The ability to conjure of visions of the future or past is essential to the work of imagination, which forms the basis of creativity. With imagination, you can envision anything. Whether it’s a better life, a job with more money, or a purple cat who disappears, your imagination is what you use to think about the future. Imagination can also be used to think about what could happen in the future that isn’t good. So, even if you only think about the worst things that could happen, you’re still using your imagination. The trick in creativity and learning to live a better life is to get the imagination to work for you.

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it” – William Arthur Ward.

If you want to improve your life or the world, you have to know what that means. By imagining a better life, you can plan the steps it takes to get there. By imagining a better world, you can describe it to others, so everyone knows what it will look like and they’ll want to get there. How do you use your imagination better?

• Write Down Your Dreams: Keeping a dream journal will allow you to harness the imagination that flows when you’re asleep. Keep the journal and a pencil near your bed; write down your dreams before you do anything else.
• Make a Wish: In “Pure Imagination,” Gene Wilder sings about the world he created. He starts with making a wish. You can do the same. Make a wish, see yourself with the wish, now imagine how you got there.
• Find a Mentor: Wilder invites the group to come with him and view what he’s created. It’s a jumping off point for a group of arguably unimaginative kids and adults to begin to explore their own imaginations.
• Track Happy Accidents: Sometimes, you’ll misread or misspeak. Use that to jump into your imagination. Keep it written down.

Of course, imagination isn’t the only thing you need to achieve a better life. You’ll need to work to bring it to life through creativity, innovation, trial, error, and perseverance. For more on creativity, purchase “Disneyland Is Creativity: 25 Tips for Becoming More Creative.” Order “Penguinate! Essays and Short Stories: Improve Your Creativity for a Better Life and World.” Preorder “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity.”

Pure Imagination lyrics
Hold your breath.
Make a wish.
Count to three.
[Sung]
Come with me
And you’ll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you’ll see
Into your imagination
We’ll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation
What we’ll see
Will defy
Explanation
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world?
There’s nothing
To it
There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You’ll be free
If you truly wish to be
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world?
There’s nothing
To it
There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You’ll be free
If you truly
Wish to be