Why does your imagination dwindle?

[shanegotu11]

I used to have the best imagination. I still do for the most part. I just feel like part of it was lost along the way.

Why? I believe the adult culture is afraid of what people/society would think. Most adults are afraid to roll down a hill, or talk to themselves as afraid of what society would say.

I understand stress, life,etc but its sad in a way that imagination dies slowly.

 

[Pliny Pete]

Maybe its because when you grow up you have actual real things to occupy your mind
No time to build forts when youre busy focusing on your job, kids, bills, relationships, goals, who are the Kardashians fuckin this week, etc.

 

[45ACP]

I'll roll down a hill with you bro

 

[eworden78]

There's something called Neuroplasticity(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity).

Essentially, your brain strengthens neural pathways that are utilized most, and neural pathways that are neglected tend to weaken.

Creativity is a largely inefficient process, your brain does a lot of work to arive at a creative idea, and as we become older and more knowledgeable, it's much more efficient to utilize our tool-set of existing ideas rather than generate creative ideas.
So as we get older we use our creativity less, and spend more time accessing knowledge. So due to the effects of Neuroplasticity we become wiser and more reasonable, but creativity become more difficult.

The good news is that neuroplasticity is controllable and reverse-able. If you make a concerted effort to exercise your creativity, you can strengthen those neural pathways.
This is much tougher than it sounds, because it means you need to consciously ignore completely suitable ideas that come from your knowledge, and focus on ideas that may be less reliable from your creativity.

(Some of this is based on real science, and some of this is stuff I'm just making up that seams reasonable)

 

[shanegotu11]

I'll roll down a hill with you bro

Let's go and cheers.

I just remembered wishing I was calvin and Hobbes friend. Lol

 

[45ACP]

Let's go and cheers.

I just remembered wishing I was calvin and Hobbes friend. Lol

Holy shit that was my favorite comic strip as a kid. I used to have a calvin and hobbes book collection.

What hill we going to? I'll be the guy in the white parachute pants.

 

[irish_thug]

Porn

 

[Seano]

My feeling is that technology has made it so you don't really have to use your imagination anymore. That's why new movies suck so bad, that's why we get so many "reboots."

 

[shanegotu11]

Holy shit that was my favorite comic strip as a kid. I used to have a calvin and hobbes book collection.

What hill we going to? I'll be the guy in the white parachute pants.

I still have every book. I'll meet you at lookout hill. I'll be the one with the real, er stuffed tiger.

 

[DataBreach]

People don't use it. It's like a muscle if you use it, it will grow. My imagination is still good. But I have written 2 to 3 novels, 2 screenplays, a novelette and other writings.

 

[thetruth2709]

Imagination dies if you let it... most adults think happiness comes by making money so they do some repetitive human task that will allow them to make more money, they forget about everything else including imagination and the creative/creation process. I read a phrase that said something like "most people die in their 20s" and I completely understand what that means

 

[Kick Strickland]

My feeling is that technology has made it so you don't really have to use your imagination anymore. That's why new movies suck so bad, that's why we get so many "reboots."

I agree. Childhood is when your imagination seems the strongest, as TS said, and even the kids these days have realistic video games and the internet, i phones, tv, movies, etc so that they're bombarded with stimulus and don't have to use their imaginations, since there's really no need to anymore.

When I was a kid, I'd play in my yard, and all I had was a stick. But that stick could become a katana sword, a light saber, or a bo staff, and I'd use that stick to fend off the evil ninjas that were lurking in the trees nearby.

You don't see kids doing that kind of thing as much anymore. Most of the time they're inside. And if they are outside, they're on their damn smart phones glued to 'em like zombies. Times are changing and that's not always a good thing imo.

 

[M3t4tr0n]

I miss building forts

 

[LatFlare]

It's just your soul slowly dying. Nothing to worry about.

 

[M3t4tr0n]

It's just your soul slowly dying. Nothing to worry about.

The key is to quickly fill that hole with drugs or alcohol.

 

[Stargazer Rex]

My imagination is just as good as ever, when I'm by myself I routinely make myself laugh with all the crazy shit I'm thinking about.

 

[Stargazer Rex]

They key is to quickly fill that hole with drugs or alcohol.

 

[Flemmy Stardust]

I think it just gets put to use in scenarios that aren't as silly as invisible friends and pretending you can fly.

Songwriting, cooking, putting your days outfit together, problem solving, telling a funny story that happened...

I don't think it's wasted or diminished just because we don't all turn out like Michael Jackson.

 

[M3t4tr0n]

My imagination is just as good as ever, when I'm by myself I routinely make myself laugh with all the crazy shit I'm thinking about.

I do that too. People usually look at me like I'm crazy, but now I can show them our posts as proof that it's normal. Sometimes I talk out loud to sherdog too.

 

[Gutter Chris]

I think its cuz a lot of folks tell themselves im a grown up now and dont allow themselves to act silly. Im 34 and from time to time still build forts in the living room and airsoft ambush my old lady. Im a blast to be around because Im always willing to mock myself and others for being absurd