The Importance of Imagination in Life.
Napoleon had once said 'Imagination rules the world." Likewise, I must say that imagination also rules our life. We all are here because we had imagined to be so or conversely we may have failed to imagine that which may have left us here to face the providence not to our liking.
What is Imagination?
Put simply, Imagination is seeing things with mind's eye. It is seeing the situation which is matter of past for the purpose of taking lesson to improve the present. It is looking into the future with the insight gained from the analysis of the past. It is also the superior quality of visualising future that we wish to construct with the current knowledge, skill, experience and resources in hand and their effective planning and deployment. Imagination produces images of things which are not present before the physical eyes. It is, in fact, the psychical eye which enables us to perceive objects far away from us or otherwise hidden from our view.
We know that creation is the mental activity of highest order. It is inextricably linked to our power of Imagination. But creating or constructing a thing is not easy. It requires imagination of sorts. Before a building is raised on the ground it is built a priori in the mind of an architect. He only translates his construct built imaginativly in his mind on the ground with the help of implements and raw materials. Similarly before a sculpture becomes a reality to be seen or touched it is already formed in the mind of the sculptor making it. It is impossible to write a novel or a poem without the power of Imagination. Likewise, an invention is simply impossible if the scientist is unable to imagine howsoever knowledgeable or experienced she/he may be.
Imagination is the distinguishing mark of the genius. Albert Einstein had once observed that imagination is more important than talent. Great discoveries or inventions are made, not so much by superior talents as by superior interest in the subject matter.
Imagination and our everyday life:
But that doesn't mean that power of imagination is relevant or desirable for such people only as are architects, sculptors or for that matter a novelist, poet or scientist. As a matter of fact, imagination is critically important for everyone who is concerned with giving edge to one's work. Imagination gives wings to the work to perfect in the most satisfying way by the person engrossed in doing this.
Have not we come across and enjoyed some dishes which are simply innovative creations of culinary imagination of our mother or wife in our home?
Imagination, in its function of anticipation, is foresight. It can be used to great advantage in lightening our burdens and facilitating our daily tasks. Thus if you are going out on a long trek or on a trip abroad you might use your imagination to jot down beforehand your requirements of various articles to be taken with you on the journey.
Thus it goes without saying that whether you are an artisan or an architect, cook or chef, homemaker or nationmaker, clerk or an administrator or for that matter any person having some work in hand imagination enables you to create something new on or with the work you do. Hence its importance is a matter which is worthy of appreciation.
Power of Imagination gets perfected with knowledge or experience:
It is reasonably supposed that our power of imagination keeps on multiplying with the acquisition of bettr knowledge and greater experience. We then anticipate better about the outcome of our action on the job or dealings with the people at or off work. It enables us to visualise in advance the effects of our actions or conduct on others or even on ourselves. Over and over again, the thoughtless person is obliged to say, "I am sorry;I didn't think so".This only means that he failed to anticipate, through his imagination, the likely effects of his words or actions. Thus with every good or bad experience we start anticipating or apprehending the things to happen more precisely.
Apprehension and Anticipation: the two arms of Imagination.
The two are due to the nature of the person analysing the situation which is going to take shape. The predisposition of mind conditioned by previous experience and knowledge so acquired decides whether to anticipate or apprehend. It is our experience and knowledge that makes our imagination realistic. Otherwise it is imagination without matching competence to do so. This we call day dreaming. This is to be shunned as it is simply a wastage of time and mental energy.
Imagination and Administration:
Someone has rightly said that administration functions best on how accurately we anticipate results of the administrative actions impacting people, organisation and staffs.
Suppose we are to attend a meeting. It is always helpful to imagine the query related to the report you are going to present in the meeting with your seniors. You can use your imagination to anticipate the questions, arguments and objections you are likely to face there. Based on this imagination you can prepare notes for explaining them, collect supporting documents to reinforce your contention and other relevant data in support of your points in the meeting. All preparations for future contingency is based upon Imagination.
Imagination helps coordinate the views and activities of several departments in the administration or government or organization where harmonising or optimising competing or conflicting objects or priorities are required for the accomplishment of the objective above the narrow departmental interests. This requires great imagination power as to foresee what are the strength, weakness, opportunity and threats associated with the step that we intend to introduce as an administrative measure.
An executive who runs his organization efficiently but lacks imaginative power will not be able to attain the position of eminence. He will always remain a mediocre. He is definitely less valuable than his peer who is always prone to explore better methods, process.
Imagination plays a vital part not only in the conception of new administrative programmes but also in their successful passage and implementation.
One must learn to imagine in advance to give effective response to the situation yet to come in our life.
Is it possible to develop Imagination?
