Vision

Using imagination, creating mental pictures; seeing future reality

We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision. Unknown

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. Jonathan Swift

When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic. Charles Swindoll

To be able to visualize is one of the most valuable of human traits. It is the ability to mentally create that which does not exist. Throughout human history, there have been those using their imagination to visualize things which were previously unknown. After creating a mental picture of non-existent concepts and devices, they then worked to bring them into existence. This has been happening for thousands of years and continues to happen. Even now there are those who are imagining the products and services of the world to come.
Di Vince, Galileo, Bacon, Newton, Pasteur, Einstein, Edison, Gates and thousands of others have left their marks in history due to using their visionary and creative abilities. A well known quote by Napoleon Hill states that whatever the mind of man can conceive can be achieved. Each of us can use our creative powers to create good and wonderful things that add to our lives. Chances are we have used our creative powers to bring about things in our lives that at one time only existed in our imagination. We imagine the kind of careers we want, the homes we live in, our dream vacations, our spouses, and even the type of person we have become.
The problem is that most of us are poorly using our creative powers. Our subconscious mind with all of its complexities tends to be very focused and one-tracked in how it manages our day to day activities. In a sense it is tries to keep us on course. It is programmed with a self-image that is the cumulative result of all that has ever happened to us. As a result, we have a basic disposition; we have a certain image of our selves; we are confident or not, we are either optimistic or pessimistic, we are either basically happy or not, and on and on.
We try to live to our programmed self-image. Our subconscious is always steering us in that pre-determined direction. If we do not like where we are and we want to change; we must visualize what we want to change and what we want to become. Our creative abilities will work hard to steer us in that direction. Once we really believe we can become what we visualize, we will begin to make those changes. Whatever you visualize and change your mental self-image to become, you will move in that direction.

Challenge: You can become the improved you that you desire. You achieve this by changing from the inside out. This is done by changing the self-image that is programmed into your subconscious. Step one is to determine what things you want to keep and what things you want to change. Create in your mind the new you. Be as detailed and as specific as possible. The better your visual image the more certain the change.

Wisdom: Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. James Allen

Spiritual:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and Happiness. Ecc 2:26

If we could see what God sees, we would see the potential He has given us to become so much more than we have so far become. We have talents and abilities going unused. If we would seek God’s help and guidance in becoming what He created and designed us to be, we would surely be asking Him to help us become that person. God loves us and wants only the best for us. Because of our free will, we must ask Him to help us.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

What we think about tends to happen; we manifest our expectations; we tend to get what we expect

Whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy. Brian Tracy

We are always paid for our suspicion by finding what we suspect. Thoreau

Treat a man as he is, he will remain so. Treat a man the way he can be and ought to be, and he will become as he can be and should be. Goethe

There is an adage admonishing us to be careful for what we wish for. There is wisdom in this. Many believe that if we spend too much time worrying about the bad that may happen; dreading and expecting the undesirable; then we will likely get exactly that, bad things.

There have been many stories about the proverbial “finding the genie in a bottle.” The genie is released and the person is granted three wishes. The person wishes carelessly and thoughtlessly. It was not what he thought it would be; often wasting a second wish to reverse what he wished for the first time. The morale is that we must be careful for what we wish. It may well come to pass. If we do not guard and structure our thoughts, especially our creative thoughts toward things that are good and proper, we may well regret what we create. What we think about often comes to pass. If we are careless with our thoughts we may end up creating bad situations and circumstances. A well know proverb says that as a man thinketh he is. It is dangerous and foolish to think unwise thoughts. It can become self-fulfilling. Our subconscious tries very hard to create what it is we think about.

Human kind is wonderfully made. We are endowed with creative powers. What we think, imagine or believe; can be turned into reality. In this sense we have god-like powers. Throughout the ages, our creative powers have been used for both good and bad. We respect and honor those who have used their creative powers for good, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi and Mother Teresa. There are those who used their powers to create something from nothing, such as the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison and Bill Gates. Others have used their creative powers to create and manifest evil such as Hitler, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein.

If we knew how powerful we really are, we would be much better stewards of our creative powers. We would be careful to harness and utilize our powers to improve and enhance the quality of our lives. There are those who have learned to do this and are doing just that. They create the reality they want into their lives. We should learn to be more responsible and accountable in what and how and we think. We should think much better thoughts.

Challenge:You are sitting at the controls of a powerful and creative machine. It runs automatically and without supervision. If you do not pay attention and monitor what it is doing, it may well create and bring all kinds of havoc, turmoil, difficulty and undesirable circumstances in your life. Knowing this, it seems so foolish to not harness your creative powers to do good and wonderful things instead of creating harmful and destructive ones.

Wisdom: Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.James Allen

Spiritual: (NIV)

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128:2

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Proverbs 23:7

Eventually, we will be given the knowledge and understanding of why God put us here and what we are supposed to have done with all the talents and abilities he gave us. It seems likely that we are expected to be good stewards and use our creative possibilities to make the world better. We are to become the best we can become. In fact, that is exactly what the Bible tells us to do. God is in control, He can help us do just that.

Prayer: Help me to become a better steward. Help me to be everything you designed me to be.

Fantasy

Forming of fanciful mental images, imaginative conceptualizing, visualization, mentally creating the unreal

You see things; and you say, “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say, Why not?” George Bernard Shaw

We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality. Iris Murdock

Fantasy is a terrific indicator of the difference between what we have and what we want. Joy Browne

   One of our remarkable abilities is the ability to fantasize. If it were not for fantasizing, visualizing and imagination, where would we be? We have the mental powers to conceptualize things that do not exist and then to use our creative powers to bring them into existence. How awesome is that?

