Comments on: Does our Imagination Inspire Us to Act?

By: Don’t Let it Get your Goad « Pinging My Water Glass

Don’t Let it Get your Goad « Pinging My Water Glass — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:25:56 +0000

[...] on the blog “Over Coffee…” that hit a little close to home. In her blog post, Does our Imagination Inspire Us to Act? Barb Hartsook pondered, “If I don’t act on the imagined, what have I [...]

By: Barb Hartsook

Barb Hartsook — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:37:35 +0000

Pete, you write wafting away like so much chalk dust… that’s what happens to most of us, I think, unless we actually ARE focused on something. In school, we were taught to brainstorm ideas, with nothing being criticized or edited or remarked on in any way. Just jot down everything that came to mind. One idea seemed to lead to another, whether I brainstormed by myself or in a group-task. Amazing what the mind is capable of!

You talk of the quality of the creation to match the ideation — oh wow… there’s a whole philosophical discussion inherent in those few words. Does actualization ever reach imagination? Only the idea is whole and complete? Who knows… but that’s why we keep creating. It’s all practice. Physicians and attorneys are allowed to practice, why not painters, writers, musicians?

Thanks so much for your thoughts…

By: pete s.

pete s. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:41:46 +0000

I think, in my experience, I’d have to answer, “that depends.” My imagination tosses ideas for editorial cartoons, lyrics, photographic studies, etc at me at any old odd hour, but unless it’s along the lines of something I’m already doing, the chances are great that the mental impulse will be allowed to waft away like so much chalk dust. It’s greatly to do with lack of time, energy or space to keep skills up enough so that there is some hope that the quality of creation will match the ideation.
A walk or bike ride used to help clarify thoughts alot, as did daily meditation in its turn.
Thank you for asking the interesting question.
Grand thought-provoking post, you’ve written.
Cheers,
pete

By: Barb Hartsook

Barb Hartsook — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:58:59 +0000

Sliloh, thanks so much for sharing your story of the job you had (have?). You are, and can be, the creative behind many works, I’d think.

By: Sliloh

Sliloh — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:17:35 +0000

I’m not sure this is a good day to reply to this. I’m not sure if it ever is actually :p

I don’t imagine much useful anymore, or much of anything. I just immerse myself in my learning/doing what little bit I do.

I do remember though, when I was in my 20’s and back at my parents home in the midst for my first major depression. I imagined the what ifs, if I had the developing job for the angiograms I performed on people. Well, I did it. I made a great living and actually had a job I could handle for the first time in my life (that would be because I can’t seem to do the 8-5 at the office kind of job).

By: Barb Hartsook

Barb Hartsook — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:10 +0000

Swati, when I was in grade school, our reading and language books were called Think and Do. It’s a title that has stuck with me throughout my life. For me it’s good advice, ’cause think and don’t do just frustrates me.

Thanks so much for you comment… you reminded me to take my own advice.

By: Swati

Swati — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:31:43 +0000

Oh oh, you touch a sore nerve here. I am always imagining, and hardly ever doing – for whatever reasons!

By: Barb Hartsook

Barb Hartsook — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:48:48 +0000

I believe you, Adele… I’ve read your blog and can see how well your imagination serves you. I think art (of all sorts, music, painting, writing, sculpting, reaching for the stars… all of it) is created from a need to express all that we imagine… we simply MUST get it out to see! A good thing, I think…………. Thanks for the quote — and yes, it was Einstein. Not a dummy, he.

By: Adele

Adele — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:12:06 +0000

Didn’t Einstein say, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

I find that I live in my imagination most of the time so I can never finish all that I conjure up. That weighs on me a lot. But I do make the effort. In fact, now that I write this, most everything for me starts in my imagination. It’s fun.

By: Barb Hartsook

Barb Hartsook — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:00:54 +0000

Hi Valerie — yes, I’ve read too that mental visualization, as well as videos made to edit for the “perfectly executed moves” in both tennis and golf have helped athletes achieve that perfection. By watching over and over and over… then visualizing themselves performing perfectly.

I like your method — morning hours are best for my mental clarity as well, and often the posts write themselves by the time I get to the computer. Thanks for sharing that…

I know as a youngster, I was terrified of putting my head under water, (my mom was terrified of water period!) but I wanted to swim so desperately. All my friends did…

I learned at night, after going to bed… it’s what I did just before going to sleep. I figured out how I could survive it, floated on my face in my mind for several nights in a row, and then to the pool. No problems after that. It was a very valuable lesson that I learned all by myself.

I still use the technique, especially before speaking to groups. I write my intro remarks on the wall above the audience, to the left, middle, and right of their heads, in my mind!

My dad always said it’s okay to use notes, if I must, but I had to memorize the intro to keep my mind from going blank. It works.