Imagination - the engine of life

Imagination seems to have a most powerful impact on our lives, although we seldom stop to consider it.

Every once in a while, random changes may turn out to work out as improvements. Random improvements work well as an evolutionary mechanism on a geologic time scale. For humans, our brief span of life precludes us from using a similar strategy for improving our lives. In order to establish a habit of continuous improvement, we must practice imagining better ways of thinking, organizing or doing.

The better we become at using our imagination, the more we can create a fresh world. When we respond in an unusual way to a stimulus, we typically do so by engaging our imagination.

Forgiveness also requires imagination and courage. Retaliation is easy - folks choose it because they can't imagine a better way of resolving their grievance, and it may be perceived to satisfy a sense of fairness or justice. Forgiveness is hard - it requires imagining a world in which an agressor may go unpunished. Yet, the forgiver may imagine ways of influencing the forgiven such that the aggression ceases, amends are made, and harmony is achieved. That is very hard. Many despair of it being achievable, and can't imagine it possible.

Imagine more of us would make a habit of saying "I have a dream" more often...

Enthusiasm is a choice

Enthusiasm, zest for life and the pursuit of excellence are personal choices.

It is quite likely that everyone likes success and admires masterful skills. Anyone who has proven some level of mastery in a particular field will be able to relate to the delight felt in exercising excellence.

Focus on specific objects or outcomes may lead to a view that excellence is something that is to be achieved, somewhere to be arrived at.

A focus on life as an enduring process may lead to a view that excellence is something to be continuously demonstrated through action and impact on the lives of others.

Widespread awareness and appreciation of the continuous improvement efforts required to practice excellence has yet to occur in human civilisation as a whole. Indeed, there are numerous pockets of excellence, in various great organisations and the traditions of some civilisations.

Yet, there is still plenty of ignorance, and violence, and malice, and stupidity... No matter. The power to change the world rests with every one of us, as change can only happen one awareness at a time.