Dream. Imagine.

Constantly, society urges upcoming generations that, “ It’s time to grow up” and explains the need to “put away childish things”. People ought to consider that perhaps imagination is not childish at all, but a sophisticated and mature thinking process. The idea that using one’s imagination is unproductive, distracting, and juvenile is utterly unsupported and illogical; it is, however, a concept that the majority of society believes and acts according to. While some may maintain that further developing this mental capacity is futile, increasing evidence in scientific fields are recognizing a correlation between the lack of these creative abilities and the stresses in everyday life. Readopting one’s youthful imagination and creative abilities is essential if individuals are to better themselves while reaching their full human potential.




Intro
- “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
-Why would we get rid of a (mental) tool that is so useful?
- tool which not only promotes joy and pleasure, but also practically beneficial!
-the tool is our imagination
-We cannot afford to remain parted with our innate ability to imagine and dream


Description/elaboration
-perception of whole/parts
-Flexibility of ideality and reality
-Not ignorance, not dismissing reality-its experiencing the shared world in a different way
-Society’s mixed messages “Think outside the box” vs. “Just do what you’re asked/ stay in your cubicle”




Support
1. Issues we face as a result of not having it.
-stress, which is that cause of up to 80% of doctor visits
-Growing/aging isn’t meant to bring more stress, but more perspective
-passive entertainment (on the sidelines watching others live the lives we want!)
-professional entertainers to take our mind off personal strain
-Prevalent need for intoxicants/mind-altering drugs
-Boredom (unfulfilled, unchallenged)
-Destructive habits (or, habits unproductive wasteful nature)


2. The benefits of exercising one’s creative abilities
-In childhood, useful in learning
-Flow (Positive psychology)
-Healthy balance of creativity and knowledge- less stress
-Provides options/productivity
-Self-actualization
-Sensory Pleasure- scientific correlation between Joy and Creativity

3. Where’d it go?!
- “Grow up!”
- Adulthood~ predictability. But Joy~ spontaneity
-Adulthood and Joy don’t need to contradict each other
- Structure is necessary, but if we focus free-spirited abilities much more can be accomplished
-Habitual passive environment
- Adults not meant to be happy?
-Story of overheard office woman’s phone call
- Detrimental consequences for a lack thereof
-Still remnants of some abilities- empathy, hypothetical situations
-We still have it in us, just have to exercise it/let it loose
-Society Pressures
-Cant dismiss reality
-“Adult=someone whose given it up”
-May think adults are more advanced than children in every way
-Buzan’s test of divergent thinking
-ages 3-5 :98% were scored as creative genius
- ages over 25: only 2% scored as creative genius

3 1/2.What’s the psychological difference between child and adult?
-Experience, Responsibility, Physical/mental development
-One should never inhibit the another
-last category of mental development has an influence on other categories
-majority of adult population using only certain area/percentage of brain
-Hemispherical brain functions as commonly used

4. Readopting those thinking patterns
- “That mindset sounds great, but our society just isn’t built for it.”
-We let society dictate whether we reach our full human potential?
-With imagination, we create the world we live in. If society is binding us, its because we’ve made choices that ultimately make it that way
-Flow activities
-Spontaneity
-Increasing awareness
-Influence: spending time with those younger children
-we really can learn from them

conclusion