Why the power of our imaginations is at risk and how to protect it

29 October 2024

WHY OUR IMAGINATION MATTERS

It is in our imagination that all our ideas begin. Our inherent human ability to conceive of something that doesn’t exist gives rise to new creations and opportunities that can impact the world.

Our imaginations are powerful things, when they are listened to, but there are many sounds around us that can drown them out. When we don’t listen to them and exercise their presence in this world, our imaginations can come under threat. They can go unnoticed, and become weak, their intangible existence seeming even less relevant in a world ruled by what we can see, hear and touch.

If we’re not careful, that which exists only in our minds can go unrealised for a lifetime. It is therefore vital that we continue to test and exercise our imaginations so that we are reminded of its existence and emboldened by its strength. It is then that it becomes clear how much of the world that exists around us, ultimately began in someone else’s imagination, and we too have that capacity to create.

So, for us to take more control over the direction of our lives, it’s vital we use our imaginations to discover and pursue our own intentions.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISING OUR IMAGINATIONS AT AN EARLY AGE

As young children we use our imaginations all the time. The pictures in our minds are as much a part of the world as the trees and buildings that surround us.

However, during our early teens, we become more aware of the external world as something that is separate from us and the threat this poses. We can start to feel foolish for pursuing the thing our imagination dreamed up. We want to show that we exist as part of this objective external world like everyone else and we are not separate from it.

The idea that a thought, provoked by our own imagination, can be the thing that gives us the most strength seems naïve, even dangerous. We know so little about the world and feel so vulnerable that instead we cling to the most seemingly sure source of security offered to us, such as the knowledge and paths that already exist.

This means our imaginations are easily discarded as irrelevant if no one highlights their vital significance.

So, to harden the power of our imaginations against this external world from a young age, we must practice being imaginative. Being imaginative, means exercising our imagination without worrying about what the outcome may look like to others.

To do this we follow a process of imagine, test, evaluate, reimagine, and repeat. This iterative process is a form of play and acts like a dialogue between our internal world and the external world, all motivated by our intention to change our surroundings.

THE PROCESS OF EXERCISING IMAGINATION

Imagine
First, give yourself the time and space to imagine how things could be. Time and space are of great significance here, because you will want to quiet other influences and explore what pictures, ideas, or thoughts your mind gives rise to, without relying too much what already exists.

That being said, inspiration can come in many forms; from a thought-provoking question, to a sound in nature, or a piece of art. One’s imagination is often formed of component pieces that it must be allowed to connect in its own unique way.

Test

The practical part of the process where we get to practice bringing our imaginations to life. Often, this part is perceived as the real artistry or craft. It’s where the picture is painted, or the words are written. Really, this is just an act of communication, and it is part of a larger whole.

It is where you attempt to communicate the idea that has formed. It’s an important stage, but it is neither the beginning nor the end of the process.

Evaluate

Review what you created against what you had imagined, and what your intention was. Does it make you feel what you wanted to feel, or does it make others feel what you wanted them to feel? Does it work practically, or has it created the experience you were expecting.

Part of this evaluation process also teaches you more about what it is you’re creating and why. The imagination is powerful, but it’s not always clear. So, this is where we begin to find clarity. Have you gotten closer to what you imagined, or further away?

Reimagine

Your imagination should now be refuelled, with a clearer intention, new information, lessons in how people react to what’s in your head, and thoughts about where you want to go next. Give yourself space and time again to see how these new ingredients mix to form something new.

The great thing about this is your imagination can now be fuelled by things in the external world that you brought into existence.

Repeat

There isn’t necessarily a clear conclusion to this process, but each time you test what’s in your head, you will learn something new and you will change. You will discover new objectives and you will witness your imagination autonomously reacting to what you’ve created.

This process is a constant dialogue with the external world, which reveals new ideas to other people and also new parts of yourself.

WHAT DOES THIS PROCESS TEACH US?
This is a circular process that is filled with discovery, joy, disappointment and self-reflection. When we start to consider the outcome too much, we burden ourselves with consequences and this process becomes scary.

But when we acknowledge the circular aspect of it, we can simply view the journey as an opportunity to learn and grow. While it sometimes offers rewards, it ultimately exists for the joy of the experience itself, reminding us that our imaginations are as much a part of this world as the buildings and trees.

SO, HOW DOES EXERCISING OUR IMAGINATIONS MAKE US STRONGER?

1. We develop our sense of self-belief. Or in other words, we grow an understanding that we’re able to build things in the external world that began as a thought inside our heads.
2. We clarify our intention. This clarity will strengthen our resolve. Everyone will form a different intention and over time our focus on it will sharpen, which will give the process even more power and fuel.
3. We become resistant to failure. As we start exercising our imaginations, the likelihood is we won’t create the result we want first time. However, when we’re given the opportunity to continue the process free of restraint, we learn that it’s not that we are incapable of realising what exists in our heads, often, we simply need enough time to try again.

Our imaginations are the birthplace of great things and where most of the world we exist in today began, but the simple truth is that they don’t feel that special. Especially when we are young, our imaginations pale in comparison the reality of the tangible world around us and as such, it is all too easy to ignore it, douse its flames and shut it away, concluding that our imaginations are simply fictions, that have no value to anyone.

If this is what we allow our kids to believe, they will struggle to find the courage to exercise their own unique will in this world. Instead, if we can give them opportunities to exercise their imaginations, by giving them space to imagine and play while they are young, then they will strengthen their will to continue when everything around them feels bigger than they are.

The reason this is so vital, is because this isn’t just the way we create art, but it’s how we direct our lives. Rather than meandering in a direction that has been laid out for us by someone else, it is how we lead ourselves to a unique path that we have chosen and find the courage to pursue it.

Our Teaching for Creativity programme supports teachers to put into practice significant theory and research around teaching creative skills to their pupils across the curriculum. Find out more about the programme, and explore our Teaching for Creativity resources.