Fantasies
Visualization Is The Key To Exceptional Mental Performance
An interview with Mike Posner on the power of the mind.
Updated December 6, 2024 Reviewed by Kaja Perina
Key points
- Mike Posner uses mental skills to elevate his performance in all areas of life.
- He attributes his successful walk across American to training his mind ahead of time.
- Posner learned to navigate challenging and overwhelming moments with breathwork.
Mike Posner appeared at VeeCon 2024 in August, taking place in Los Angeles, with a powerful performance, highlighting his triumphs and challenges. As a Grammy-nominated artist, he has made waves not only in the music industry but also through his extraordinary physical accomplishments, like walking across America. Posner sat down with me for a brief discussion about his mental health journey, including the intense mental performance training he has developed over the years. He opened up about pivotal moments that not only shaped his career but who he is as a person, along with the mental skills he has leaned on to stay grounded amid success and isolation.
From Producing Beats to Signing A Record Deal
Posner talked about his journey from producing beats for rapper, Big Sean, to signing his record deal. The turning point for Posner was when Big Sean secured a record deal, a moment that shattered Posner’s preconceived notions about what was possible. “Once Sean changed his life, I realized I could do it too – I knew I was going to – Sean helped me change my thoughts, which in turn changed my life,” Posner recalled. This mindset transformation was crucial to his success. But how does one change their thoughts? According to Posner, it requires intentional practice.
Harnessing Mental Skills for Success
Posner described using several mental skills to shape his future and success. “One that I use every day is incantations, which are affirmations coupled with the physiological change,” explained Posner. He integrates these affirmations into daily activities, such as cold plunging, running, and dancing. These practices, according to Posner, have rewired his brain, helping him replace old, limiting beliefs with empowering ones.
He also harnessed mental skills when preparing for performances as well as his walk across America. “I filled up journals just writing the same sentence: ‘I, Mike Posner, will walk across America, no matter what,” he described. His unique approach included visualization for not only finishing the 3,000-mile walk but also for when things went wrong.
Things did go wrong – when Posner was bitten by a rattlesnake, he spent three nights in the ICU. “But I didn’t have to think about if I would quit or not, because I had already rehearsed it and visualized my body healing,” he stated. He attributed his mental preparedness to the true reason that he was able to complete his journey, again showing how the mind can be the most powerful tool in overcoming adversity.
Navigating Success and Solitude
Posner described the paradoxical mix of emotions when performing on stage. During his VeeCon performance, he explained how he would have an amazing show and get so much positive feedback. Then after walking off stage, he felt the enormous weight of isolation or loneliness.
He admitted that the highs of performing come with the lows of isolation—a challenge many artists face. Posner candidly said, “You have energy coursing through your veins that’s powerful enough to transform an arena and you come off stage, so then what do you do?” He talked openly about how he’s managed the overwhelming energy in the past but he stated, “That moment right after you accomplish something is more important than the accomplishment.”
He emphasized the power of his mindset and attributes mental preparation and visualization to his successful shows. “Before I go to rehearsal with the band and sign, I rehearse in my mind at a much slower rate,” Posner explained. This mental rehearsal allows him to perfect his performance in his mind first, so by the time he hits the stage, it feels like second nature.
Finding Peace Amid the Chaos
Posner learned to navigate challenging and overwhelming moments with a simple yet profound tool: breath. “I like to meditate before I go on stage and right after,” he said. This routine helps him to stay grounded and live in the moment, allowing him to appreciate his achievements without being flooded by emotions. “If you can learn to just notice your breath throughout the day, that’s more powerful than any book you could read, any podcast you could watch, or any album you listen to – that’ll change your life.”
Posner reflected on the ongoing battle with identity: “All these old habits, depression or lethargy or apathy, they’re all there for me every day. But every day I choose to make it a great day,” Posner astutely said.
Posner’s journey is a powerful reminder that success is not a destination but a daily choice—a choice to embrace the challenges, stay present, and continually strive for growth. When asked about his creative expression, Posner said, “You can’t paint without the borders of the canvas. You need that limitation.” It’s within these limitations that Posner has found the freedom to create, to evolve, and to inspire others on their journeys, no matter where they begin or end.