When Imagination has been held so important for our growth or development, one may ask whether this quality is inherited by birth or can it be developed? While it is true that some people are endowed with this quality naturally but it would be wrong to say that it can't be developed. In fact our power of imagination is highly susceptible to improve if we assiduously work upon it with the help of everyday experience and analysis of events happening around us. Apart from this, our chief objective of the education we get should be to enhance our Power of Imagination.This enables us to think on any matter in the most innovative way to create or contribute something new to the stock of Knowledge.
The power of imagination of the talented ones or geniuses are not static. Rather they go on increasing with their indulgence with the work in which they have acquired proficiency.
However it should be mentioned that imagination is a specialised faculty. An architect's imagination will not enable him write novels or vice versa.
Imagination forms new combination:
A little reflection would suggest that we can't create something out of nothing. It is only Almighty God who can create anything out of nothing. This means that instead of creating a thing we only rearrange the existing thing in such a way that it appears to be created. In fact a thing already exists; we only transform it by the employment of our imaginative skill. Take, for example, the invention of the fountain-pen. For centuries men and women remained content with the old system of writing associations in which pen and inkpot stood separated from one another. There was no questioning of that arrangement which was taken for granted or accepted as final as most of us take many things for granted today. The first step in inventing fountain-pen must have been to imagine why not explore the possibility that the pen must have the space within it to contain the fluid of ink?
Similarly, when watches were kept in the pocket someone must have imagined that had there been a belt to fasten the watch upon the wrist the necessity of keeping the watch in pocket and to bring it out of the same everytime one needed to check time could be done away with.
What is Imagination?
Put simply, Imagination is seeing things with mind's eye. It is seeing the situation which is matter of past for the purpose of taking lesson to improve the present. It is looking into the future with the insight gained from the analysis of the past. It is also the superior quality of visualising future that we wish to construct with the current knowledge, skill, experience and resources in hand and their effective planning and deployment. Imagination produces images of things which are not present before the physical eyes. It is, in fact, the psychical eye which enables us to perceive objects far away from us or otherwise hidden from our view.
We know that creation is the mental activity of highest order. It is inextricably linked to our power of Imagination. But creating or constructing a thing is not easy. It requires imagination of sorts. Before a building is raised on the ground it is built a priori in the mind of an architect. He only translates his construct built imaginativly in his mind on the ground with the help of implements and raw materials. Similarly before a sculpture becomes a reality to be seen or touched it is already formed in the mind of the sculptor making it. It is impossible to write a novel or a poem without the power of Imagination. Likewise, an invention is simply impossible if the scientist is unable to imagine howsoever knowledgeable or experienced she/he may be.
Imagination is the distinguishing mark of the genius. Albert Einstein had once observed that imagination is more important than talent. Great discoveries or inventions are made, not so much by superior talents as by superior interest in the subject matter.
Imagination and our everyday life:
But that doesn't mean that power of imagination is relevant or desirable for such people only as are architects, sculptors or for that matter a novelist, poet or scientist. As a matter of fact, imagination is critically important for everyone who is concerned with giving edge to one's work. Imagination gives wings to the work to perfect in the most satisfying way by the person engrossed in doing this.
Have not we come across and enjoyed some dishes which are simply innovative creations of culinary imagination of our mother or wife in our home?
Imagination, in its function of anticipation, is foresight. It can be used to great advantage in lightening our burdens and facilitating our daily tasks. Thus if you are going out on a long trek or on a trip abroad you might use your imagination to jot down beforehand your requirements of various articles to be taken with you on the journey.
Thus it goes without saying that whether you are an artisan or an architect, cook or chef, homemaker or nationmaker, clerk or an administrator or for that matter any person having some work in hand imagination enables you to create something new on or with the work you do. Hence its importance is a matter which is worthy of appreciation.
Power of Imagination gets perfected with knowledge or experience:
It is reasonably supposed that our power of imagination keeps on multiplying with the acquisition of bettr knowledge and greater experience. We then anticipate better about the outcome of our action on the job or dealings with the people at or off work. It enables us to visualise in advance the effects of our actions or conduct on others or even on ourselves. Over and over again, the thoughtless person is obliged to say, "I am sorry;I didn't think so".This only means that he failed to anticipate, through his imagination, the likely effects of his words or actions. Thus with every good or bad experience we start anticipating or apprehending the things to happen more precisely.
Apprehension and Anticipation: the two arms of Imagination.
The two are due to the nature of the person analysing the situation which is going to take shape. The predisposition of mind conditioned by previous experience and knowledge so acquired decides whether to anticipate or apprehend. It is our experience and knowledge that makes our imagination realistic. Otherwise it is imagination without matching competence to do so. This we call day dreaming. This is to be shunned as it is simply a wastage of time and mental energy.
