Imagination is your superpower
Are you one of the many people that use your imagination to "day-nightmare" about worst-case scenarios?
I read somewhere a few years ago that we are all hard-wired with a very active imagination.
We either use it to daydream about what we want, or we use it to spin out over every possible thing that could go wrong.
I for sure went with the latter for the majority of my adult life.
I'm super creative, so when I'd get started down the what-could-go-wrong-in-my-future path, it was INTENSE.
Most of it was utterly unrealistic and outlandish but certainly didn't feel that way.
I'd hit one of my goals and quickly start imagining what could go wrong to take it away.
I still go there from time to time, but I recognize it almost immediately and reign it in quickly.
II want to grow the habit of using my imagination to daydream about what I DO want instead of what I DON'T.
I want to be more deliberate about it, and as with everything, make it a little more fun.
I think it was Tony Robbins that said, "where your attention goes, your energy flows."
If you're focusing on all the shit that could go wrong, you will organically (unknowingly) cause things to go wrong.
It's like watering the weeds.
Instead, focus your energy on what you DO want, so you unknowingly create more of that.
Here are a few suggestions that are helpful, and I'll definitely share any new ideas I come up with along the way.
Suggestion #1: Level the playing field (I recommend this one if you're REALLY good at focusing on the worst-case scenario).
Grab a notebook, draw a vertical line down the middle of the page. On the left-hand side, make a list of your worst-case scenarios.
Next, use the right-hand side to list the opposite possibilities.
For example:
Worst-case scenario
My job is never going to get better, and I'll just become more miserable.
Just one opposite possibility (and there are thousands)
There are so many different things that could change that would help me enjoy my job more than I do now.
Worst-case scenario
Nothing ever changes for me, and my life will probably be the same at the end of the year.
Just one opposite possibility
My life could be completely unrecognizable at the end of the year (in the best way).
This is helpful because it tells your brain “Yes, technically that scary thing could happen but so could this not-so-scary thing. In fact, the not-so-scary thing is way more likely to happen than the other.”
Suggestion #2: Create a vision board
Pick one area of your life.
Give your imagination space to take physical form.
Throw a poster board on the wall and add things to it as you think of them.
I have one for my next house.
If something catches my eye or I think of something that would be cool, I add it to the board.
I created the official blueprint using index cards, and I fully expect to hand this over to an architect someday. 🤣
(I'm basically a 9-year-old on the inside, so I'm most excited about the baby ducks. No joke. And yes, Melissa, I can see you rolling your eyes. 🙄)
How will you feel once you have what you're imagining?
Come up with 3-5 emotions (happy, proud, calm, excited, etc.) and then add images that naturally evoke those emotions for you.
And make sure you include your version of baby ducks. 🦆🦆🦆
Let your dreams be unrealistic,
Machele Galloway
Certified Life Coach
Email: macheleg@lifeleapcoaching.com
You can work with me one-on-one or in my group coaching program. You can book your free consult here, fill me in on all the things, and I’ll let you know which option would work best for you.
