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Personal Development · 3 min read

Creative Imagination

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Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

“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.”

Chris Farmer — Founder, Corporate Coach Group

Creative Imagination

Creative Imagination

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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  • Feedback: the breakfast of champions
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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.

CG4D Definition

Context: Personal development
Genus: Mental skill

  • 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.

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

Written by Chris Farmer

Founder & Lead Trainer, Corporate Coach Group

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has over 25 years experience designing and delivering leadership and management training across both the public and private sectors. His programmes are structured, practical and built around real-world performance. Read more about Chris and the story of how the Corporate Coach Group was founded.

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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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic

Creative imagination is the skill of forming clear inner pictures, words or feelings on purpose to guide real action.
It turns destructive when you picture future disasters or threats that exist only in your mind, draining peace and drive, instead of fostering constructive thinking.
Stand guard over your mind; notice gloomy images, reject them, and switch to positive imagination with vivid scenes of goals and success.
When you use visualisation and picture a goal in sharp detail, your brain starts thinking of simple steps to make it real, boosting drive.
Turn facts into striking mental pictures; for example, picture shop staff hurling eggs to remind you to buy some.
Yes; mentally rehearse giving your best, see and feel the win, and you prime body and mind to act with calm power.
At bedtime, picture calm places you cannot visit now; the pleasant scene quiets thought and helps you fall asleep.

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