, then it means I've got something to
learn. I've identified many things I don't know by this method.

Another method I use involves going to a local coffee shop and
just doodling on a sheet of paper until something begins to
emerge. I use that as a "visualization seed." I've used this to
create stories and poems, and I'm now attempting to use it to
generate ideas for information products.

Cheers,
Bal