Talking to an imaginary friend can be a great way get insight into a problem, or find unique and creative ways to get more of what you want.
Of course, when you talk to your “imaginary” friend, you’re really talking to yourself.
But if you were to ask “you” for an opinion, the same “you” that gave you the answer is likely going to be the same “you” that can’t figure out the answer in the first place.
As Einstein famously said, you can’t find a solution from the same mindset that sees the problem.
Solutions and problems co-exist, but usually not in the same mental “space.”
You’ve got to get “outside the box.”
Enter your imaginary friend. This gives you “permission” to think outside the box, so even if it is the “answer-you” giving the “question-you” the answer, it’s coming from a different, outside-the-box mindset.
Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich” would have weekly discussions with his favorite historical characters (Washington, Lincoln, Edison, etc.).
Of course, he wasn’t “really” calling up ghosts from the spirit world, but by pretending to have meetings with these folks, he was giving himself permission to think WAY outside the box, which meant he was able to come up with some pretty ingenious (and incredibly lucrative) ideas.
You can do the same.
Just pick a few famous characters or real people, whom you trust and would love to have a conversation with.
Then actually “have” a conversation. Imagine they are sitting there, or able to answer questions you pose.
Of course, I wouldn’t recommend you do this while sitting in Starbucks. People would definitely look at you funny.
But when you’re alone, or out taking a walk, why not give it whirl?
Now, this is a great way to tap your own imagination. If you’re interested in tapping the imagination and resources of others, for mutual benefit, check out this course on hypnotic language patterns:
You’ll find there’s much more to this than you can imagine.