Research indicates that while visualizing goals can be beneficial, there is a threshold beyond which this practice might lead to confusion, causing individuals to mistakenly believe they are making progress. This phenomenon occurs because envisioning success can trick the mind into feeling accomplished, reducing motivation to take real action toward those goals.

Similarly, verbal affirmations can have a comparable effect. According to Ryan Holiday in his book "The Ego Is the Enemy," excessive focus on visualizing and verbalizing achievements can detract from the necessary work and effort required to attain them. Recognizing this balance is crucial for effective goal attainment.