Why It’s Beneficial to Let the Imagination Soar
When Luke was in Montessori pre-school, his wonderful teacher made a suggestion which left a strong impression: “When you’re child is playing by himself, leave him alone! He is using his imagination, which is very healthy for children.”
I would argue the same is true for adults – a little imagination might go a long way in alleviating stress, nurturing your creativity and making your day more interesting.
Remember the tooth fairy?
The Tooth Fairy
Last night, Luke lost a tooth. Literally. It fell out and we lost it. So he drew this little note for the tooth fairy and put it under his pillow.
Sadly, the tooth fairy fell asleep before the toothless child last night, and she almost missed the opportunity to leave behind a little fairy booty. (I managed to save myself by getting the goods under his pillow in the morning before he checked).
After Luke found his Reese’s and Trident gum, he turned to me with the utmost sincerity and excitement and said, “Wow. I can’t believe the tooth fairy knew exactly the type of gum I can chew (with the braces he’s currently wearing).” I could see the wheels of his imagination at work!
Mess Fairy
Similarly, earlier in the summer, the mess fairy came to visit our home. (Thanks to his friend Nicola who gave me the idea). Though at first he was convinced there was “no such thing as a mess fairy,” he started believing after she took away a pile of Legos he’d left on the floor for three days straight. At first, he was devastated that some of his toys were gone, but he has been much better about picking up his things since the fairy’s friendly visit.
(P.S. I highly recommend the mess fairy for mess prevention in your home, especially if your children aren’t innately tidy).
Any Fairy
Whether it’s believing in a fairy, who by definition has magical and mystical powers, or bringing Lego spaceships to life, children seem to use their imagination constantly. Until later in life when we adults tell them to stop pretending and daydreaming. And though I guess we’d all be concerned if a grown adult walked around with imaginary friends, I think it’s important to engage in activities that let your imagination run wild.
The Advantages of Using Your Imagination
Without imagination, we’d have no power of visualization. We’d have few new inventions and no Harry Potter.
In fact, JK Rowling, in a Harvard commencement address, stated that the imagination is “the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.” After using her imagination to re-build her life after failure, she believes that those who decide not to use their imaginations “choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are.”
Cindy Holbrook, who writes at CindySense, thinks that the #1 reason you must use your imagination is to create the life you desire.
WikiHow suggests that using your imagination makes your day more exciting and interesting. You may even be more motivated and happy. They have some wonderful ideas on how to expand your imagination, too.
Neville Goddard (1905-1972), an influential Metaphysics teacher and New Thought author, believes that a person can use his/her imagination to achieve their every desire.
Life Beyond Losing Teeth
Whether it’s losing teeth, telling your children stories at bedtime or envisioning goals and dreams, let your imagination soar. There’s a whole world out there to explore!
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