Within my own boundaries, the comfort zones of the safe harbors of imagination, I am the master of my sea. But, once I cross into the channel between where I am now and where I’d like to be, it’s easy to be quickly overtaken by the powerful whims of the open ocean. Tossed about to and fro, I finally find calmer seas, but often in a place completely foreign to me. Sometimes, it’s hard to find my bearings, and this is when I must turn entirely to my imagination for guidance, my trusted inner conscience and compass.
Yet, the river runs on just the same, always flowing in the same direction, energized by the forces of gravity. There are times in our corporate-centric world in which we must fight tooth and nail versus often intangible forces of apathy and ignorance that stand in opposition to our sense of individuality and purpose. All the same, these powerful waves of negative energy can cause us to drift off course enough that we may even find ourselves reversing direction. Sometimes, we get turned topsy-turvy enough to find it difficult to return to a main waterway.
Setting sail in the sea of imagination is something I’ve done since I was a very small child. In my youth, I quickly came to recognize how imagination is not only your friend, it’s also your most valuable tool. It’s much too easy to become complacent in daily life, so you must spend as much time outside of your comfort zone as possible. Imagination gives you a way of pushing boundaries theoretically and creatively before taking action.
Imagination also gives you an added ability to keep pushing forward when things get tough. The more imaginative you are, the easier it will be for you to recognize solutions. Each new challenge presents an opportunity to learn something new about yourself and the world around you, plus more fuel for your imagination. If you’re going to be effective at anything in life, then you can’t stay on the shore; you need to learn how to set sail!
The world we live in can be overwhelming, complicated, and even frightening at times. Sometimes, the only place we can find peace and stability, or even rest, without constantly being pushed to move faster and work harder is inside of our own imaginations. Our imaginations offer us a place which may appear totally different from the world around you, yet is actually based on all of the imaginings inspired by your own life experiences. You don’t need to save up or plan a vacation to enjoy a different perspective on the world; all you need is your imagination to create it yourself!
Too often, people limit their imaginations to things within their own comfort zones. Unfortunately, our comfort zones are often filled with tired ideas and repetitive tropes. It’s more useful to challenge your thinking beyond your immediate surroundings and situations. What’s possible if you just let your mind wander? Are there real obstacles in your way of succeeding at your goals, or are they just paper tigers? Fortunately, if you’re able to dream it, then it’s just over the horizon, and well within reach if you’re willing to take risks. Remember, anything can happen out on the sea of imagination! You just have to be ready to face the waves.
