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By Kirk McCarley

Regardless of whether you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you need to acknowledge the active imagination of author J.K. Rowling.  Who would have envisioned the concept of an academy for prospectively talented magicians?  Or for that matter,  a sport called Quidditch that is centered on a large oval pitch amidst three ring-shaped goals of different heights as witches and wizards compete on broomsticks?  The idea of “vaporized” transportation from an ordinary train station to Hogwarts continues to delight readers.

Besides, Ms. Rowling, consider other creative inventors.  Cycle shop entrepreneurs Orville and Wilbur Wright retrofitted a bicycle with “wings” to provide lift for early-stage development of an airplane.  Musician Neil Diamond crafted a hit song describing an imaginary friend who was always there for him when other kids wouldn’t play with him or his father couldn’t devote time.  “Shilo” achieved top 20 status in 1970.

I believe that within many of us lies a craving to invent and innovate.  Somewhere along the way, however, those dreams get short-circuited.  Why?  The lack of time is likely a culprit.  Another one is fear—will my idea be accepted or worse, criticized?  How much will it cost? What if the attempted innovation is an abject failure?  Our own limiting beliefs also contribute, convincing us of our incapabilities.

An article by Farley Ledgerwood (an innovative name in and of itself) listed characteristics of those with an active imagination.  He predicated his findings first with an overriding warning:  do not fall prey to the skeptics critical of your daydreams and fantasies.  Those outward behaviors are really the engines that drive creativity, problem-solving, and genuine happiness.

See how many of these conditions relate to you:

• You can entertain yourself for hours without any external stimulation.  Imaginative people don’t need constant entertainment.  Give them a quiet room with their own thoughts, and they’re set for hours.

• • You see connections that others miss.  You know a friend who always says “that reminds me of…” and then shares something that seems completely unrelated until they explain it?  Might that be you?
  • You have vivid, memorable dreams.  Our dreams are not just random firings.  They’re elaborate productions with plots and characters.  You might even find yourself solving real problems or waking up with creative ideas that later will actually work.

• Stories affect you deeply.  When you read a book or watch a movie, you don’t just observe the story.  You live it!

• Boredom is a foreign concept.  Even in the most mundane situations, your mind finds something interesting.  Waiting in line at the DMV or TSA flight check-in becomes an opportunity to people-watch and create backstories. 

• You ask “what if” constantly.  What if gravity worked backwards for just one second?  What if people were born old and aged in reverse?  What if my parents had never met?  How would time travel work?

Aside from Mr. Ledgerwood’s list, I included some conditions that might further stimulate imagination.

• Movement.  For me, physical movement seems to be critical to spark creativity.  More arcane thoughts come to me while either out cycling or mowing grass.  The creative juices of others may be just as well accomplished through mental movement such as reading a book, preparing a recipe, or reviewing family photographs.
• Though budgetary constraints may prohibit you and your family from enjoying an extravagant vacation, where else might you enjoy a beautiful beach, a high mountain peak, or a cool stream, all within just a few hours from home?
• Imagine not what you see or hear, but what is not evident.  Empty train tracks suddenly become filled with a mélange of colors; an otherwise obscure roadway transforms into a bustling freeway, teeming with traffic.

Granted, most of us are not gifted like Michelangelo, Taylor Swift, or Meryl Streep, yet we each likely possess a certain indefinable something unique to us, our own secret sauce.  What is yours?  What’s something that you dream of doing?  What’s holding you back?  When are you going to start?

A graduate of the University of North Texas, Kirk McCarley is a Certified Professional Coach as well as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and SHRM-CP Certified. He is also a Production Assistant for both college football and basketball for ESPN and leads group cycling classes as a Certified Spinning instructor. Contact kirk@theseedsowercoach.com, theseedsowercoach.com, or call  (314) 677-8779.

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