The Eye of Your Mind

Before I trained as an optician, I thought I “saw” everything with my eyes. But here’s the truth: your eyes are just the cameras. The real picture happens in your brain, in an area called the visual cortex.

That’s why when you remember a scene, or imagine something vividly, you can see it just as clearly in your mind’s eye. Your brain makes the picture, not your eyeballs.

Here’s a fascinating example. A prisoner of war, captured by the Japanese, spent years in solitary confinement. To stay sane, he would “play golf” in his imagination — every shot, every swing, every putt, all in perfect detail. When he finally returned home, he went to his golf course and played the best round of his life… despite not physically holding a club for years.

What happened? His brain had been practicing all along.

That’s the power of the “eye of your mind.” It’s not woo-woo, it’s real. The brain can’t fully tell the difference between a vividly imagined experience and a real one — so imagining happy, positive scenes can physically change how you feel.

I’ve used this myself. One of my happiest memories is when Patrick was born. The midwife brought him over — he was crying — but the moment I spoke, he stopped, and locked his tiny eyes onto mine. That memory still gives me goosebumps when I replay it.

So here’s my challenge for you:
👉 Close your eyes and bring to mind one of your happiest moments.
👉 Picture it in as much detail as you can.
👉 Notice how your body feels.

That little lift in your mood? That’s the “eye of your mind” at work.

From improving your golf swing to boosting your happiness, it’s one of the most powerful tools you already own — and it doesn’t need glasses.