Let's get creative? How to develop your imagination

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

How many times look at the drawing by Antoine de Saint-Exupery from his book "The Little Prince" and do not see the elephant in the boa at close range? “It's just a crumpled hat,” you think and wonder how others easily draw in their imaginations the outlines of a powerful animal. Well, apparently, rich imagination is not your strong point. But do not be discouraged, you can develop your creative imagination even in adulthood. Of course, you will have to work hard, because it is much easier for children, but we are not looking for easy ways!

Elephant in a boa constrictor from "The Little Prince"

If school essays seemed like a mockery to you, and you gnawed at more than one pen before writing at least a couple of words, then you know firsthand what “lack of the ability to think clearly” is. It may even seem to you that you are hopeless: hearing the expression "ate the dog", you imagine a contented well-fed Korean (although this is already not bad), and not a professional in his field. The process of choosing a gift for a loved one turns into flour, and you are limited to a set of “shower gel-shampoo-washcloth”. And it would be fine if a poor imagination hindered only in everyday life, but sometimes it turns out that one cannot do without imagination in the workplace. The specificity of some types of activity requires employees to gush with ideas, and here you already need to think about difficult, but interesting work on yourself.

Especially for you, we have selected several exercises that will help start imaginative thinking and become at least somewhat creative in kind.

1. Association game

It's very simple: take any book from the shelf, open it on any page and choose the first word that catches your eye. Let it be a simple "hare" or not quite a simple "connotation" (who knows which book will be in your hands) - start brainstorming and come up with 5-10 associations for each word. Moreover, if you do not know the meaning of the term "connotation", then do not get hung up on semantic associations - let there be something that fits in sound or corresponds to a rough idea of the word. This exercise is very convenient to do on the way to work or home, and you don't even need a book - just go to any news site through your smartphone and then follow the instructions.

Do you like the movie "Forrest Gump"? Imagine how the main character lives after the end of the film.

2. Exercise "fanfic"

Fans of Harry Potter books, Japanese manga, famous TV series and films now and then create fanfiction - a sequel, a backstory or a parody of their favorite works. Fantasy works for these people perfectly. We are not suggesting that you write the three-volume Dr. House and All-All-All, but at least you can dream. Like Forrest Gump? Imagine how the main character lives after the end of the film. How he spends time with his son, what he thinks about while he is at school, etc. In addition, you can speculate on real situations from your own life. If you like a young man, fantasize about how he loses his head from love for you, how he invites you on a date, and you have the best evening of your life with him. The main thing is not to get stuck in your dreams.

3. Present non-existent

What do you think a cat with butterfly wings or an apple in a banana peel would look like? And what would happen if all people went naked, and clothes in a decent society would be considered bad manners? You can imagine such oddities at least every day and even come up with some short stories - where did it come from, what is it for, what harm it can bring, etc. At first it may seem that a person who has zero imagination is not able to do this, but you just try. Believe me, over time, it will even become interesting to you. If you decide to discuss your “what if” with friends, then choose those who do not think that you are crazy. Unfortunately, some people cannot be convinced that these are just exercises for developing creative thinking.

At first it may seem that a person who has zero imagination is not able to do this, but you just try.

4. Movies without sound

Turn on the TV or start an unfamiliar movie on your computer and turn off the sound literally in 5-10 minutes. Now viewing will be much more interesting: you are free to come up with anything - why the main character shouts at his beloved, what exactly he says, what his girlfriend is thinking at this time, etc. It's even funny, because in most cases people become real humorists, and even the saddest melodrama can turn into a funny comedy. Try it - it's fun to say the least.

5. Unusual names of common objects

There is a camera in front of you. Why a camera? Why shouldn't he be called "photo maker" or "sniffer"? Or, for example, the buttock. It would be much funnier to call her "half-drunk". Yes, some options may seem absurd to you, but this is only because you do not want to push the boundaries of the familiar. Try to call ordinary objects something unusual every day, and you will notice that over time it will become much easier to do this, and the original names will come to mind on their own. Congratulations - your imagination has reached a fundamentally new level!