The Power of Imagination

Happy Easter a day late. I love Easter. It’s one of my favorite holidays. I love its message of life and hope, and it’s a time I often consider what I am grateful for.

I’ve found occasion to be grateful for a great many things in my life, but my imagination is one of those things I’ve found uses for time and time again. True, it has gotten me in trouble a few times, like in third grade when I’d sit in class and daydream that I had somehow gained the ability to fly. It also was )and occasionally still is) responsible for letting my brain imagine worst-case scenarios, keeping me awake at night, or terrified to go down to the basement alone (that last one doesn’t really happen anymore). However, despite these things, it has been one of my most treasured attributes. It’s helped me far more than not. Imagination is such a powerful tool. Here are some reasons I think everyone should develop his or her imagination.

1- Entertainment. When you have an imagination, you never have to be bored. You can find shapes and faces in trees. You can make up stories about things around you, or even stories that have nothing to do with anything around you. Once, during a twelve-hour car ride, I made up a story involving the same route, the same destination, and even the same King Singers cover of some of the Beatles songs we were listening to. I did, however, add much more adventure and excitement.

2- Empathy. If you can imagine or at least try to imagine what another person is feeling or going through you can connect on a different level. You might not be able to say you know how they must feel, because imagining is not knowing, but you can, perhaps, understand just a bit better. At the very least, it can enable me to give unpleasant people the benefit of the doubt when I can imagine the bad day they must be having to encourage them to act like that.

3- An Escape. Sometimes when life gets hard, it’s nice to be able to disappear into your own world for a little. True, this can get unhealthy if abused, but it can be a nice little vacation if used responsibly. This is probably the reason I got into so much trouble in third grade. I used my daydreams as an escape from school, where I didn’t quite fit in, and my teacher was sell than understanding. I have developed my ability to determine when these daydreams are not appropriate since then, but there are sometimes I still enjoy retreating into my own little world.

4- Problem Solving. When you can imagine what might happen next, or let yourself look at things from a different angle, you can come up with more solutions than someone with no imagination. A shortage of ideas is rare when using your imagination.

5- Exercise. It’s not the kind you’ll find at the gym (I hate gyms. So little scope for the imagination), but it keeps your mind active. The more you use your brain, the stronger it stays. The stronger it stays, the better you can use it and the more you will do with it, which of course, makes it stronger and able to come up with even more awesome stories and ideas. It’s just one amazing upward spiral.

Imagination is a powerful tool. When used correctly in the right times and places. It’s something I’ve used and treasured for as long as I can remember. It’s gotten me through some very tough times and made some of the best times better. So find your imagination. Use it. Strengthen it. And eventually, you may feel the same way.

How do you use your imagination?