Archive for Imagination
What Might You Find if You Stopped to Look? I see a squirrel in the clouds. Did you even notice their shape or did you focus on the path of the dock?
Do you ever stop and think about what you wrote, what you read, how you acted? If so, do you do so for more than a moment or two?
No, I’m not talking about that self-critiquing that we can get into - the “what if’s”, “if only’s”, “if I hadn’t” analysis where we might beat ourselves up. Many of us (myself included) need to do less of that. Rather, that moment of stepping back from ourselves to look at ourselves and situations from a different viewpoint.
To think about what we want, how we feel, what alternatives are out there? That point where we pause, consider, ponder. That place where we go to say ”I wonder” or “hum, what if” or we play with ideas?
- 7 insights for marketing success
- advice for the needy
- 12 steps to getting attention
- how I succeeded and you can too
- What is on your mind?
- Have you stopped to think and reflect lately?
- Have you stopped to think about what you want in Life?
- What do you really want from your Whole Life, not just your Work Life?
I wonder what you might find out if you did.
I’d like to ask you to stop with me today. To look at yourself from a different viewpoint. To think about what you want and how you feel? To pause, consider, ponder. To ask yourself ”I wonder” or “hum, what if” and played with ideas instead of just taking action.
In closing, I wanted to share something I saved from my friend Jim Estill’s blog. I think he got it from a book on Reflection, but don’t quote me on that…
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“It was said that Thomas Edison would often take his fishing rod, sit at the end of the pier, cast away, and then just sit there for hours. However, he would never put any bait on his hook. He didn’t really want to catch any fish. What he wanted to do was to sit there uninterrupted, just reflecting on the issues of the day, on his work, or on whatever else came into his mind. He knew that if he looked as if he were fishing, no one would bother him, so he could reflect uninterrupted. All he really wanted to do was catch ideas.”
So now I’m wondering…
- How do you define success?
- What do want to do or accomplish in Life?
- What do you get from these ponderings of mine? Do they actual provoke your thinking?
Will you share your thoughts? It doesn’t take much, simply click on the word Comments – down there on the right. Type in that text box and hit that Submit button. I’d love to hear from you.
The Backstory
I have been thinking a lot this past month about the fact that I am a bit out of whack as it relates to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Ok, so how many of you are thinking “what’s that?”
Maslow’s hierarchy is something I learned about back in college. Something that has stuck with me and has demonstrated the power of a good model and/or metaphor. For those unfamiliar with this model, Maslow’s hierarchy falls within the domain of psychology and was first proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. He explains this model in his 1954 book on Motivation and Personality.
Now you might be thinking “that’s a very old model – 60 years! - does it really apply today”. While there are those out there that argue with specifics – typically other psychology theoreticians – his model really is very solid overall. If you want to read details of the model and the criticisms, you can find them on wikipedia.
I have personally found Maslow’s hierarchy useful in:
- Understanding where I am
- Understanding where others are
- Understanding where I want to or should focus time and energy
- Identifying what is most needed and how to best help
- Answering the question “are you solving the right problem?”
I’ve observed that some business interventions (and social too) are geared towards higher levels when the people who are in the midst of the change really need help with feeling that the lower levels are stable. Something for you to think about during your next Change Program… How might this affect how you craft Communications?
Maslow’s hierarchy is often seen as a pyramid. The idea being that you are climbing to the top. At the top of the pyramid is this concept of self-actualization.
Self-actualization (in my terms, not necessarily Maslow’s) is when you reach that place of full potential. You are becoming the person you want to be, what you are capable of, and expressing yourself and your beliefs. You are truly living who you are. However, to reach this level, all the other levels must be in place and stable. In order to self-actualize, you must first master the four levels of needs found below: physiological, safety, love, and esteem.
Recently I’ve been feeling like I’m sliding backwards. I also know that I am not alone in that feeling these days. With all the chaos in the world these days - layoffs, business challenges, foreclosures – it can be hard to find time and/or energy to focus on yourself. Where you truly are and who you truly want to be.
I’ve been thinking about the fact that I want to be working on level 5, but that I seem to be living in the chaos of level 2, safety. Safety you say? Well in Maslow’s hierarchy, safety includes the roof over one’s head. I find it hard to write, share, and support others the way I truly want to when faced with the on-going stress of keeping the house over our family’s head. Sound like anyone you might know? Yourself maybe?
The Story
If you have been reading my recent posts you will know that I have been talking (and thinking alot) about Elephants. Today I realized that I have the big, hairy, ugly Elephant sitting on my shoulder with his trunk shoved into my ear repeating these phrases (or something similar):
- “you are not good enough”
- “you can’t keep up”
- “you are letting other people down”
- “who are you to think that you can write those books”
Mighty Mouse as envisioned by Sydney Purvis, age 8 upon hearing this story. ~~~@o:>
Guilt, guilt, guilt. I’m sure you’ve been there, felt that. Anyone saying “been there, done that”?
Ah ha, I went. There’s an Elephant. It’s hitting on my Maslow’s level 4. I can name it. It’s the Insecurity Elephant. I can own it. I can change it.
So I decided to take action. To get out my Mighty Mouse to fight that Elephant. I’m going to own that Elephant and then kick it off my shoulder – metaphorically that is.
So here’s my Mighty Mouse ~~~@:> (who I designed earlier today when emailing a friend). Mighty Mouse, go to work my friend. ~~~@:> SQUEEAAKEEEEE!!!
Whew.
In addition to helping myself mentally, when that metaphorical squeak resounded earlier today I thought hey, something to share. Something to send out to the readers with hope that it helps, even if just a bit. Bonanza, something that I can do related to Maslow’s level 5! So here I am tonight, writing.
