Paulo Coelho

Imaginings

I find myself on a journey. I’m not sure if it could be called a spiritual journey, a physical journey or an intellectual one. It seems to have elements of all three. I find myself seeking out teachers by listening to lectures given by speakers of all kinds.  Poets, writers, spiritual gurus, self-help coaches, financial planners (!), you name it, I’m interested.

The most interesting thing I have noticed is that almost everyone has similar themes. It’s as if they are all using the same primer so to speak. Be true to yourself, be still and listen, be present, be aware, live in the moment, but plan for the future. They all suggest “active imagining”. Whether it’s planning your financial well-being or creating your wildest dreams. They seem to be saying, if you can imagine it, you can make it happen. Okay. Really? It’s like the quote from the old movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, he will come.”(Often misquoted as “they will come.”). But you get the idea…if you put your hopes, your dreams, your imaginings out into the Universe (I capitalize on purpose) it/they will magically appear. In the case of financial planning saving dollars actually does add up, no magic in that, but don’t strain at a knat.

The good thing about this is my intellectual curiosity is at full tilt. I haven’t felt this excited and stimulated by ideas since I was in college. It’s thrilling, really. The problem is finding someone to discuss it with. Most people still find all of this kind of talk “woo-woo” in the extreme. I’m not sure exactly why. It’s probably because it can’t be measured scientifically. It’s like the old creation debate. Is it the biblical rendering or evolution. I say, why can’t BOTH be true?

The absolute truth is, I don’t bring it up. I don’t feel the need to defend, if that be the case or convince. Just good old-fashioned conversation would be nice. A what-if kind of scenario.

So. What does it hurt to create by imagining? It doesn’t suggest sitting on one’s posterior and waiting. It does suggest we have, according to quantum physics, the power to create our own reality. Maybe it’s as simple as positive thinking, maybe it’s something more mystical. Whatever it is, it sounds good to me.

 

What an extraordinary creature.
Heartbreakingly beautiful.
He's on a journey, too.