    The world often looks down upon “fantasizers” as individuals who do not fit into the mainstream. They are strange, different and abnormal. They think outside of the box and often march to the beat of different drummers. The world does need their creative powers to enable mankind to move forward. The “creatives” are those who are largely responsible for laying the groundwork for the progress we make.  

   Fantasies are not real. They exist inside imaginations. Having one, and living in it, can be fun and pleasurable or it can be painful and horrible. Nightmares are fantasies. We create thoughts, images and visions of things that might be considered good and desirable or bad and dark. Fantasies in themselves are not inherently good or bad. They are only thoughts. They do have the potential to be undesirable and harmful. For some, fantasies lead to mental health issues. Some are unable to distinguish reality from the unreal. Novels, movies, and even theme parks are fantasies that have been created to allow us to escape the normal world and visit alternative realities.

    The ability to fantasize, imagine, and visualize is a powerful tool that can do wonderful things.  We can go to places we have never been, see things that do not exist, and then engage our creative forces to bring what we  fantasize” into existence. We should be very careful not to dismiss fantasies as undesirable, impractical, or something to be avoided. We should learn how to utilize them to help us grow and develop our potential.

    Fantasies should be used as a creative force for good. We can use them to escape, find joy, take on new roles, be inspired, or dream big dreams. We can use our fantasies to create a new us; conceptualizing what we want to become, and then bring ongoing “new and improved” versions of ourselves into existence. We can use our “design team” to “engineer and manufacture” new models of ourselves just as automotive manufacturers do each and every year. It is said whatever we can visualize and conceptualize, we can be bring into existence.    

Challenge: Are you using your ability to fantasize as a creative force to become better? You are who you are because you are living the mental image you have of yourself. Your mind continually visualizes and creates the you it sees. You can change negatives traits into positive ones, add new features or make other changes; being limited only by your ability to visualize them. You are capable of becoming almost whatever you want to be.  

Wisdom: Fantasies are more than substitutes for unpleasant reality; they are also dress rehearsals, plans. All acts performed in the world begin in the imagination. Barbara Harrison  

Spiritual: (NIV):

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

Therefore, if any man be in Christ; he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  II Corinthians 5:17

For God hath not given us he spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  II Timothy 1:7

God has made us in his own image. These means we have some of Him in us. We do not know what our true capabilities are. Only He knows for sure. We do know we are more capable than we ever realize or wish to acknowledge. Many of us are underachievers as measured by our capabilities. God is waiting and wishing to help us achieve our potential. We were created to create, achieve, and make a difference, not just to exist.

Prayer:  Help me to use the creative forces within me to become a better and more useful me.                                           

Creativity

Ability or power to create; produce; originate and express; turning imagination into reality

The world is but a canvas to the imagination. Henry D Thoreau

Life is “trying things to see if they work. Ray Bradbury

The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates. Oscar Wilde

   Human beings have the power to create. It is an awesome power and is only limited by our imagination, vision, desire, and willingness to turn what we see in our minds into reality.

    Some have big imaginations and are able to take tremendous and spectacular ideas that come from their imagination and turn their thoughts into reality. We all have creative powers that enable us to turn imagination into reality.  Some utilize their capabilities to better themselves and the world around; others subdue and repress their creative juices and ideas. Some prefer the confines of their comfort zones over their creativity.

    Our brain is said to have virtually unlimited capacity. We probably are using only ten percent of its ability. What this should be saying is we have a very powerful computer located inside of our heads that it is capable of doing much more than what we have used it for so far. We have within us, awesome powers to understand, gain knowledge and wisdom, visualize and imagine, and to create. We can even create that which yet does not exist. A famous saying says that whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe can be achieved.

    Whatever it is that can be visualized or imagined by our mental capabilities, can be brought into existence by unleashing our creative powers. The Wright brothers visualized and created the airplane. Bill Gates had the ability to visualize a personal computer and saw the need for everyone to have one in their home. Martin Luther King, Jr. had the ability to dream of a society that was color blind. Each of us has the ability to take what we can imagine, then visualize it, and then turn that it into reality. Our careers or professions, our families, the homes in which we live, hobbies, things we have made with our hands are but some of the examples of what our creative powers can do to help us have better lives. We think, then imagine, and then we can create. Some of us have done very well at this and some of us have yet to take advantage of our abilities.

    We are only limited by our imagination and willingness to turn our thoughts into reality. Life can be largely whatever we want it to be or become. Our future reality is directly linked to the thoughts we have today.  

Challenge: What have you been able to create in your life; relationships, family, a home, a career or business, hobbies or so much more? This is creative power at work. What is it you need yet to create? If you can see it in your mind and believe it in your heart, chances are very good that you are capable of bringing it into reality. Your future will be what you do or do not want it to be. It is your responsibility to create a better life for you.

Wisdom: Creativity is the ability to see relationships where none exists. Thomas Disch

Spiritual:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  James 1:5

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

The Bible tells us that with God nothing is impossible. It also tells us that we are made in his image. We have within us some of his creative powers. We do not even know what our true capabilities really are. There are countless examples throughout history of individuals who used their creative powers to achieve unbelievable things. Some of these had God’s help, some did not. Imagine what we can do with God helping us to achieve.

Prayer:  Help me to use the abilities you have given me; and help me to be what you designed me to be.