I’m in the deep midst of an imagination experiment. I’m doing this to see how big I can really let myself play. How much do I hold back? How much am I letting myself have what I want? Where are my mental limits?

Start by listing a couple of things you deeply yearn for. Then start letting yourself have it in your imagination. Commit to daydreaming everyday for seven days.

It’s funny. Initially, you think, well since I’m just imagining, it’s easy. I can make up whatever I want. But really see what you can pull up in your mind’s eye. Can you fully let yourself have what you want? Do you feel safe enough, even with yourself, to admit your heart’s desires? How crystal clear is your envisioning?

I found that I was definitely holding back. Only giving myself tiny little snippets in the beginning. I was a shy director, embarrassed even! I have been practicing every day, deeply, for weeks now. And finally, the visions are getting more rich, more fun and playful, bolder.

In the practice of making dream movies in your mind, you are learning how to open up to what your heart desires. You might run into limits initially, where you try to dream up something and an inner critic starts to throw tomatoes on your screen, or tell you that you are being silly and can’t have what you want. Learn to observe this critic, love him and make him feel safe, and then tell him to shut the f*** up. Quiet on the set.

Learn to envision with all of your senses: see, hear, taste, feel, smell it. Really, truly let yourself have it. Heart desires want to be known like this. And let loose. Tell the judge to go away and just play. It doesn’t matter if it feels frivolous, play IS supposed to be carefree. Once you unleash yourself, once you stop holding back, your heart’s desires will show you how much fuel they have. They will pull at your imagination, pluck you into a daydream in the midst of your days.

The stories tell us to dream…so start practicing.