THE POWER to develop new thoughts and ideas—better known as imagination—is an ability unique to humans. Channeling your own imagination isn’t always an easy task, though.
Those who have tried to be creative on the spot know that our best ideas never come when we need them to.
Skilled imaginative play comes with practice; The more often you work your imagination muscles, the easier it for your thoughts to run wild on command.
In this article you’ll learn 7 powerful ways to build your imagination so that you can come up with creative ideas whenever you need to.
1. Go on Lots of Walks
Walking is key to becoming a creative being. Some of the world’s greatest geniuses, such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Steve Jobs, associated creative thinking with going on walks.
However, there is an implication with this:
In a world where the pull of our mobile phone is as strong as it has ever been, it’s difficult to just walk and let your mind wander. When we subconsciously feel inclined to check our devices when we’re outside, the mind can’t relax, and hence, creative thinking can’t take place.
With some conditioning —that is, repeatedly resisting the temptation to check social media and other apps on your phone—you’ll be able to find great joy in less stimulating activities like walking. And with time, you’ll notice that imaginative thinking will happen when you’re out on a stroll.
2. Think as Big as You Can
Creative thinking is a state of mind that many creatives, artists, and business owners want to achieve. This is because great ideas can lead to tremendous success.
Practicing imagination is how people the likes of Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein were able to come up with some of the greatest ideas and theories that humanity has ever witnessed.
One of the best ways to practice your imagination is through thinking big. In the 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure, author Grant Cardone writes that you should set targets for yourself that are ten times greater than what you believe you can achieve.
This practice is incredibly powerful; It forces you to think big and take on a new point of view about what you can accomplish, while thinking about all that is possible at the same time.
Some Great Books on the Topic
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Creativity: Unleashing the Forces Within
by Osho
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
by Elizabeth Gilbert
3. Talk to Interesting People
How many people do you talk to on a daily basis? And how many out of those people talk about topics that get you thinking outside the box?
When you spend time with someone that furthers your thinking, you automatically compare yourself and subconsciously think something to yourself along the lines of, “I should become a better thinker” or “I wish I could come up with great thoughts like that.”
While comparison can be harmful if overdone, it doesn’t hurt to speak to a creative thinker and let their talking motivate you.
The next time you find yourself at a get together, try to surround yourself with interesting people that have unique views of the world. Chances are that they will motivate you to think outside the box.
4. Spend Time Around Kids
If you’re a parent, you likely know that your child’s imagination is much better than your own. This is not because you’re flawed, but because kids have an unfair advantage: they’re not constrained by their own prior patterns of thought.
You see, as adults, we fall into ways of thinking that can restrain our creative imagination. If we want to become a digital entrepreneur, for example, the following thoughts might run through our head:
- This isn’t possible
- It has already been done
- I don’t know how to facilitate this
Children typically don’t consider these factors. They think more freely because they don’t understand the world as well as adults do. This naiveness explains why they have such vivid imagination and creativity.
Not all is lost, though. To better your imagination skills, spend more time around children: Start coaching a team, babysit for your friends, or set aside more time for your own children.
5. Observe The World Around You
If you want to spend more time outdoors, I suggest you try this exercise:
Sit on a park bench and do nothing but observe your surroundings. Notice the details in the grass, trees, and bushes. Also pay attention to your sense of smell. Perhaps the grass was freshly mown or there’s a floral scent in the air. What thoughts come to mind as you’re sitting there? How do you feel? What do you feel inclined to do when you’re just observing?
When you do this meditative exercise, you’ll inevitable be reminded of all the fascinating little details that surround you.
Details are often overlook by adults. We rush from place to place, get lost in entertainment, and are always occupied in one way or another without noticing the beauty in the world.
When you take in all the details that surround you, you’ll build your imagination. Feelings of fascination remind you of all that’s possible.
6. Go on a Vacation
When is the last time you explored a new country?
Travelling comes with great benefits. When you’re exploring an unfamiliar place, you’re often pulled out of your default mode of being (i.e., your routines), and might even feel fascinated with the idea that there is an entire world around you that you haven’t explored yet.
This can cause you to feel motivated and gets your creative juices flowing.1
If you’re urgently looking to boost imagination, I suggest you book yourself a vacation in the coming weeks or months. Take some time off work and spend some time in a country you haven’t explored yet. You’ll be glad you did.
7. Read More Books
George R. R. Martin once said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
If you want to build your imagination, you should learn how to encourage yourself to read more.
Reading fiction books, in particular, can have a significant impact on your creative output. Research shows that it can broaden your imagination by stimulating the right side of our brain.2 It allows you to take on new perspectives and look at life differently.
Are there any novels you have been meaning to read?
How to Build Your Imagination
Deliberate practice is what separates creative people from those who don’t consider themselves to be that way.
Whenever you’re working on the activities listed in this article, focus on the outcome you’re trying to achieve. Don’t just mindlessly do things; You should be focused and have a clear awareness on how this exercise can build your imagination.
And don’t forget why you’re building your imagination in the first place. As Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating process, and giving birth to evolution.”
References
- Maddux, William W., et al. “When in Rome … Learn Why the Romans Do What They Do: How Multicultural Learning Experiences Facilitate Creativity.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 3, no. 6, May 2010, pp. 590-600, doi:10.1177/0146167210367786.
- Berns, Gregory S., et al. “Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain.” Brain Connectivity, vol. 3, no. 6, Dec. 2013, pp. 590-600, doi:10.1089/brain.2013.0166