Living the Significant Life by Peter L. Hirsch, Robert Shemin Page B

Shakespeare put these words into the mouth of the duke Theseus:
    The lunatic, the lover, and the poet
    Are of imagination all compact:
    One sees more devils than vast hell can hold,
    That is, the madman: the lover, all as frantic,
    Sees Helen’s beauty in a brow of Egypt:
    The poet’s eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
    Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
    And as imagination bodies forth
    The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen
    Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
    A local habitation and a name.
    But the duke had it wrong. We all have the gift of the poet, rich in the possibilities of boundless imagination—the ability to give shapes and names to things unknown, to dream. We just forget.
    Just as intuition is not only for women, imagination is not only for artists; it’s for all of us. For most people, though, imagination is a muscle that’s not used enough to be flexible and strong. So take it to the gym and give it a good workout a couple of times a week, and pretty soon your imagination will have biceps like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s.
    You might think that you have little or no imagination, but that’s not the case. The truth is that you use your imagination all the time, even if you’re not consciously aware of it. When you decided to paint your living room hunter green rather than the beige color you’d had for a decade, your imagination enabled you to envision a different look for your home. When you threw some tarragon into your favorite chicken recipe, or mixed and matched a couple of chili recipes you found online to get the exact ingredients you wanted, your imagination told you what flavor combinations would appeal to you and your family. Each time you shop for Christmas or birthday gifts, you use your imagination to determine which items would make the recipient’s eyes light up.
    How do you kick your imagination into high gear so it can begin to open doors for you? Here are a few tips:
Be curious. When you hear or read a word that’s unfamiliar to you, look up the meaning. When a news broadcast features a story on a country you’re unfamiliar with, head to your computer to learn where it is and a little bit about it. When you’re talking with friends or family members, ask questions, especially “Why?” Curiosity is the first cousin of imagination.
Associate with creative people who stimulate your mind. This doesn’t require living in SoHo and hobnobbing with sculptors. There are creative people in all walks of life. They’re simply people who are interested in the world, who are curious, and who enjoy talking about more than who won last night’s game.
Hang out with children. They have the biggest, liveliest imaginations you’ll find anywhere. A young child will imagine that dolls can talk, that a lump of clay is really a dog, and that a backyard game of baseball is really the World Series. Ask children questions and let their imaginations fuel your own.
Look at everyday objects and think about how they could be improved. Nothing is perfect; everything evolves. How would you build a better iPad, microwave oven, or belt buckle?
Try a creative pursuit like writing a short story, painting, or making pottery. You don’t have to be great or even good. You don’t even have to show anyone your work. You’re just stretching the muscles of your imagination.
Play games like charades and Pictionary. They stimulate your own imagination while exposing you to the creativity of others.
    Should You Be a Daydream Believer?
    One way in which you’re probably already using your imagination is by daydreaming. Don’t be embarrassed; we all do it. When we’re driving on a long stretch of highway, clocking off miles on the treadmill, or falling asleep at night, we all engage in a little daydreaming. Although too much daydreaming is clearly counterproductive, a moderate amount can foster creativity and help you focus in on the things that will enable you to build a significant