Did You Ever Imagine?

When you were a child, did you ever imagine yourself to be something else….like a princess, a cowboy, an astronaut, a doctor, or some other character. I did. I would transform myself into a particular character for a period of time and have a wonderful adventure.

My favorite was to imagine I was a fashion show producer. I would use the sheets my mother had washed and hung on the line as the curtains for my stage. I often borrowed the clothing that was hanging beside the sheets as costumes for the dogs and cats that were to portray the models in my shows. There were times when my furry pets had no desire to parade across my make-shift stage, but I would occupy myself for hours producing these shows.

When I grew up, I went into modeling and producing fashion shows with human models, real orchestras, and fabulous stages. There’s just no place in the world that has better stages than Las Vegas. I have had the honor of producing incredible shows in many of the major showrooms in our city. Why am I telling you this?

You can use this same skill today! Imagine yourself being the person you want to be. Shakespeare said, “Assume a virtue if you have it not.” In other words, act the part. Just imagine you are the person you would like to be and it won’t be long until you realize you are. “Oh sure,” you say. “Who are you kidding?”

It’s true. The subconscious part of our minds causes us to feel and act in agreement with what we imagine to be true about ourselves and our environment. When we realize our behaviors are a result of the images and beliefs our minds create, we free ourselves to use our imaginations as though our thoughts are reality. If we see ourselves performing a certain way, our subconscious mind perceives we are actually performing that way. The subconscious doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what is imagined. It only knows what we tell it. We can think ourselves into success, prosperity, and even health, by concentrating on the good we have now and focusing on a positive future. Whatever thoughts you hold in your conscious mind give direction to your subconscious. Whatever you impress on the subconscious mind will be what you experience in your life. William James, the father of American psychology said, “The power to move the world is in your subconscious mind.” When have we ever needed this power more than now?

Your imagination is like a muscle. It can be strengthened with exercise the same as physical exercise strengthens your body. Challenge your old assumptions. Avoid predictable patterns. Let your imagination soar. Make new connections. Critics come in two forms…other people and in your own head. Ignore both. Lighten up and have some fun.

Use your imagination to create some wonderful adventures. Maybe you no longer imagine yourself as a cowboy, an astronaut, or a princess, but there are so many other possibilities waiting for you when you set yourself free from the limitations of other people’s expectations, as well as your own. Every day you have the opportunity to imagine a better life…..and before long, you will discover, you are there!