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Archive for category Possibility Fuel
Remember last week when we were talking about observing what is around you without classifying it, naming it or describing it as relative to other things? Did you see things about common objects that you hadn’t seen before? Are you willing to take this concept one step further?
OK. Here we go…
Imagine you pick up a round object that you can hold in your hand. It has some depth to it, it is made of a solid material and it has an opening into which you can put something. Now, if it is Monday morning and you are getting ready for work, you may put coffee in it. Thus it becomes a coffee cup.
Now, think about the same object, except that you pick it up on a beautiful spring Saturday morning. You have gardening on your mind and you take this object outside, fill it with rich dirt and plant seeds in it. It has now become a plant container.
Same object. Two different uses. What makes it what it is?
YOU! You get to call it! The same object can be lots of things. It becomes what it is because YOU decide what it is. You choose what something is according to your perspective, frame of mind, experiences and current priorities.
So, if that is true of the round object, I wonder how many other things are what they are because we choose them to be that? (One guess…..)
Everything. That’s right. Everything. You have the power of choice about everything. How you will use it. Whether it is “good” or “bad.” Whether it is an opportunity or a hindrance. Whether you feel you have to do something or want to do it. Whether it is a coffee cup or a plant container.
So, are you ready to give your power to choose a try? Let’s start with something small…
Pick something that is near you right now – on your desk, in the same room, etc – that you have been using for some specific purpose for a long enough time so that it has become almost unnoticeable to you. It is just there, doing what it has been doing for a while. (Hint: Even if something is decorative, it is still being used as a decoration.)
Now, use it for something else. (Don’t worry - - you can switch it back if you want to…just give this a try.) Dump out what is in it. Clean it out. Unhook it. Move it from where it is to another place. Find something else you can to do with it…. and leave it there, doing its new “thing”… until tomorrow…
What! An overnight assignment?
Well, sure! Why not? There are some important things you can learn by seeing how you react to changing what you think something is and how you use it.
Today, pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and actions about the switch, and you may find out something you didn’t know before….
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Perspective, Preference
“Our lives are the sum total of the choices we have made.” - Wayne Dyer
Without going far down the path of “I wonder what would have happened if I’d done (x) instead of (y) — you know this is true. Where and what you are today is because of choices you made in the past.
Granted, some of them may not have felt like choices. Some situations may have seemed like there was only one choice - because of your obligations, or someone else’s expectations.
And at some point you’ve probably said, “I don’t have a choice.” Especially when talking about something you have to do, but don’t really want to.
Can we take just a minute to look one of those scenarios…one where you felt you had no choice?
Is that really true?
Or, is it more accurate to say that you had to make the choice you did in order to get the outcome you wanted?
For example, I had to do laundry today. (I don’t like to do laundry!) So, did I really have to? (Is that true?) Not really. I could have chosen not to. I did laundry, because I wanted clean clothes. So, even though it seemed like a “have to”, it was really a choice I made.
I know this is a somewhat silly example, but it does make the point. We do what we do for specific reasons - not because we have no choice.
How about a little exercise in changing our perspective on what we “have to do” on a daily basis?
Take a piece of paper and write “I HAVE TO…” and list 5 things you have to do this week - and make them things that you don’t particular enjoy. (Go to the dentist, get an oil change, pay bills, etc)
Underneath that, create another heading: “I WANT TO…” and copy the same list, leaving a space after each item. In that space, write down “because…” and list your reasons for doing each of them. (I want clean teeth, I want my car to keep running well, etc.)
Hmmm…does that feel a little better?
One more step: Under that, write “I CHOOSE TO…” and copy your same list (with or without the reasons.)
Got it? You’re making choices - and you have reasons.
HINT: look at your reasons for doing things, and see if they are strong. If not, maybe you can make a different choice without dire consequences.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Perspective, Preference
For many of us in the US, today is one of those special days that heralds the beginnning of a LONG weekend! A FREE day sitting at the official beginning of summer - the Memorial Day weekend. So, what are you planning to do with your extra day?
Let’s see… why don’t we compare lists…chores, errands, yard work, maybe a little bar-be-que, browse the sales….So far not very exciting, huh? A free day .. and, if you are sticking around the old homestead instead of travelling, you have probably filled it up with the “usual” two-day weekend stuff.
I don’t know about you..but I am in the mood to do something different. I am not sure what “different” means at the moment, but different certainly feels better to me than “chores”…So, what to you think? Are you willing to experiment with your extra day? What if we create some truely free, open, unscheduled time and see what happens?
I have an idea…let’s declare a Possibility Day! Let’s clear the decks for one whole day and make room for magic to show up!
First, let’s grab our “to do” list for this weekend and look it over. Take all the tasks for one day and move them to another day. When you are finished, you will have one day with NOTHING on the list. Imagine - a day with nothing planned and nothing that has to get done!
Now, at the top, write one sentence…”I hereby declare that this day will be filled with unlimited possibilites, surprises and magic!”
