Are you more or less creative with more or fewer assets? The power of imagination is the engine of mind-over-matter and inspiration. It’s also always available to you, so make use of it.
Why do some of the biggest companies have the most humble beginnings? In this article, we’ll look at what imagination is, how it goes beyond the physical world, and provide an opportunity to ask yourself how to apply mind over matter in your own life.
Holy Chorizo
The power of imagination is always with you. It’s been there from your earliest memories. Some say that our existence is nothing more than an imagination, a dream.
The Buddha said that we’re the result of what we have thought. Let’s assume he was being hyperbolic for pedagogical effect. What we’re left with is you in the parking lot, alone with a grumbling tummy, wondering what to eat for lunch. Can you imagine that?
And what happens? You make a decision, then a plan, and finally put it into action. Add to that you are what you eat and—boom—a blessed body by beatified banquet. Poo poo and woo woo are one, grasshopper.
From Small Nuts to Fat Fruit
I’d like to talk about a company that you might not have heard of. They operate out of a garage, and the year is 1976. Fast forward to 1995 and there’s another tech upstart that offers free rain car washes as part of the perks.
But you’re too astute. You know that I’m talking about Apple and Amazon. Now think of the unsung small businesses run by immigrants from a repressive country. These are all successful enterprises by those with fairly humble beginnings.
There’s a range within words like humble and fortunate. Suffice it to say that the less you have, sometimes the more you dream. There can be a big gap between thinking and conventional success, but they’re often linked nonetheless. Such is the power of imagination.
Punk Perception
Ever wonder how young people come up with amazing ideas? Aren’t we supposed to have 10,000 hours to be experts? Both of those can be true at the same time.
If you were to believe Jacob Collier, he says that the golden hour of creativity is early. He didn’t mean early in life, or even early in the day. He meant within the arc of mastery.
And herein lies the paradox: the time you’re most creative is when you’re most vulnerable. But we learn skills as though we’re donning battle armor. Yet who is agile in a metal suit? Use your power of imagination to think of your skill-creativity parallel and the relative peaks of each.
A Feat for Sore Feet
With the theory and Socratic inquiry out of the way, let’s don the battle socks and take this show on the road. I mean let’s look at some action steps. The power of imagination becomes actual in action.
First, become aware of your mental patterns. This is real, and it’s happening now. As you read this, you’re agreeing, disagreeing, remembering, imagining. Some of this activity is habitual, other parts may be novel. Until you wake up to this mental train station, you’re only going where a sleeping person may.
Becoming alert lets you see how you’ve created this mess that you’re in. Beyond that, it helps you to dissolve the mental crud, leaving the rosy flesh exposed to air. And that skin is what allows you to be sensitive to what’s happening now. Incidentally, now is the only place you can act. Therefore, be alert and sensitive so you can collect your bearing.
Desirelessness is arguably the best place to be. After all, the hardest place to find a problem is right here and right now. That said, if you’re jonesing to play in the material sandbox, have at it. Just be careful what you wish for because there’s a lot of stupid things to pursue.
Last, be happy that you don’t need to be an expert to access either peak creativity or the power of imagination. You can access the latter now and the former early on in the skill acquisition arc. Beginner’s Mind is ancient wisdom. Avail yourself!
Inventory of Imagination
Finally we’re here. You came seeking insight into the power of imagination and got bopped with cosmic doctrines. Terribly sorry about that. However, it was good for you. Multiplied fruit and all that.
In all dreary seriousness, get to work. Imagination is good, but nothing compares to the flow state of action. For therein you’ll find your golden hour in the arc of skill acquisition. Within your awareness, you’ll find the causative waters of thought. Indeed, wakeful work is freedom.
To sum it up, you don’t need to be an expert nor do you need more money. All you have to do is know who you are and what you want. Even if you don’t get it, or can’t pursue it right now, that clarity will give you integrity. The effort of knowing yourself will give you purpose. That right there would be one of the greatest of your creations: a you that knows what they’re doing. True mastery. Such is the power of imagination.