Mighty Mouse might be small and often overlooked, but small things can have big impacts. (Just ask the lady who gets a small box with an engagement ring in it) Biggest isn’t always best. Our self-dialog isn’t always helpful. If nothing else I hope that my Mighty Mouse makes you laugh, even if only inside. Laughter truly is good for you…in more ways that we often realize.
I ask you to join me. Let’s take some control back. Maybe it will last for just a day, maybe for a week. But that’s better than before.
So I’m sending out my Mighty Mouse to visit you. When in need call to Mighty Mouse. Feel free to ask Mighty Mouse to help you with any of the Elephant(s) on your shoulder. Don’t be afraid to send them to visit a friend too, Mighty Mouse travels well over email after all.
Here’s a Mighty Mouse for you. ~~~@:> SQUEEAAKEEEEE!!!
Me and My Imagination
Today I was thinking about perspectives and viewpoints. How our past experiences, thoughts, and imagination influence how we see things. I wondered how often we (the collective we) stop to consider the background, experience, and baggage (yes baggage) that we bring to the (metaphorical) table. How often do we stop and think about how something might look different from another perspective.
As I was thinking about this, I started pondering how a tree would look different depending on where you were – the side, above it, or underneath. It’s the same tree, but it would look very different depending on where you are viewing it from.
I’d like to ask that you take you on a short mental walk with me. Can you join me in your imagination? I’m heading out the door now. To my right is an evergreen tree. On the left are some flowers. Beyond those flowers is another evergreen. I’d like to sit down now. Will you join me? Yes, I know, we didn’t go far. But I think that is as far as we need to go to gain some insights in this pondering.
I’d like you to stop for a moment and build a mental image around you. That is if you haven’t already. What do you see? Try to picture all the things I mentioned. Here are some questions to help you build your mental picture.
As you walked through the door:
- What did the door look like? Was it open or closed?
- What color was the door? Did it have a window in it?
- What type of handle did it have? Did you turn it?
- If you opened the door, did you open it towards you or away from you?
As you moved outside:
- What type of surface were you standing on?
- Was it wet or dry?
- What color is it?
As you pictured the evergreens and flowers:
- What type of evergreen(s) did you visualize? Are both evergreens the same type?
- How tall are the evergreens? Which one is taller?
- Are there any pinecones or berries on the evergreen(s)?
- What type of flowers do you see?
- Are they all the same type or is there a variety? How tall are they?
- Are the flowers in bloom or dormant? What colors are they?
- What do the stalks and leaves look like?
So what are you thinking now? Me, I’m thinking that’s an awful lot of questions that we can all answer differently. I could add even more, but I think you’ve got the picture (yes, pun intended). I’d be very surprised if any of us have the same picture in our heads.
Me, I’m sitting on a step. Am I really? No, but in my imagination I am. In reality I’m several states away from where I am imagining I am. In my imagination I’m sitting right outside my kitchen, on the step to my deck. The step is made from a dark brown Trex, as is the floor of the deck where my feet are. The pattern in the flooring runs different directions. The sun is shining, but there are a few clouds in the sky. I don’t need my sunglasses. I didn’t mention the sky. Did you consider it? The evergreen on the right is tall with pinecones. I can just see the top of it over my railing – not the whole evergreen. Were you picturing Annuals or Perennials? The flowers I was imagining are actually in a planter, not in the ground. Honestly, they aren’t even planted yet. I was just gathering my thoughts about what I want to plant there this year. Picturing what it might look like. I’m thinking about 3 different types with different heights and colors. Probably a tall, spiky type plant in the middle with some pink and yellow around it. The second evergreen looks shorter but is actually taller. It’s down in the yard. My yard slopes quite a bit, so the view from up here is quite a bit different from down there.
So what’s the point of this walk through our imaginations?
- We are all influenced by where we come from. The physical location and environment we grew up and/or currently live in will likely affect the type of door, floor, plants and trees we visualize.
- If it has this much affect on such a small activity, imagine how much it might be affecting and influencing how we interact with others.
- Visualization is an important skill? Did you have trouble visualizing? Was this because you didn’t really try or because it is difficult for you? If it is indeed difficult, what can you do to help build this skill? My recommendation – read a fiction book. Too often we watch a movie, play a video game, or engage in some other passive mental activity. This has actually had an impact on developing the part of our mind that builds our visualization muscles. For more information you can click hereto access wikipedia’s Portal to the Mind and Brain.
- How might your ability to imagine affect your ability to “see” others viewpoints?
- As I described my “perspective” did you change yours or did your picture stay the same? How might this relate to how we “listen” to others?
- As others describe something to us, do we hold tightly to our viewpoint or do we try to make adjustments?
This my reader was but a short activity, a small slice of life. Each and every day we interact with a myriad of people around us bringing our perspectives, backgrounds, thoughts, imaginations, and experiences with us. Thousands, possible millions of things affect our unique perspectives. Trying to understand where someone else comes from, their background and experiences can help you better “see” a situation through their unique viewpoint and perspective. Digging deeper, asking more questions, and really seeking to build an entire mental image (whether metaphorical or actual) in our mind can help you view things more completely.
Sometimes it’s important to slow down and really look around you. To Stop, Look, and Listen. You might be surprised. Me, I’m going to stop a moment to enjoy some sunshine on my face in my imagination. Later today I’m going to find some time to enjoy the real thing – I am after all in the “Sunshine State” of Florida at the moment. As the old John Denver song says, “sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy.” It also provides some much needed Vitamin D. I don’t want to be deficient.