Imagination and Administration:
Someone has rightly said that administration functions best on how accurately we anticipate results of the administrative actions impacting people, organisation and staffs.
Suppose we are to attend a meeting. It is always helpful to imagine the query related to the report you are going to present in the meeting with your seniors. You can use your imagination to anticipate the questions, arguments and objections you are likely to face there. Based on this imagination you can prepare notes for explaining them, collect supporting documents to reinforce your contention and other relevant data in support of your points in the meeting. All preparations for future contingency is based upon Imagination.
Imagination helps coordinate the views and activities of several departments in the administration or government or organization where harmonising or optimising competing or conflicting objects or priorities are required for the accomplishment of the objective above the narrow departmental interests. This requires great imagination power as to foresee what are the strength, weakness, opportunity and threats associated with the step that we intend to introduce as an administrative measure.
An executive who runs his organization efficiently but lacks imaginative power will not be able to attain the position of eminence. He will always remain a mediocre. He is definitely less valuable than his peer who is always prone to explore better methods, process.
Imagination plays a vital part not only in the conception of new administrative programmes but also in their successful passage and implementation.
One must learn to imagine in advance to give effective response to the situation yet to come in our life.
Is it possible to develop Imagination?
When Imagination has been held so important for our growth or development, one may ask whether this quality is inherited by birth or can it be developed? While it is true that some people are endowed with this quality naturally but it would be wrong to say that it can't be developed. In fact our power of imagination is highly susceptible to improve if we assiduously work upon it with the help of everyday experience and analysis of events happening around us. Apart from this, our chief objective of the education we get should be to enhance our Power of Imagination.This enables us to think on any matter in the most innovative way to create or contribute something new to the stock of Knowledge.
The power of imagination of the talented ones or geniuses are not static. Rather they go on increasing with their indulgence with the work in which they have acquired proficiency.
However it should be mentioned that imagination is a specialised faculty. An architect's imagination will not enable him write novels or vice versa.
Imagination forms new combination:
A little reflection would suggest that we can't create something out of nothing. It is only Almighty God who can create anything out of nothing. This means that instead of creating a thing we only rearrange the existing thing in such a way that it appears to be created. In fact a thing already exists; we only transform it by the employment of our imaginative skill. Take, for example, the invention of the fountain-pen. For centuries men and women remained content with the old system of writing associations in which pen and inkpot stood separated from one another. There was no questioning of that arrangement which was taken for granted or accepted as final as most of us take many things for granted today. The first step in inventing fountain-pen must have been to imagine why not explore the possibility that the pen must have the space within it to contain the fluid of ink?
Similarly, when watches were kept in the pocket someone must have imagined that had there been a belt to fasten the watch upon the wrist the necessity of keeping the watch in pocket and to bring it out of the same everytime one needed to check time could be done away with.
Hence the invention of wrist watches.
This explains one of the important ways in which Imagination works. Many of the things produced by imagination are not actually new things, but only old things presented in new formations or groupings.
More examples of similar nature can be given to highlight the power of imagination.
Thus imagination helps questioning the existing arrangements that we take for granted.
Sometime, rearrangement alone does not bring desired solution. It requires certain force or stimulus that provides necessary energy to come two or more components to create something new. This forms the basis of invention through chemical reaction which involves mixing, heating, stirring etc by the use of laboratory instruments.
New ideas are produced in the mind like chemical changes occurring under the presence of some substance known as catalyst.
In the laboratory of mind the chemicals are the facts and experiences gathered by study, observation, conversation etc; stirring is the analysis to which the facts and knowledge thus collected are subjected in the mind through thinking and discussion and the energy that makes new combinations possible comes out of the power of an absorbing interest or magnetic perseverance.
R.R.Prabhakar.
15.12.2019.
This explains one of the important ways in which Imagination works. Many of the things produced by imagination are not actually new things, but only old things presented in new formations or groupings.
More examples of similar nature can be given to highlight the power of imagination.
Thus imagination helps questioning the existing arrangements that we take for granted.
Sometime, rearrangement alone does not bring desired solution. It requires certain force or stimulus that provides necessary energy to come two or more components to create something new. This forms the basis of invention through chemical reaction which involves mixing, heating, stirring etc by the use of laboratory instruments.
New ideas are produced in the mind like chemical changes occurring under the presence of some substance known as catalyst.
In the laboratory of mind the chemicals are the facts and experiences gathered by study, observation, conversation etc; stirring is the analysis to which the facts and knowledge thus collected are subjected in the mind through thinking and discussion and the energy that makes new combinations possible comes out of the power of an absorbing interest or magnetic perseverance.
R.R.Prabhakar.
15.12.2019.
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