I imagine that this will be one of the best things I've ever written and the best that you've ever read

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Imagination is a superpower.

I’ve found I am more skilled at imagining than most people. I imagine I could be wrong.

I want people to become more skilled than me so they can teach me things I don’t know.

I’ll start by sharing what I know.

“I’m on board,” I imagine an imaginary reader saying, thinking, or something like that.

“Me, too,” I imagine millions of imaginary readers saying.

I imagine that I will write this post, and I imagine that I will publish it.

Update: I did.

Realize that imagination is practical.

Some things that happen are automatic.

Some are accidental.

But many of the best things in life result from imagining something and then doing what brings what’s been imagined into existence.

That’s the practical benefit of imagination.

Your life is bounded by what happens automatically, by lucky accidents, and by what can be imagined.

Expand your life’s boundaries by improving your practice of imagination.

Realize that imagination is a skill.

What you can imagine is bounded by your skill.

Like every skill, you can improve imagination by practice.

Practicing any skill starts with observing and becoming aware of how you perform before you practice, then being aware of how you change as you practice.

The first thing to become aware of is how much imagination is automatic.

Be aware (and beware) of automatic imagination.

Something happens, and it reminds you of something in the past. That past event appears in your imagination. That’s a form of automatic imagination called “remembering,”

“I do that all the time,” I imagine millions of imaginary readers thinking.

Something else happens, and you imagine something else that might occur in the future. That’s another form of automatic imagining. It goes under many names. It might be called worrying if what’s imagined is unpleasant. It might be called fantasizing if what’s imagined is pleasant. It might be called daydreaming.

I imagine millions of imaginary readers nodding in agreement. Perhaps one is you.

Don’t brag about your lack of imagination.

To become more skilled at imagining, stop bragging about your lack of imagination.

When people say, “I can’t imagine < something>,” I always answer, “Don’t brag about your imagination.”

I imagine it amuses some people and annoys others.

“Me, for example,” I imagine someone I’ve said it to says without explaining whether they are amused or annoyed.

Be aware that what’s imagined can be detailed or blurry.

I can imagine one of my friends reading this post. (If you are a subscriber, you qualify as a friend. I might be imagining you.)

“Were you imagining me?” I imagine a friend who had previously subscribed asking.

“Yes, you,” I imagine answering.

(This seems an opportune moment to add a subscribe button, and I imagine I will.)

(And I did. Yay, imagination.)

I can also imagine someone I’ve never met reading it. But my picture is vague.

“I’ll subscribe,” I imagine that imaginary person saying. “Will that make the picture clearer?”

“A little,” I imagine answering, “but it will be clearer if you comment and tell me something about yourself. You don’t need to do that, of course.”

Realize that you can imagine things that are real, things that are not real, and things that will never be real.

Imagination is not bounded by reality. It’s bounded by skill.

I can imagine someone reading this. That’s likely to be real (though not until I publish it.)

I can imagine millions of people reading this. It’s likely not to be real. Still, I can imagine it.

I can imagine someone who doesn’t exist reading this in a future that cannot possibly happen. That will never be real. But I can imagine it.

Imagination is not bounded by reality.

Realize that you can imagine things that will help you or harm you—and choose what’s helpful.

This is the practical result of increased skill at imagining.

No matter how bad things are, you can imagine they will pass. And they will! It helps to know that.

You can also imagine that you’re stuck forever. But, of course, it doesn’t help to imagine that. So try imagining it will pass.

You can also imagine a way out of any difficulty.

What you imagine might not get you out, but it helps to know you’re not trapped.

And you can keep imagining ways out until you find one that works.

Now here’s what I’m imagining.

I’m imagining rereading this one more time with Grammarly.

I’m imagining reading it aloud to make sure it flows (and recording it in Descript)

I’m imagining adding a link or two and maybe another button or two.

Like this one.

I’m imagining adding an audio version. Hi Mirs!

I’m imagining clicking on the publish button.

I’m imagining doing a victory lap.