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Creative Imagination

Creative Imagination

Creative Imagination

Chris Farmer, lead trainer at Corporate Coach Group, says, "Imagination is the dress rehearsal for real life; the clearer the scene, the smoother the performance."

Your imagination is your ability to create mental images, in your mind's eye.

There are three major modes of thinking:

  1. With pictures - creating vivid images in your imagination
  2. With words
  3. With feelings/emotions

There is a smaller number of gifted individuals who can also think:

  • Mathematically - using numbers and mathematical relationships
  • Musically - with pitch, tone, and rhythm

This blog is concerned with the use and abuse of the imagination.

Fundamentally there are two ways to use your imagination:

  1. Destructively
  2. Constructively

The destructive use of the imagination

The destructive use of the imagination is when you scare yourself by imagining all the bad things that could happen to you, in the future.

Or when you envisage imaginary threats, that do NOT exist in reality, but exist in your mind.

There are many people who ruin their peace of mind by imagining threats, conflicts, or social disapproval that have no reality, except in their own minds.

Stand guard at the door of your mind and keep out these unwanted images.

Reserve your imagination for only its constructive uses:

The constructive use of the imagination:

There are eight ways you can use your imagination to your advantage:

1. Imagine how wonderful your life would be if you succeeded in achieving your major goals.

2. Imagine the means by which you could bring your goals to fruition.

3. When you read, try to form vivid mental images of what you are reading; so that reading a book becomes akin to watching a movie in the mind.

4. When trying to memorise something, turn whatever information you are trying to remember into a vivid mental image. For example, if you wanted to remember to buy some eggs, then imagine that as you walk through Tesco's door, the staff pelt you with eggs.

5. To help you to sleep, use your imagination to take you to places you could not go in reality.

6. To savour the past, use your imagination to re-live the best of days.

7. When you prepare for an important event, or when you are required to perform at a high level, imagine yourself giving your absolute best performance and being successful.

8. Whenever you want to feel good, imagine how your future could be better than your past.

In future, practice avoiding all the bad uses of the imagination and instead practice all the constructive uses.

Notice the difference your creative imagination makes to your peace of mind.

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Definition: Creative imagination

Creative imagination is the mind skill of making clear pictures, words or feelings inside your head on purpose, aimed at good goals, not at fear. It turns these inner scenes into a guide for action, helps memory and lifts mood.

Show CG4D Definition
Context: Personal development
Genus: mental skill
Differentia:
  • Generates vivid inner images, sounds or feelings
  • Directs those images toward positive, goal-centred outcomes
  • Operates under conscious, voluntary control
  • Transforms imagined scenes into real-world plans and actions

Article Summary

Creative imagination works like a film in your head; when you swap gloomy scenes for bright pictures of your goals, fear falls, drive grows and you act with purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.


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Did You Know: Key Statistics

ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey 2023: 37% of UK adults said they felt high levels of anxiety in the past week. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 2024: Athletes who practised daily visualisation improved performance by 26% compared to a control group.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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