In a World of Pure Imagination

Where did you spend your time as a child? I spent a lot of time in my room. Our room. My sister and I shared.

The room was a stage, a dance school, a library, an artists loft, a recording studio. It was even an indoor tennis court before my parents banned that usage.

Like many beautiful grand old buildings it eventually fell into a state of disrepair. People stopped visiting.

In it’s heyday it was full of energy, passion, wonder, curiosity and excitement. Minutes after I moved out it’s true owners moved in and began to renovate. Furnishings were boxed, stored or binned.

The room became a bedroom. One purpose only.

Today I have many rooms, but none like that one. They are kept clean and orderly. They aren’t often used for a different purpose.

Creating Room To …

I believe we all need a room or even just some room.

The room doesn’t have to be a physical space, but it has to be spacious.

Spacious enough to play around with ideas. Room enough to breathe, imagine, play out new thoughts.

In the non-physical space (your mind), you can do whatever you want in the room, you don’t need to let anyone in to see what you are doing or what your up to. It’s secret. It’s safe. It’s just for you.

To allow the room, you may have to clear a little of what’s been dumped there aside. Not much. Just a space where you aren’t keeping any garbage.

Try this:

Take 30 minutes sometime this week. 30 minutes? Heck, 20 minutes then. Take something for you. You’re going to furnish your room. You’ll need some physical space so nip to a favourite spot, or lock yourself in the toilet if it’s easier. You can write or you can think.

If writing, don’t edit. That’s one rule.

Start every thought with, “In my room…,” and then go for it. Just let your thoughts guide you. If you find yourself wandering come back to the opening, “In my room…,” or if you are fighting to stay put for 30 minutes go for the other side and start with, “In my room I don’t want…”.

Let your mind take over. Instead of spending longer than 20 minutes a day coming up with excuses and reasons why you can’t create what you want to create, you always have the room and space in your mind to create whatever you want.

If your brain does not know the difference between what is a real experience and what is imagined, in this little exercise your creating new paths to the room you long to create.

Jump to it. 20 minutes. (And another 20 every week if you can manage it!)