An article from Dumb Little Man explores the important role your imagination can play in achieving real life goals. By empowering your mind you can empower your reality. Here’s how: “Imagination is more important than knowledge” ~ Albert Einstein The reality is you can be anyone or anything you want to be; it just takes a pinch of confidence and a spoonful of imagination.  Do you want to write like Hemingway?  Paint like Michelangelo?  Or become the next big discovery on the Dragon’s Den? Guess what?  You can be any of these things; you already have all the tools you need right now to tap in and let yourself shine. That’s what this article is going to teach you.  I’m going to tell you how.

1.  Realize your potential

Do you think Ernest Hemingway set out to be one the greatest writers of all time?  He was following his passion and with that came huge success.  What you think you become.

2.  Locate our thoughts

During meditation and exercise we can quiet the mental chatter and access a new part of our brains.  When you begin to experience stillness you can start to throw away the logic of the conscious mind and tap into the super conscious mind – responsible for unlimited creativity.Don’t underestimate the power of meditation and exercise.  Both will send feel good endorphins to your brain and release pent up stress and anxiety which is clouding your true potential.

3.  Throw away preconditioned notions of you

What is it that you have always told yourself, are you lacking in creativity or originality?  Stop these thoughts, your mind is telling you things that aren’t true.  Remember impermanence?  Every moment is like a refresh, you are a blank canvas.  Choose what you want to fill your canvas with.Tap in and experience your truest form, you are a rich, alive and buzzing and nothing will change that.

4.  Decide where to channel your energies

Decide on an imaginative path, or decide on a few.  If you want to be a great painter, visualize yourself as Picasso, walk through your day pretending you are him.  What you think you become, if you imagine success you will create a path for success to find you.

5.  Research and ask questions

Always be inquisitive and most importantly listen to others without trying to form a reply.  You have so much to learn from your fellow peers.  Carry a Notebook and write ideas down; you might be surprised where inspiration finds you.

6.  Observe

Have you noticed what’s going on around you or are you still stuck in your racing mind?  Pay attention to what other successful people are doing.  Talk less and listen more.

7.  Practice mindfulness

“Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.” With this practice come vivid colours and heightened senses; use this new way of looking at the world to tap into your creative juices.  Venture out into nature and feel the aliveness of the forest.

8.  Take time to explore your passions

Music is one of mine; with my favourite song playing I visualize stepping out at dawn to snap a picture of the mysterious fog hovering over a still lake.  Read poetry, have fun with crafts or go to an art gallery, whatever gets you inspired; take a double dose.

9.  Understand that hesitation and doubts are normal, don’t be too hard on yourself

When the mind does take over and tells you you’re not good enough, and it will, let these thoughts go like clouds in the sky; acknowledge them and watch them pass by.  Thoughts will always arise the key is not reacting to them.

10.  Always take time for yourself.

Don’t become so consumed with finding imagination that you have forgotten how to take time to just be.  Life needs to be a balance of all things. Make a commitment right now to find your imagination – to be the most magnificent version of you. Every human has limitless potential, you just need to tear away the layers of doubt the mind has tightly wrapped.  Realize every second you are a brand new person and can make brand new changes.  Right now, now, now now!  Go ahead, do something amazing. ’10 Ways to Ignite Your Imagination and Accomplish Big Things’ – Dumb Little Man: Tips For Life