Building Imagination
Unleashing Creativity and Liberation
Imagination: Imagination is the capacity for forming new ideas, images, or concepts of things, objects, or processes that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others.
Imagination is pivotal for human development, driving creativity, problem-solving, and personal growth. It serves as a mental canvas for innovative ideas, propelling us beyond conventional limits. Whether you are building a business, showing up creatively at work, or dreaming liberation into the world, we need to invest in imagination. Here are some ideas we're playing with to keep imagination sparked.
Play "What If..."
What if I ride my bike to work? What if I believed them? What if I make that call I've been putting off? What if I invite the new colleague out to lunch? What if I go to bed early? What if I made this by hand? What if we stay up to see the sunrise? What if I quit my job?
"What if..." are two very powerful words when put together. The game is inviting yourself to ask the question; it doesn't demand action... but sometimes it may just lead to very powerful, life-changing, energy-changing, or world-changing actions. What if your life changed? What if we were all liberated?
**Variation:** Invite others to play with you and support each other in asking the "what if" and then sometimes, doing it. This collaborative approach can amplify the potential for change and liberation.
**Make it deep** What if we imagined a world without oppression? What if we envisioned new systems of governance? What if we reimagined our relationships with nature and each other? By asking these questions, we open doors to new possibilities and pathways to freedom.
Ground Yourself
We've heard it a thousand times: "take a walk" or "meditate" to improve XYZ... well, here it is again. These practices that have been proven to support physical and emotional well-being also spark imagination. These kinds of win/win/wins are really enticing. Maybe this is just the encouragement you needed to add a walking routine or meditation habit to your life.
A good habit that we've been practicing lately is free writing. Take 5 minutes to focus on your breath and then set a timer for 10 minutes. Start with the words "Right now" on a piece of paper and then let it flow without editing, judging, or really thinking. Then, when the timer sounds, read it aloud (not in your head even a whisper makes a difference) to yourself and notice the feelings that arise as you listen deeply to your inner voice. It's remarkable and worth a try.
Get Bored
Do a repetitive boring task before leaning into a dream or creativity state and see what happens. Take away screens, books, have-to's and experience the discomfort of your brain telling you "I'm bored" then see where it takes you. We encourage this with our 9-year-old, and although he initially dreads it, after 20 minutes of boredom in his room, he's sparked with new stories, curiosities, and energy. It's awesome.
Boredom can be a gateway to freedom from constant stimulation and societal pressures to always be "productive." It allows our minds to wander and explore new territories of thought, potentially leading to revolutionary ideas.
Create or Find Safe Spaces for Imagination
Foster environments where people feel safe to express their wildest ideas without judgment. This could be through art collectives, writing groups, coworking spaces (ahem, openHAUS!) or community brainstorming sessions.
When people feel free to express themselves without fear, it can lead to collective liberation and the emergence of transformative ideas.
We pride ourselves on the safe space we create at openHAUS and here's a few things we've learned that help in inviting safe space for Imagination;
1. Embrace Diversity
2. Practice Empathy
3. Welcome Playfulness
4. Challenge Norms and assumptions
Remember, imagination is not just a tool for business development, personal growth or creativity—it's a powerful force for envisioning and creating a more liberated world. By nurturing our imagination, we open ourselves to new possibilities and pave the way for meaningful change. The act of imagining itself is an act of liberation, freeing our minds from the constraints of "what is" and allowing us to envision "what could be."
Invitation to Engage
We want to hear about:
How do you embrace and encourage imagination
What ideas do you have for collaboration with openHAUS
