See into Your Imagination

“Come with me and you'll be

In a world of pure imagination

Take a look and you'll see

Into your imagination”

Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, “Pure Imagination”

I’ve had the song “Pure Imagination” running through my head for a couple days now. I have a particular love for this song from Charlie and Chocolate Factory. It was also a favorite movie of mine in childhood and I watched it many times. As a kid, I enjoyed stepping into this other world filled with candy, chocolate, and unexpected surprises but more importantly being in a place where you could create anything you wanted.

I spent a lot of time as a kid imagining being in a happier place. I had an active inner world and I felt so much freedom and also relief at the thought of being somewhere where I would not be judged. A place where I was not told or worried about being too much or too little and where I felt I could be myself. Many of us grow up feeling like we are not meeting the expectations of those around us. The messages from family, friends, school, social circles, jobs, become the voices in our head that often make up how we see ourselves and who we think we are, how we view our options in life and our place in society.

There are many layers to uncovering these inner voices; where they came from, how they have influenced our life decisions and how they continue to influence how we live our lives today. This process can bring up intense feelings and emotions and there can be a great deal of work to do around uncovering these old voices and thought patterns.

Part of the process of returning to our authentic selves, that I believe is equally important is to begin thinking about what are our inner most dreams and wishes and what is in our hearts that we would most like to do with the time we are given. I think many of us have previews of those in childhood or young adult life, but we may brush them off or have forgotten them for a multitude of reasons.

So how do we start remembering or figuring out what our innermost dreams and wishes are? Some might already know, but for others it may take some time to allow this information to come into our current awareness. For me, finding ways to relax my mind and just getting outside of my head really helps. This might look like watching a movie, listening to music, meditating or having quiet time, reading a book, going for a walk or spending time in nature. Once my mind is at ease, ideas and possibilities can begin to come through and emerge. Sometimes just starting with what it would feel like to be in a better place or set of circumstances and then noticing and allowing what comes into our mind along with allowing ourselves to day dream, imagine and wonder.

Listening to this song today and seeing this beautiful sunset during an evening walk gave me the feeling that anything is possible. What helps you get out of your head so you can begin to imagine other possibilities, courses of actions or steps to move you forward to a happy and more fulfilled life? What helps you remember those dreams you once held in your heart and what sparks your imagination?

Be Well.

Pure Imagination (Link to Josh Groban version)