Motivation for Imagination

As I've grown older, I find myself increasingly focused on the demands of daily life. Reflecting back to my childhood, I remember the limitless creativity I enjoyed with my toys. A spaceship toy could transform into a deep-sea explorer or a subterranean adventurer—my imagination knew no bounds.

Yet, as adulthood sets in, responsibilities like college, staying informed about current events, and conforming to societal norms have subdued that spontaneity. Many of us experience this shift but fail to acknowledge it. We stop doodling on scraps of paper or inventing our own storylines for movies; instead, we passively consume what's already been created. We become accustomed to being fed ideas without challenging ourselves.

I'm guilty of this myself. The thought of sitting down to write something entirely original or to sketch something from scratch can feel daunting. We might even discard our initial attempts, frustrated with our perceived lack of talent or the time required to nurture it.

Consider the strict guidelines we adhere to, like the exacting laws of mathematics I encountered in school. While crucial, such rigorous structure can stifle creativity. Imagine being given a simple math problem like "1 + 1 = 2" and instead of seeing it as straightforward, envisioning endless possibilities where one plus one could equal a hundred, or where the number one multiplies into a hundred unique entities. It's not about undermining the importance of math; it's about illustrating how focusing solely on rules can limit our imagination.

When was the last time you sat down and sketched something? I challenge you to try it again. Share your creation with someone else. Create a new word that doesn't exist in any dictionary and watch it catch on. Take two drum sticks and record a unique beat. The world is brimming with possibilities, and you are a canvas waiting to be filled. Don't let time or existing norms stifle your creativity. Find your unique voice in an art and proudly share it with the world.