The Power of Imagination

Imagination is more important than knowledge ~ Albert Einstein

That is a pretty heavy quote from a pretty heavy thinker. How can imagination be more important than knowledge? Why should we value imagination? Where does it take us and how do we use it? The answer lies in the eyes of a child and their view of the world.

From the moment a child is born, the world is theirs to discover. It is filled with a myriad of shapes, colours and images to draw their eyes and minds. It is the power of a child's wondering that makes that world come alive. Without a little curiosity, they would not reach for blocks, respond to a mother's smile, or attempt to explore their world as a whole. It is that curiosity that sparks imagination and a whole new world to open up. What would happen if they hit that mobile? Imagine if it brought it closer to them, so that they could explore it more! Wow; and life colours into vibrant hues.

Trust that little voice in your head that says 'Wouldn't it be interesting if...'; And then do it ~ Duane Michals

Mona Lisa

As children grow older, their imagination expands and grows. Young minds take all that they have learned from the world around them in through their senses, and expand that into play, creativity, reasoning and so much more. Imagine if Leonardo da Vinci had not been curious about the world around him. Not only would the world be without the likes of "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper", but also his concepts in flight, anatomy, civil engineering and so much more. Many of the concepts that he worked on had no footing in his day and age, but through imagination, he brought them to the world then and now. Truly, imagination was da Vinci's greatest tool and gave much to society as a result of it. Think where today's imagination might take us tomorrow!

To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted ~ George Kneller

So while we value organized and learned behaviour, the fact of the matter is, is that without dreams, ambitions and a large dose of imagination, we would be stuck in a rut going nowhere. We require imagination to think outside the box, and develop new thoughts and ideas. Imagination fuels poetry, fiction, painting and any new invention out there. It helps us come up with new ways of looking at things and new ways of performing them. Think where art would be without imagination - boring and lifeless. Science Fiction wouldn't even be a dream, let alone a tool to help us reach the sky and stars beyond. And progress in any other aspects of our life would stop overnight. We need imagination to live, breathe and be the best that we can be. Life would cease to sparkle without it.

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! ~ Dr. Seuss