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| Saturday, December 21, 2002 |
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DUTCH philosopher Spinoza said, "So long as a man imagines that he cannot do this or that, so long is he determined not to do it: and consequently, so long is it impossible to him that he should do it." When Spinoza spoke of imagination in these terms, he was not referring to idle moon-gazing. The pretty model who sees herself as a glamorous film actress, hears an imaginary applause and thinks of handsome rich men surrounding her is seduced by her fancies. So is the girl who imagines herself winning a car and a honeymoon trip to an exotic land. True, such daydreams may be the result of a wild imagination. But imagination also serves as a handy and highly creative force when we strive to turn our "dreams" into reality. Dreams here refer to intelligent forms of yearnings for fulfilment. The limit to
achievements is imposed by the use we make of our imagination.
Whatever we can imagine, we can do and achieve. |
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The art can be acquired. Visualise an aspiration in as much concrete detail as possible, including all its unglamorous aspects. Now, add all considerations and facts which touch the topic. This clears the deck for further action, which is the aim. Without it, the exercise remains a glamorous daydream. An ounce of action is worth more than a ton of moon-gazing. It is vital to come up with ideas, which spring from knowledge and crafted aspirations. Three factors play a part here: thought, insight and experience. It is their judicious mix that we call imagination. "At the end of every work process, we get a result that already existed in the imagination of the commencement." The thought which sets imagination to work is called "adventurous" thinking as opposed to "closed system" thinking. The latter means using knowledge or technique to solve a problem which admits of only one answer. For example, this is the way a child works out the solution to a mathematical problem. The former is used when we find the method before we produce a solution or when it is not clear at the start whether a solution is at all possible. The former works in different stages: first, garner all the facts on the matter; then, allow them to brew in the unconscious mind; finally, discard the inessentials. A possible solution to the problem begins to form in the mind. This happens if the first two steps are taken with persistence. A fourth step is needed to check that the emerging solution is a sound one. This brings us to the last stage, revision and modification of a sound idea to make it practicable. Insight is a method of creating ideas. It occurs when an idea flashes in the mind. You recognise it instantly as the right answer. When ideas are yoked into action, they become creative. If they are not put to work, they remain idle. The imaginative ideas wither. Action is the keyword and the basis of the creative use of imagination. Imagination is a mysterious but a fertile faculty. It needs cultivation. It makes all the
difference between mediocrity and originality.
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