What is Creative Imagination

  To be able to actively imagine things, to see and hear things in one’s mind, is an important ability. It doesn’t have to involve much creativity, though, does it? Daydreaming, for example, is a process of imagination. It can consist of an elaborate fantasy world, but one full of all the things that many people think about.

 Creative imagination, then, has to include the ability not just to imagine things, but to imagine original things. It is seeing things that others don’t see, and coming up with new ideas. So how do you cultivate this?

 Creative Imagination 101

 First, exercise your basic imagination. It can be as simple as thinking in pictures more, or listening to music in your mind. Play little “movies” in your mind, until you can watch them on command. This is a simple process, but for those of us that can’t easily do it naturally, it can take a lot of practice. 

 The second part of developing your creative imagination is to get more creative in your thinking and imagining.  Thoughts give us more of what we pay attention to. Ignore creative aspects of your life, and you’re telling your subconscious they are unimportant. On the other hand, if you note when you’re creative, your subconscious mind will start feeding you more creative ideas.

 Different surroundings can also encourage your creativity.   Take a notebook to the park and sit by the duck pond. A change of environment can get your thinking out of its ruts.

 You can play games that exercise your creative imagination. One such game uses a technique called “concept combination.” Alone or with other players, you combine random concepts or things in new ways, to see who has the best idea. A thermometer and a billboard, for example, could generate an idea for a sign that checks the weather and adjusts the message accordingly  "Come in out of the heat for a cold beverage,” or “Come in out of the rain and warm up with our gourmet coffee"

 Don’t Wait For Creative Imagination

 Creative inspiration certainly can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when there is work instead of waiting.   Mail service, or a better chair. 

 Of course, creative imagination goes beyond solving specific problems or inventing things. Creative minds are always coming up with the questions too, not just the solutions. If you want to be more creative all the time, focus on three things:

  Thinking from that perspective might give you ideas for how to make money doing things you enjoy. Looking at things from a customer’s perspective is a sure way to find creative improvements for a business. 

   What if restaurants didn’t have employees? Visitors pay in a machine as they enter, feed themselves at a buffet, and everything is as automated as possible, so one owner-operator could run a large restaurant alone.  Do you really have to pay rent? Do swimming pool need water? Can exercise be a bad thing?

    It could lead to the concept of a helium mattress. It floats out of the way, up to the ceiling.  Don’t stifle your creativity. 

 For these techniques to be a habitual part of your thinking, use them regularly. To develop a habit, remind yourself to use them each day.  Soon, you’ll have a more creative imagination.