“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”

~~  Albert Einstein

It’s sad that Imagination in today’s confounding and confusing era sees it as merely a coping and survival mechanism and puts its emphasis on facing reality.  Yet, it is through the imagination that we connect to the Eternal, which is where happiness, prosperity, and growth reside. 

Not only does it bring happiness and fulfillment for an individual, but spending time in imagination changes the lives around us and expands our world for the better.

The Degradation of Imagination in our Contemporary World

So why does our contemporary world devalue imagination so much and focus most of our energy on the debilitating pressures of current events and what we deem reality? 

I mean, we’ve heard it so many times before that getting rich and striving for more and more alone does not bring happiness. 

Yet, most parents sending their children to college do not encourage, and especially fund, their educations in impractical liberal arts careers. 

However, the business and law departments are full to capacity. 

More and more people are dying younger today due to the pressures of Scott Fitzgerald’s American Dream.  Just look at our primary schools from elementary school on up to high school.  More emphasis is placed on reality-based thinking versus critical thinking and the imagination. 

English literature classes are inundated with forcing students to read informational articles and current events, instead of letting their imaginations soar. 

Standardized testing is the basis for graduation, making sure that schools graduate the worker bees for big corporations (who are highly vested in the big money-standardized testing arena), throwing critical thinking and imagination out the school doors.

The Dreamers are the True Heroes of Our World

It’s true that those who choose careers in the liberal arts – the dreamers and world changers – are often left on their own.  They must learn a critical skill called resilience, as theirs is a hero’s path.  They must conquer the nay-sayers and many obstacles to achieve success by today’s standards. 

But so what! 

What’s wrong with climbing high mountains and learning how to conquer the difficult obstacles that we all face eventually?  

As a matter of fact, that’s the highest glory of life itself; it’s even expressed by Ben Franklin in his autobiography.

Imagination is the Key to a Happy Life

Perhaps you’re someone who’s never believed in using the imagination.  It’s too bad because it is the greatest gift to humanity.  It’s where magic comes alive and stress from the pressures of reality gets released. 

Even more important, it’s what creates worlds that we eventually call reality.  This is one of the highest truths contained in my personal truth…Imagination always changes the world for the better. 

Imagination is not for the weak, though; it’s for the powerful and strong. 

For instance, instead of only defending and fighting for what you believe in a reality-based construct, I challenge you to release reality for an allotted time each day and instead imagine how you would like to see yourself, your surroundings, and any and all issues that you are passionate about. 

I guarantee it will bring you much happiness and ultimately epiphanies to create the changes you want to see in the world.

Are you up for the challenge?  If not, you’re missing the greatest gift of human life.