The Power of Imagination

想象力比知识更重要。——艾伯特·爱因斯坦

Imagination is the ability to form a mental image of something that is not perceived through the senses. It is the ability of the mind to built mental scenes, objects or events that do not exist, are not present or have happened in the past. Memory is actually a manifestation² of imagi- nation. Everyone possesses some imagi- nation ability. In some it may be highly developed and in others it may manifest¹ in a weaker form. It manifests³ in various degrees in various people.

想象力是形成意识画面的一种能力，并且这个画面不是通过感官得到的。这种能力可以在脑海中勾勒出现实生活中不存在、不在场或过去曾经发生过的心理画面、物体或活动。记忆是想象的展现。每个人都具有一定的想象力，但有些人的想象力可能很丰富，有些人的想象力则比较弱。不同的人想象力的程度是不同的。

Imagination makes it possible to experience a whole world inside the mind. It gives the ability to look at any situation from a different point of view, and enables one to mentally explore the past and the future.

想象力可以把我们脑子里的一切感受付诸实践。想象力用不同的观点看待任何一种情形，还可以使人想象过去和未来。

It manifests in various forms, one of which is daydreaming⁴. Though too much idle daydreaming may make one impractical⁵, some daydreaming, when not being en- gaged in something that requires attention, provides some temporary happiness, calm- ness and relief from stress.

想象力有不同的表现形式，白日梦就是其中一种。尽管过多的白日梦会使人不切实际，然而有些白日梦，当我们无法全神贯注于某事物时，却能给人带来短暂的快乐、平静和放松，从压力中得到暂时的解脱。

In your imagination you can travel anywhere in the speed of light without any obstacles. It can make you feel free, though temporarily, and only in the mind, from tasks, difficulties and unpleasant circum- stances.

在想象中，你可以以光的速度一路顺风地去世界各地旅行。尽管想象是暂时的，也只是在脑海中，但它会令你远离包袱，远离困难，以及不顺心的环境，体验自由的感觉。

Imagination is not limited only to seeing pictures in the mind. It includes all the five senses and the feelings. One can imagine a sound, taste, smell, a physical sensation⁶ or a feeling or emotion. For some people it is easier to see mental pictures, others find it easier to imagine a feeling, and some are more comfortable imagining the sensation of one of the five senses. Training of the imagination gives the ability to combine all the senses.

想象力不只局限于在脑海里看见画面。它包括五种感觉和各种情感。一个人可以想象声音、味道、气味及有形的意识或情感。有些人很容易看到意识画面，有些人则认为想象一段情感很容易，另外的人想象五种感觉中的一种会更舒服。锻炼想象力能使所有的感觉综合起来。

A developed and strong imagination does not make you a daydreamer⁷ and impractical. On the contrary, it strengthens your creative abilities, and is a great tool for recreating and remodeling your world and life.

高强的想象力不会使你成为一个空想家和不切实际的人。相反，它还能提高你的创造能力，并且是重塑和改变你的世界及生活的伟大工具。

This is a great power that can change your whole life. It is used extensively in magic, creative visualization⁸ and affirmations. It is the creator of circumstances and events. When you know how to work with it, you can make your hearts’ desires come true.

它是能够改变你的整个人生的强大力量。想象力在魔术、创造性设想及肯定方面有广泛的应用。它是环境和活动的缔造者。知道了如何运用想象力，就能使你的梦想成真。

Imagination has a great role and value in each one’s life. It is much more than just idle daydreaming. We all use it, whether consciously or unconsciously, in most of our daily affairs. We use our imagination when-ever we plan a party, a trip, our work or a meeting. We use it when we describe an event, explain how to arrive to a certain street, write, tell a story or cook a cake.

想象力在每个人的生活中都很重要，并且具有很大的价值。它要比无用的白日梦有用多了。不管是有意识地还有无意识地，在我们大部分的日常生活中，我们都在运用它。不管是计划一次舞会或一次旅行，还是工作或会议安排，我们都要运用想象力。当我们描述一项活动，说明如何到达某条街，写作，讲故事或做蛋糕时，我们都要运用想象力。

Imagination is a crea- tive power that is necessary for inventing an instrument, designing a dress or a build- ing, painting a picture or writing a book. The creative power of imagination has an im- portant role in the achievement of success in any field. What we imagine with faith and feelings comes into being. It is the power beyond creative visualization, positive think- ing and affirmations.

想象是一种创造性的力量。发明一个仪器，设计一件服装，设计一幢大厦，描绘一幅图画，写一本书，都必须要运用想象力。想象的创造能力对于在任何领域取得成功都起着重要的作用。包含信念与情感的想象会成为现实。想象力超出了创造性思维、积极的思考和肯定的意志。

Visualizing⁹ an object or a situation, and repeating often this mental image, attracts the object or situation into our lives. This opens for us new, vast and fascinating opportunities.

想象一个物体或者一种情形，经常重复这个意识画面，引导这个物体或情形走向我们的生活。这就为我们打开了一个崭新的、广阔的、精彩的机遇。

This means that we should think only in a positive manner about our desires, other- wise we may create and attract into our lives，events, situations and people that we don’t really want. This is actually what most of us do, because we don’t use the power of imagination correctly.

这就意味着我们应该，并且只能以积极乐观的心态规划我们的追求，否则，就会陷入我们不想要的生活、事件、情形和群体之中。事实上，我们大多数人都是这么做的，因为我们没有正确运用想象力。

If you do not recognize the importance of the power of the imagination, and let it run riot¹⁰, your life may not be as happy and successful as you would have wanted it to be.

如果你没有认识到想象力的重要性，且让想象漫无目的，那么你的生活就不会像你所想要的那样幸福和成功。

Lack of understanding of the power of the imagination is responsible for the suffering, incompetence¹¹, difficulties, failures and unhappiness people experience. For some reason, most people are inclined¹² to think in a negative way. They do not expect success. They expect the worst, and when they fail, they believe that fate is against them. This attitude can be changed, and then life will improve accordingly.

缺少对想象力的理解是有些人感到痛苦、无能、艰难和不幸的原因。由于某种原因，大多数人都倾向于消极地思考问题，他们没有想过成功。当遇到失败时，他们想的是更糟糕的情况，他们认为他们的命不好。如果这种态度能够改变的话，他们生活就会相应地得到改善。

Understanding how to use your imagination correctly, and putting this knowledge into practice, for your own and others’ benefit, will put you on the golden path to success, satisfaction and happiness.

知道如何正确运用你的想象力，为了你和他人的利益把你的知识付诸于实践，这样你就会踏上通往成功、快乐和幸福的金光大道。