Spontaneous Visioning

Did you spend a lot of time daydreaming in school? The number of artistic carvings on school desks is cogent testimony to the fact that many young minds wander to distant places. While teachers have traditionally punished students for daydreaming, it is one of our most important creative faculties, Psychologist Patricia Sun suggests, "Rather than discouraging daydreaming in school, it should be taught as an art. Each day a certain amount of time should be set aside for creative daydreaming." Then the school system would fulfill its original purpose of education, which derives from the Latin educare, "to draw forth from within."

When our teachers or parents scolded us for daydreaming, they did not realize they were dissuading us from a powerful form of prayer. While daydreaming, we enter an altered state of consciousness that allows us to tap into our innate genius. Some of the greatest ideas and inventions of history seeded themselves in wandering minds. We need more creative daydreamers.

The more you focus on what pleases you, the more your mind will magnetize ideas that lead to manifesting your joyful visions. There is no limit to the delight and success you will find by focusing on what turns you on.

Just after I graduated from college, I saw a newspaper ad for an attractive job as director of a youth services center. I was so excited about this opportunity that I began to imagine what I would do in the position. I wrote notes and project outlines and played with ideas of unique activities I could develop. By the time I went to the job interview, I had an entire program planned out that impressed the board of directors. I was given the job over another candidate by a vote of 5-4. 1 now realize that I landed that job because I was so excited about it; my playful fantasies led to practical results!