That's a great time for it, while riding the bus! As long as you don't have some weirdo sitting next to you talking at you the whole time...

Basically I never had to use any kind of visualization techniques or anything... I just would b thinking about something and subvocalizing it to myself. You know, how you're like right on the verge of actually speaking only you dont? I find that when I'm thinking about something that really interests me I automatically do this - in fact sometimes if I'm a little too into it I actually start talking to myself under my breath... moving my mouth but with no voice. I didn't realize I was doing this until a few people made fun of me for it, and when they did I thought back and realized I was really 'talking to myself'. Heh, so maybe I'm a little unstable and that's why this works...

But I just said all that so you understand exactly what I mean by subvocalizing.

Also, I think it's necessary to be thinking about something that's really important to you. Something you can get worked up about.

I'd find myself mowing the lawn and just thinking idly about nonsense - you know "That Gilligan! When will he learn... " or whatever, and I'd think "no... I can use this time for something more important". And it would take a moment of effort to start a decent train of thought. It's like clearing your mind of all the pointless crap that clogs it up most of the time and getting focused. Or even better yet, is if you're pissed off about some argument you've been having with somebody. In that case, just continue it in your head. Of course, the problem with continuing an argument is that when you state your opinion, no matter how well reasoned it is, the other person will automatically disagree. I'm sure that's how I started doing this... continuing arguments that I didn't feel done with yet. In that kind of situation it's not like you have to work to supply the other person's voice or point of view... it pops up all by itself because you already know what they'll say / how they'll say it.

So that might be a good way to start out. Think about some argument that you didn't win (that way you;ll still have some simmering feelings about it) - it might even work with an old argument if you still feel strongly about it. Just imagine yourself in the situation again and state your position. Don't worry about visuals - think of it as a phone convo if that helps. I never pictured these people at all.

And you shouldn't have to work to 'hear' them at all either. IDK though, have a very good imagination that I've sharpened by being an artist/writer, so maybe 'normal' people can't do it as easily? Though I suspect most people on this board are in pretty much the same boat as me.

Anyway - if you do try it by initiating an argument, then try to bring in another voice. Somebody you know who might have a more neutral opinion or who might naturally try to be a peacekeeper. Or who would take your side entirely. In this way hopefully you'll see how it works and then you can try it with other situations besides arguments. Maybe don't think of it as "getting access to the subconscious" - that puts a weird spin on it and I never thought of it that way until much later - just begin an inner dialogue. It's not anything difficult - we do it all the time really. But I think we normally just do it if we're pissed off about some argument we just lost or something.

The point is to try to use the same technique for something more constructive.