Imagination as an Active Process

A colleague recently shared insights from The Imagination Machine, revealing that imagination is not a passive ability. While it may appear effortless, especially in children, true imagination demands active engagement and critical thinking—skills our brains often shy away from. It encourages us to move beyond mere observation of our surroundings, urging us to create new mental constructs of how things could be instead of accepting how they are.

Finding Surprise to Ignite Your Imagination

To shift your mindset from passive observation, actively seek out surprises in your environment. This may seem contradictory since looking for surprises implies they are no longer unexpected. However, preparing your mind to discover surprises involves:

• Noting any frustrations or aspirations you experience
• Being mindful of your surroundings
• Allowing time for reflection, both physically and mentally
• Engaging with unfamiliar people, places, and experiences—without worrying about fitting in
• Questioning the “why” behind unexpected occurrences
• Making analogies and asking “What if...”

For instance, if you're crafting an e-book about growing a Twitter following, you could enhance your promotional efforts by exploring imaginative marketing strategies. Consider these prompts:

• Observe your surroundings and the specific challenges your audience faces.
• Research alternative methods for building followings on other platforms.
• Explore tips you discovered during your personal journey.
• Imagine interviewing Twitter experts for their insights and requesting their endorsements for your book.
• Visualize hosting a Q&A session with novice Twitter users and experts, then sharing the transcript in your book, offering participants a complimentary copy in exchange for reviews or referrals.

These thought exercises can help you recognize possibilities instead of immediately concluding that certain ideas are unfeasible. Fran Sorin, a social entrepreneur, emphasizes the importance of remaining curious and playful, stating, “Instead of closing your mind to impossibilities, choose to embrace potential solutions, even amidst self-doubt.”

3 Exercises to Foster Curiosity and Playfulness

Reflecting on my childhood, I realize my imagination thrived due to my natural curiosity and playful spirit. The next time you encounter a mundane situation, stimulate your curiosity by asking questions like “Why?” You could even turn it into a playful challenge or allow your mind to wander while you work.

Agne Strimaityte from Innovation Lab proposes several exercises to awaken your creative mindset. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Brainstorm Alternate Uses for an Object

   Set a timer for 3–5 minutes and choose an object. Your goal is to list as many different uses for that object as possible within the time limit. For example, Strimaityte creatively identified ten uses for a cement brick, including a grill and a doorstop.

This exercise stimulates divergent thinking—the ability to generate various ideas or solutions from a single concept. Strimaityte notes that this skill is crucial for creativity.

P.S. Looking for a challenge? Try brainstorming alternate uses for an object every day for 30 days using Inktober's prompt lists—no need to wait for October to start!

2. Create “What If” Objects

   I’ve renamed this activity from Strimaityte’s original term “impossible” objects to “what if” objects, as we aim to foster limitless creativity. The idea is to fuse two unrelated items into a unique hybrid. For instance, envision a pillow phone or a pizza doormat.

Feel free to get whimsical—doodle faces on inanimate objects and see what you can create to amuse yourself or others. These playful doodles kept my high school self entertained while working at a local hardware store.

Illustration by author

3. Generate Outlandish Ideas

   Have you ever walked through a store and encountered something bizarre, like red velvet-flavored cereal, prompting you to exclaim, “No way!”? Engaging in the creation of ridiculous ideas—like sandpaper socks or ketchup-flavored popsicles—can activate your imagination.

According to a brainstorming guide from Lucidspark, starting a creative session with outrageous ideas can alleviate self-judgment, ultimately enhancing the quality of your brainstorming.

Another fantastic way to spark creativity is to engage with children or playful adults. Remember, age doesn’t diminish the ability to join in a child’s imaginative play. If a toddler hands you a pretend phone, answer it without hesitation!

Since my current mental and physical health makes daily creation challenging, I focus on activities that induce a flow state, such as drawing or simply taking time to reflect quietly on my surroundings. I believe both observation and flow experiences can enhance imaginative capacity, making it easier to tap into creative thoughts. Drawing has reignited my creative spark, allowing me to explore new possibilities.

What about you? How do you stimulate your imagination?