Most of the time, when we talk about imagination, we think of children. There is no doubt that childhood dreams are fundamental, but it is no less critical in adulthood. As an essential element of creativity, imagination becomes a fundamental capacity to have something we all need at some point: ideas.
Ideas are behind various creations, projects, plans, and solutions. It is good ideas that allow us to solve the problems that arise in these situations and that allow us to overcome the obstacles that occur along the way.
Learn to free your ideas
The good thing about ideas is that they are like plants: from a tiny seed can grow a flower, a plant, or a tree. But a basis by itself is nothing if you don't plant it. And if you want it to sprout, you must produce it in optimal conditions. Those conditions depend on each seed. Some are more delicate, and others are born even in extreme conditions. In any case, all plants have the same principle: planting a seed.
But not all seeds sprout. And of those that grow, not all develop with the same strength and vigor, nor do they bear equally tasty fruit. It all depends on the conditions they have been subjected to and the care they receive. Some will even give rise to new seeds, some of which may give rise to new plants in the future.
It's the same with ideas. You have to plant many ideas for some to flourish, even for some to become great ideas. Those ideas germinating and growing will have to be nurtured and cared for, even protected when bad weather comes.
So, as to reap, you have to sow. The key is precisely to let the ideas flow. But how? Indeed, you have experienced that the more you need a picture and put it into it, the more difficult it is to develop something interesting. This is not unusual - it's normal. You have your brain so busy thinking that you don't leave it free for ideas to flow. Ideas need to have a free runway to come out. Research has shown that the best ideas come when doing mechanical tasks, such as cooking or washing up, or when you are out for a walk.
Strategies for awakening the imagination
Imagination is not just a kid thing. However, they know better how to make the most of it. Why? Mainly because they do not put obstacles in the way of their thoughts, because they let themselves be carried away by the ideas that arise and are inspired by simple things. A child can create an empire with two boxes and three sticks (or even fewer).
As adults, we can recover the ability to imagine, generate, and develop ideas. It doesn't matter if they don't all go somewhere. The important thing is the training because that is what will allow you to turn an excellent potential idea into a great idea. The more pictures you have, the more likely you are to come up with one and the more prepared you will be to manage it. Let's look at some strategies to achieve this:
Trust in your creative capacity: we all can generate ideas. We are all creative and have a vast potential to create great pictures. Believing that you are creating will not make you a more creative person. It will give you the confidence to start thinking and letting your ideas flow.
Practice meditation: leaving your mind free of thoughts is the best way to free your ideas to start flowing. Clearing your mind of all thoughts will unleash your subconscious so that ideas can flow later without pressure.
Take a walk: the point is not that walking helps you think but that, among other things, it allows you to free your mind, oxygenate your brain and activate your circulation. Walking can also unleash your subconscious mind and start your creative side. In a moment of "mental block," there is no better way to let go of tension than to drop everything and go for a walk.
Dance: Dancing is a fantastic strategy for releasing creative energy. In addition to helping, you oxygenate your brain through movement, it also works as a liberator through bodily expression. The music itself activates the creative part of the brain on its own.
Write: a journal can help you let your thoughts flow and be more introspective, release fears, and express everything inside you. Another way to do this is through creative writing through stories, poetry, or longer creations. Imagine yourself as an essay writer and try to write a little essay about some exciting topic for you. The truth is that it doesn't matter what you write. The real benefit is in writing itself.
Do silly and crazy things: Crazy things bring excitement to our hearts, release tension, unleash laughter, relax the atmosphere and fire our imagination. But, above all, follies make us feel free and help us laugh at ourselves. By freeing ourselves from stress and bondage, we also let ideas run free in our brains.
See the world through the eyes of a child: children have a fantastic ability to be open to the possibilities of almost anything. To get to see things from their point of view, spend time with children, play with them, or at least play as if you were a child. Reading children's books or watching children's programs will also help you approach things simpler and more open-mindedly.
Read: Reading is an excellent source of inspiration, especially fiction. Reading allows you to take your mind elsewhere, detach from your attachments, and dream of different things. The same can be achieved by watching a movie or following a TV series, although reading involves much more elaborate mental work.
"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, pursue what you imagine, and finally, create what you pursue."
-George Bernard Shaw
Most importantly, let yourself go and enjoy the process! You are beautiful, and everything you create is gorgeous too!