That’s it ! You now have an official possibility day. Do whatever you feel like doing all day long and keep your eyes, ears and energy open. When you make room for unlimited possibilities to show up…incredible things happen…
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Possibility, Possibility Exercise
One of the marvels of 21st century living is “dollar stores.” They are truly a tribute to human imagination and ingenuity. The amazing variety of things you can find there – ranging from useful to silly – is simply incredible.
That’s what makes them such a rich playground for the imagination. Have you ever taken a hour and just poured over all the displays? It’s a great way to engage your imaginative, playful side! And, if you want to take something home – it only costs a dollar!
So, the next time you’re looking for a new perspective – an innovative thought – hop in your car and go to the closest dollar store. As you walk in, set an intention to find something in the store that will give you the answer you’re looking for.
Or, just have the intention to find something fun and interesting for your mind (or your hands) to play with for a bit.
Be open – let yourself be a kid – look on all the wondrous “toys” for the fun they can bring. Or, just marvel at the technology that makes them possible. Try to find things you never knew existed, and wonder who it was that created this…
Open your mind to all the creative genius that went into making this little place possible…and awaken your creative genius!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Imagination, Imagination Exercise, Possibility, Possibility Exercise
Before we get into creating unlimited possibilities today, I feel like I should give you a heads’ up. Once you begin today’s assignment, be prepared to get one idea after another right off the bat…and then throughout the day. Keep pen and paper handy because your imagination is going to love this unlimited possibility creation tool and will be active all day long!
But first – a little bit of background information. Did you know that your brain has its own “seek and find” function? Once you give it an assignment, it will go to work without you having to consciously engage it! Pretty cool, huh!
Say for instance - - - you are considering buying a car and your think you want a red car. All of a sudden you start seeing red cars everywhere! Have you ever had this experience? Suddenly there seems to be more red cars on the road than you ever thought possible! How does this happen?
Well, your brain’s radar goes to work and starts “sorting” information and brings “red cars” to your attention, There were probably as many red cars around yesterday but your brain wasn’t sorting for them…so you didn’t see them. This function in your brain actually has a name – the reticular activating system, better known as the RAS.
So, today, we are going to use your RAS to be creative! Here’s how…
Find an object that is around you everyday and pick it up. Any object will do!
Now, your assignment is to think of 100 uses for this object. Ready…Set…. GO ! Start writing!
Remember – all ideas are great ideas! They don’t have to make any sense at all. In fact, by letting your RAS do its thing –things to do with this object will just pop into your head. Just set the goal to come up with 100 things and let your RAS go wild and do its thing! You can just sit back and take notes…
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Imagination Exercise
I’ll admit it. I’m a word-junky. I love words. I love finding a word that conveys just the precise meaning I’m looking for. I love taking a word and thinking about all the ways it can be used, and combined with other words.
One of my favorite techniques for stimulating thought, generating ideas, and just generally changing my perspective, is to pick up a dictionary or thesaurus.
Sometimes I set an intention first. For example, if I’m looking for the solution to a specific issue, I hold that in mind before I begin. Sometimes, I just set the intention to find any useful idea.
So, I pick up the dictionary (actually it works just as well with any book or magazine – but I love dictionaries). I turn to a random page, and read a random entry. If it sparks something, I follow that thought. If not, I choose another page and another word. It’s difficult to describe the actual process without writing a book – essentially, it’s like having a spark for free-flowing ideas.
And, quite honestly, it still amazes me how many times I hit upon a new thought, or am reminded of an old one, that leads me to exactly what I was looking for.
I think what makes this work so well is that I let go of trying to figure something out with the left side of my brain, and I just let my creative right brain have some fun.
Give it a try – use any book that appeals to you, or a magazine full of pictures, or even go to Google, type a random word, and click “I’m feeling lucky”. Follow whatever seems interesting, and see what happens…
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Imagination, Possibility Exercise
If you ever want to keep something for an indefinite period of time (a.k.a. eternity), just send it to me. Years from now you can email me (and send the postage) and I will send your “treasure” back to you, minus the slight wear and tear of living in a box in my garage.
Better yet, why don’t we use some of your “treasures” as fuel for your imagination! (My garage is kind of full anyway…)
Today is a great day for pack rats, because I have come up with a fun and fabulous way to use the “necessary treasures” that are hiding in your junk drawer to spark ideas!
Ready…Set…Let’s create!
1. First, pull out your junk drawer and dump its contents onto the floor, a table or any flat surface.
2. Now begin to make something out of this miscellaneous stuff. (There are no rules – use any or all of the stuff – just let your hands and eyes wander and start to put things together.)
3. When you feel the energy of building something move away from you, take another minute and add a few more things.
- Now, step back and admire your creation!
- Ask yourself a few questions.
- What is it?
- What can be done with it?
- Does it have a theme or a certain personality?
- Does a name for your creation come to mind?
- Write down any ideas that come to you and save them in an IDEA FOLDER.
- Leave your creation up for a while. From time to time, take a look at it and congratulate yourself on making “something.” You may even want to take a picture of it!
Well done! Creating something is fun, isn’t it? And, now that you have activated the creative side of your brain, be prepared for other ideas to pop into your head!
You have just turned your own junk into a treasure.
Just Imagine That !
Tags: Possibility Exercise
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