Bits of Wisdom Podcast #54

“Anything real begins with the fiction of what could be. Imagination is therefore the most potent force in the universe, and a skill you can get better at. It’s the one skill in life that benefits from ignoring what everyone else knows.” Kevin KellyWhen was the last time you used your imagination? Did you know there’s power locked up in it? Power to invent, to bring ideas to life. Believe it or not, your imagination has the power to change the world, maybe not the entire world, but don’t count that out. It’s been done before by the likes of Jobs and Disney to name a few; your imagination certainly has the power to change your corner of the world, and maybe more.Has someone else’s imagination changed your world, even if it was temporary? Have you been engulfed in the fictitious world of Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings? Have you slipped into the world of The Avengers in the last few years, or maybe you’re a little more sophisticated and enjoy being transported to the mid-1900s while watching The Crown. The magical moment for me was when I watched E.T. the Extra Terrestrial for the first time. I was completely captivated by Steven Spielberg’s magical world for ninety minutes. Afterward, I had a desire to search for my own Extra Terrestrial. Before television, families and friends would gather around the radio in order to escape into a different world. Before radio, we relied on books and theatre to tantalize our imaginations. Leaving reality and escaping into someone else’s fictitious world is one of America’s greatest pastimes. This is the power of imagination; don’t discount it, and don’t forget that you have this power. I’ll leave you with something uttered by the inventor of the theory of relativity, a man who had a profound impact on all of us, someone regarded as a genius of the 20th century. Albert Einstein left us with this simple statement,“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Remember, anything real begins with the fiction of what could be. Imagination is therefore the most potent force in the universe, and a skill you can get better at. It’s the one skill in life that benefits from ignoring what everyone else knows.Terry Weaver is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit terryweaver.substack.com/subscribe