Think back to your high school or college graduation. Do you remember how filled with vision you were? You could imagine yourself doing just about anything.

Fast forward a decade or more. Somewhere along the way we stop imagining the possibilities and start imagining the limitations. We imagine why something won’t work instead of why it will; why we can’t do something instead of why we can. yes”> This is the dreaded Limitation Syndrome. It starts as a “This won’t work because . . .” and ends with feeling stuck in an Ordinary life.

So what’s the antidote?

Using your imagination for good. Before we can achieve anything in our lives – whether it’s a cleaner car or winning an Oscar – first we have to envision it. We have to see it in our minds. The problem is that we’re so busy running around all day and so tired when we finally stop that we don’t dedicate any time to imagining the good things that might be.

Even if you spent just two minutes a day imagining what would bring you joy, you will have invested over 12 hours in your vision of joy by the end of one year. And most likely, some of those joy filled imaginings will have actually happened because you focused your attention on them.

Unfortunately, we never seem to have too little time for imagining the limitations, but if we give equal time to the positive possibilities we can bring more joy and happiness into our lives.

EXTRA-Ordinary Ideas:

Read It: Mary Oliver’s poem, “Wild Geese” Ok, it’s a bit deep, but one of my favorites. It speaks to using our imaginations to create the lives we love.

Do It: Today, dedicate a couple of minutes to imagining something that will bring you joy.

Think It: “You see things; and you say ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’” – George Bernard Shaw