Do You See Yourself in Your Visualizations?
When your brain and body become accustomed to your regular habits, it’s easier to visualize it in your mind. But, when you try visualizing the unknown or the unfamiliar, it can be more challenging. Do you see yourself in your visualizations? Is it possible to achieve a goal or live a life that you only see others doing? What you see in media and in the world greatly impacts how you visualize and how you use it.
In this Vision Story, Veraki interviewed Ana Rojas Bastidas, CEO/Founder of Orolait and creator @powertoprevail on Instagram. She shared with us some key points of why representation is vital to a visualization practice and to what we will achieve as a society when we’re ready to change the conversation.
Society Shapes Your Visualizations
Visualization may be a new concept for some. But, for Bastidas, both meditating and visualizing were common practices passed down by her mother. As she got older, she realized that her ability to visualize was greatly impacted by the systems of society. “I was able to see a version of me in whatever I was visualizing, but it wasn’t fully me.” She explained she couldn’t totally embrace her visualizations of owning and operating a business because she only saw examples of “older, white males” in those roles. No matter how exciting her dreams seemed, they would remain only ideas without action if they continued to feel foreign to her mind and body.
Power to Prevail and Orolait
Bastidas realized that “people who are underrepresented need to be serviced.” She created Power to Prevail five years ago using her voice for advocacy, education, and inclusion. She used this platform to blog about postpartum body positivity. Her message rings loud and true on her IG account: “Through education, community, and a change in perspective, you can find yourself love by discovering your self-worth.”
Her company, Orolait, was created in 2019, not only to provide a product-based solution to a common problem she experienced while breastfeeding in public; it also has become a resource of education for empowering mothers everywhere on their breastfeeding journey.
Visualize Outside the Norm
Visualizing is powerful when it pushes you beyond the norm. It can help you create something completely different than what you see in the world right now. Bastidas explained that, as a brand, they get to ask the question daily “what is our message? Or are we just sticking with the status quo?” She continued, “Sometimes, the conversation needs to be changed, even when you don’t have the full vision in your mind.”
Through her blogs, interviews, and social presence, Bastidas regularly demonstrates the realness of owning and operating a new start-up company. “I share my struggles openly. When women can see someone who isn’t pushing the super-hero status, they are given a new model for how a business can run.” She said that, somedays, she doesn’t have the answers or just feels stuck. It’s times like these that she simply announces it, “I’m stuck and I’m not ready to move forward yet.” This isn’t the model we normally see in business owners. But, then again, Bastidas isn’t interested in being the norm. She encourages each of us to show up and be, unapologetically, ourselves.
Obstacles When Visualizing
What happens when you start forming your vision but all you see are obstacles? Does this mean you’re on the wrong path? Bastidas believes that “obstacles are not a sign of you doing something wrong.” She trusts that the structures we’ve created in society right now are always in flux. New skills are required. Change is essential. “But, how you implement that change and on what timeline is totally yours.” Bastidas cautioned, “It’s important to know the network you’re following. Don’t try to force yourself into the timelines of others.”
As Bastidas continues to expand Orolait, she challenges each of us to look at who we follow, and what we accept as our voice – not only on social media, but in marketing, consumerism, and all areas of society. Visualization is powerfully impacted by the society that shapes the dreams inside our minds. Dare to change the messages you receive and visualize beyond the norm.
To learn more about Ana Rojas Bastidas and Orolait, follow her @powertoprevail or visit www.orolait.com
If these Vision Story interviews inspire you, share your vision in the Veraki app or tag us on social media