May the Force of Mindfulness Be With You

My Business Cards

Your imagination is a very powerful tool. Have a think about the biggest thing that you can think of that you really want to do....when you have that image in your head try to put it down on paper, draw it, sketch it, write it, paint it, make a doodle out of it. Then set an intention in your head to reach it, make it real, give it purpose, make it so number one.

Our imaginations are very powerful tools. Without an imagination you would not be reading this blog on the device you that you hold and it would not contain any electrical components in it. Nor would you be wearing those glasses to make you see; or feeling the cloth of your shirt on your arm. You would not be seeing the images from Star Wars cards at the beginning of this blog and this blog would not exist because Google wouldn't have been created  to create it. Never mind the furniture that you are sitting or laying on. 

Without imaginations our world would be, well, it would be as Earth was created. We have shaped it with our imaginations. Consider the idea that whatever idea you had in your head, and I would guess you probably think it unobtainable, is the same feeling the person who invented the the chair had when they wanted to explain this idea of parking your backside onto something in order to rest your feet. 

"What do you call it?"

"An arse supporting leg-rester." 

"Nah!"

Here's a little tale you may know.

There once lived a young farm boy who dreamed of a wider world than his small desert space. He looked up at the stars and would wonder what went on there, who was out there. 

One afternoon he met a crazy old wizard who explained that he could see what was there if he trusted himself, he could be great, if he listened to himself. and that this old man could teach him tricks.

The boy was excited and tempted; until he remembered that he had jobs to do and commitments to the farm.

Then one day, fate played it's hand. That young boy lost his connection to the farm under tragic circumstances and he had a choice to make, stay and rebuild, or chase his dreams.

he chose the old man and went for his dreams. 

The old man taught the boy about the magic in the air, and how he was connected not only to those that he loved, but to all living things, to the ground and nature and to the universe. He told the young farm boy to believe in his instinct, in his imagination, to listen to what was going on inside of him. Do not trust what your eyes tell you.

The young boy trusted, he learnt and....

....you know the rest.

Of course that is the story of Luke Skywalker. It is also the story of many myths and legends and our wonderful storytellers tell us these stories because as well as being entertaining, there is an element of truth in them. That's why they have lasted for centuries.

We must begin to trust our instincts and imaginations; our subconscious brains. Our logical side is all well and good, but it only warns you about what you already know, it houses your fears and your learned beliefs. The saying goes that if you tell yourself you can't do something then you are absolutely right. 

Try telling yourself that you can do something, and each step of the way you learn more and take another leap to that goal fizzing about in your mind. You enjoy the road trip to that goal, you learn new skills and meet new people and open your world. You can't just step out of your house and be an astronaut; but you can be an astronaut.

Any goal you can dream is obtainable. It lies in the belief within you and the desire you have to get there. We are used to being told the following: 

NO

TOO HARD

WHY

YOU CAN'T

NOT ENOUGH TIME/MONEY/EDUCATION

Try telling yourself yes, and scare the hell out of your family and friends by also telling them yes. You will be classed as an eccentric, a misfit, a rebel, an outcast, a maverick and any other label those who are stuck in their worlds would like to put on those who choose to break the wall. 

Break the wall.

I haven't played the piano for 30 years. During this lockdown I have decided to start to learn. In the following video, I start by playing the piano, please do consider that I got this far in a week.

Stay safe everyone. 

Zac Thraves is a writer, performer and mindfulness practitioner. Once out of lockdown you can book me for shows, stories and games. For schools and places of work.