Activate Your Imagination for Your Benefit

There’s this thing we do. We look at others and find the things we desire within ourselves. We actually seek it out in some weird bullying tactic on our insecurities. We befriend the happily married woman as we cry ourselves to sleep at night wishing for our forever person. We follow the fitness accounts while eating a brownie, muttering to ourselves about how we’ve let ourselves go.

In a way, I think we like to see it is possible, while also finding characteristics that separate us. That make us unable to be like those people. We want an excuse to stay where we are.

So, we make shit up.

It usually starts subconsciously. You see someone with something you want, or even a lifestyle you desire. And you begin to add in parts of their story on your own. You decide they must have been born into money, or have good genes, or know someone in the industry that is helping them get ahead.

You decide they can do something you haven’t, because they have it together so much more than you do.

Well, I want to be the first to let you know that I don’t know what I’m doing. And I don’t have it all together. I never have on any step of my journey. I’ve continuously thrust myself out into the world, terrified, anxiously eager to see what would come of it.

What I’ve learned is: You don’t turn to dust. 

When you fail, it’s never as bad as you imagine. And I know that it can get creative in there when you get to making shit up. Shonda Rhimes talks about it in Year of Yes, the book we’re reading this month in the book club.

We can spin things in our mind, fueling our fear to stop us before we can even start. I’ve had to talk women off the metaphorical ledge, doubting if their book idea will connect with anyone – and this is before they’ve written a word.

The problem with being smart is that you can outsmart yourself. You can argue any point, even those that would leave you at a loss. You know how arguing can get, at some point it strays from the facts to solely a fight to be right.

So, if you decide you’re not going to succeed at something, you will find supporting evidence. And if you can’t find it, you’ll make it up.

Reverse that skill. Use your imagination to create the most detailed visions of success. Whatever it is you want to do, or have, or see, or experience. Visualize it repeatedly. Make it your favorite daydream to escape to on down time. For bonus points, write it down.

What are you wearing? Who are you with? How did you look? What are you thinking? Where will you go? What will you eat? How will people react? How will you feel?

The answers to these questions will become your arguing points when your mind begins to cast doubt. You won’t be so easy to convince you can’t do something when you’ve seen the success. You know how it tastes, where it will take you, and what you’ll be wearing.

I started this article, on my quest to write and publish a piece of writing every day, a little stumped. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about, but decided to just start and see where it took me. I hope I got somewhere that helped someone.

XOXO