The Imagination Advantage

I recently read an interesting article entitled “Why our Imaginations Suck and How our Lives Depend on Fixing Them,” by Alex Portera.  In the article there are some interesting points that are helpful for those of us who are trying to improve our lives and be the best we can possibly be in any aspect of our life.  Below is a summary of the points I felt were both interesting and beneficial in reaching our potential. 

#1 We Have Powerful Imaginations as Adults

The article challenges the age old belief that children’s imaginations are simply better than adults.  The author claims that as adults our imaginations are just as powerful as they were when we were children, however we’ve been conditioned to believe otherwise.  I agree that in our society it is not as “acceptable” for adults to use their imaginations as it is for children and as “grown-ups” we are expected to be rational and only view the “real world”.  Our society norms and beliefs encourage adults to imagine less if at all.  However, breaking this thought pattern and allowing ourselves to dream and use our imagination as a child would, will help us to be more successful in our adult life.     

#2 Positive to Negative

Another point from the article is that often when we are children we use our imaginations to do some pretty amazing things.  Form saving the princess form an evil dragon, to becoming the queen of England, or catching the game winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, we do amazing and positive things with our imaginations as children.  Unfortunately, as adults we do just the opposite.  When we actually use our imaginations we usually create worst case scenarios that bring unneeded worry, stress, and fear in to our lives.  Rather than slaying dragons we imagine being terminated or ruining a relationship.  This use of our imagination limits our growth and brings us down.  Instead of thinking in this way, we must use our imaginations like we did as children and create positive scenarios that will impel us to be our best selves and reach our potential.  

#3 Imagination Propels us to Action

As we begin to use our imaginations to create positive experiences and thoughts, it will propel us to action.  When we imagine ourselves winning the “Best Parent of the Year” award, receiving a lucrative job offer, or helping a good friend through a difficult problem, we find that we will begin to do things that will help us to become more like the people we are imagining.  This may seem silly to us “rational” adults but it’s true.  The imaginations we have of ourselves, whether good or bad, propel us to act. 

At the end of the day this article reminded me of the Law of Attraction and how we must use our imaginations to envision the future we want to create.  The more we can “feel it”, the more likely we are to obtain it.  I’m convinced our imaginations can be powerful and strong as adults and we can use them to our advantage.  As we learn to do so, I have no doubt we will find greater success and improve our lives.