The Power of Imagination

Before we do anything in our life, we see it in our minds. We imagine it, many times, subconsciously. We imagine what our wedding will be like, our homes, and our lives. Even seemingly little things like planning a holiday or baking a cake, we imagine it. We see the end result in our minds before creating it.

When we are children, imagination comes easily. We've seen little of the world at that time; we are young and hungry with health and vitality.

Over the years, however, we go through several not-so-pleasant experiences. We become jaded. We don’t stop imagining. But we let our experience color our imagination, almost always, in a negative way. Or worse, we stop expecting anything at all. And many times, we do all of this quite subconsciously.

We’ve been disappointed and let down so many times, that we rarely start anything with passion or a 200% commitment. We tread carefully, poke around the edges, and make our way carefully.

But you see, that’s what gives life (and even children) get their vitality and life. Diving in headlonging, only to have fun. Imagining a gala time – and not expecting anything else.

That is imagination at its finest.

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”

- Gloria Steinem

We love Gloria Steinem and couldn’t agree with her more, here. She goes as far as declaring that imagination = planning. That they are the same thing. So, if you are not imagining your life, you are not planning it. You are not consciously creating it.

So why imagination so important? There are many reasons, and over years, many famous personalities have expounded on its importance.

For instance, imagination quote by Albert Einstein goes like this:

“Imagination is more important that knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

– Albert Einstein

Facts and knowledge can be looked up. Information can be understood. But what you do with that knowledge and information is more important than the knowledge itself. And that is what imagination is all about. Putting together the knowledge to create something meaningful.

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.”

– Carl Sagan

Imagination lets you create your own reality. If you are in stuck in a place where you don’t want to be, imagine your way out. Keep working and keep imagining a brighter future.

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.”

- Henry David Thoreau

If the world is our canvas, what are you painting today? What does the painting of your life look like? Remember, we are all oils on canvas. If you don’t like what you’ve painted so far, it's super easy to just start over.

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever.”

– Walt Disney

Imagination, truly, has no age. Who better to say that than Disney himself?

“The man who has no imagination has no wings.”

– Muhammad Ali

"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality."

– Lewis Carroll

"Everything you can imagine is real."

- Pablo Picasso

"To bring anything into your life, imagine that it’s already there."

– Richard Bach

"Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless."

– Jamie Paolinetti

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

– Albert Einstein

Another one of Einstein’s famous quotes that builds on the earlier one. If you don’t know how to create marvelous things from knowledge, facts, and figures, then how is that helping anyone?

"Imagination is the true magic carpet."

- Norman Vincent Peale

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.”

– George Bernard Shaw

This quote by George Bernard Shaw is our all-time favorite. We love it. This, in simple terms, is how we create all things in our lives. One little event at a time.

“Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be the king.”

– Mark Van Doren

What idea are you entertaining today? Are you still rerunning something from the past? Or creating something truly amazing in the present?

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."

– William Arthur Ward

"If you fall in love with the imagination, you understand that it is a free spirit. It will go anywhere, and it can do anything."

- Alice Walker

"Imagination is the soil that brings dreams to life."

– Anonymous

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.”

– John Lennon

This quote by John Lennon is often misunderstood. While many think that Lennon was not happy in his reality, and that’s what he is conveying here, we disagree. We believe that Lennon is saying something truly profound in this quote. He is hinting at the powerful connection between our imagination and reality. It is our imagination that is truly creating our reality. And if our reality is not what we’d hoped for, then we need to put more thought into our imagination.

“What is now proved was once only imagined.”

―William Blake

William Blake is also echoing what John Lennon did. Our now is just our imagination from the past.

"The imagination is the golden pathway to everywhere."

―Terence Mckenna

"Imagination creates reality."

―Richard Wagner

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.”

―George Bernard Shaw

When more than three amazing personalities tell us the same thing, there must be some truth to it. Imagination, creation, and our life experience are all a vicious circle linked to each other.

“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”

– Tony Robbins

In this quote, Tony Robbins takes imagination a little further. He believes that imagination is an important first step, but to make it really happen, we need commitment.

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

―Robin Williams

“You have all the reason in the world to achieve your grandest dreams. Imagination plus innovation equals realization.”

―Denis Waitley

A formula as simple as it can get.

“Trust that little voice in your head that says, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if…’; and then do it.”

―Duane Michals

How often have you listened to your gut? To that little voice that has been trying to show you a path for a while.

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.”

– Jean Jacques Rousseau

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

- Albert Einstein

“There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

According to Chesterton, there are no rules when it comes to imagination. The world is your oyster. You create the rules. Or don’t. It’s up to you.

“The power of imagination created the illusion that my vision went much farther than the naked eye could actually see.”

- Nelson Mandela

“Happiness is not an ideal of reason, but of imagination.”

- Immanuel Kant

Haven’t you heard several times that happiness comes from within. That the situation outside does not matter, and that happiness is a choice? We believe that the root of all the above statements lies in this quote by Immanuel Kant. Reason and logic do not help us achieve all our goals. Its imagination. Think about that for a minute.

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.”

- Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey, one of our favorite writers, also says the same thing. Don’t live in the past by repeating it over and over in your mind. Imagine a better future. Imagine a better now and tomorrow. Call the life you want to lead into existence. Be stronger than your past.

Imagination is so much more than a word we grew up with. It's a plan, it's the creation from knowledge, it's a future we are bringing into existence.