The power of imagination

[coolcrispsnow]

What are people's beliefs regarding the way focus and imagination can affect people's lives?

I know there are many themes on this which link with spirituality and religion. Personally I try to be disciplined in my thoughts because I think it really does affect how we approach the world and in turn what happens to us. Stress undoubtedly affects health, for example.

One of the most important things that makes being human so amazing.

Op, when you say disciplined in your thoughts, does that mean curtailing them?

I believe the imagination comes from the Other.

Vitalogy, thanks for responding. Yes, I agree, I think imagination is quite amazing. I'm not sure animals don't imagine, though. So imagination is not something I consider exclusive to humans. Birds, I think, must imagine, for example. They are especially good at problem solving.

In answer to your question, yes I do curtail some thoughts, if they are upsetting me or causing me worry or stress would be a reason to think about something more positive.

Interesting question... haven't ever really considered how imagination affects spirituality. I think the capacity to imagine is vital for say, ambition and drive, positivity. Empathy too. But spirituality? I'm more of a believer in multiverse theory than say god as the latter seems a bit far-fetchrd in my opinion. Am I just lacking imagination though? Does that equate to be prepared to just have faith? If you can truly imagine it you can believe in it?

Yuval Noah Harari wrote in Sapiens, something that absolutely blew my tiny mind. That without the ability to imagine, human beings wouldn't have evolved as we have. Concepts such as human rights, laws, companies, economics simply couldn't exist without our ability to imagine and all therefore buy-in to a way of being. Fascinating...

I agree, upsetting or worrying thoughts if doing you harm then to try and get them to sort of pass by and hopefully not to dwell on.

Think of all the inventions humans have come up with, imagination is key. All the arts too.

Yes, I agree too, re animals and their problem solving.

namechange Well, as far as faith goes, I think imagination is vital. Because faith is concerned with things that are unproven and unseen. So contemplating faith involves the imagination. Believing, I think, involves imagination. However just because a person does not belong to a particular faith does not mean they have no or lack imagination, I don't think. They just imagine different things (to the particular religion which is being talked about.)

Yes, thinking about it many societal systems could not exist without imagination.

Think of all the inventions humans have come up with, imagination is key. All the arts too.

Absolutely.

Yes, I agree too, re animals and their problem solving.

The more I find out about animals the more I think about how absolutely fascinating, intelligent and complex they are.

Whatever it is that stirs your soul, listen to that.
Everything else is just noise.