“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”
This phrase adorns a plaque that rests above the gateway to every single Disney theme park. It’s a simple phrase. But rarely has a phrase prompted a change in so many people. Disney has a way of doing that to people.
This quote, from Walt Disney himself, perfectly encapsulates the thought process and attitude that was used when creating the world that an estimated 157 Million people visited just in 2019 alone. It also acts as a reminder for how we should conduct ourselves, not only while guests in the magical land of Disney, but also long after we pass through the turnstiles and exit the park to head home.
Imagination > Reality
I’ve often touted the idea that the best way to live your life is to live in the ‘now’. The past and the future don’t technically exist. So what good does dwelling on them do for you? The only moment you can truly count on is ‘now’.
Today, however, I’d like to add a codicil to that statement. In some cases, ‘now’ is not the best moment to grasp.
Consider looking at both your mind and your inner self as two separate pieces that equal your whole person.
One piece is the logical side. The side of you that works for a living, pays your bills, and ensures that there is food on the table.
But the other side is just as, if not more, important to your survival. It’s the whimsical side. It’s the side that enables fantasies to run through your mind. It’s the part of you that asks “What if?”. The importance of allowing the whimsical side more time in the spotlight can’t be overstated.
This whimsical side is the side that drove Walt Disney’s life. Walt Disney built an entire world based on his sense of wonder and allowing his imagination to take the reigns.
Certainly, it became what some might refer to as a business empire. And it certainly accomplished the goal of paying his bills and putting food on the table. So it satisfied that other side, and that’s important. But it was more his brother, Roy, that tackled the logical, business side of the company.
Walt’s imagination has inspired millions in business, art and everyday life. I’ve even written about how he’s changed my life. And it should continue to inspire us all. Living in the ‘now’ is a valuable skill. But so is considering what else ‘now’ could turn into if you were to approach it with the right point of view.
Use Your Imagination – Walt Disney’s Greatest Lesson
Right and Wrong are not constants in this world. But rather, we land on agreed upon happy mediums that seem to be logical for the largest number of people. But logical isn’t always right. And logical isn’t always best. Sometimes whimsical is exactly what we need.
It not only allows you to walk through Walt Disney World and be transported into 1920’s Main Street USA, or to the Revolutionary times, or even to worlds that we thought only existed in our minds. It also allows you, once you leave Disney’s grounds, to do anything from crafting a new way to improve your company’s products or your client’s bottom line, to crafting a new way to organize your kitchen or enjoy a fun afternoon with your family.
Imagination is everything.
Our imaginations give us the keys to a world we hadn’t yet conceived. When we slide the key into the lock and turn, we have no idea what lies on the other side of that door. But we know that the possibilities are endless. On the other side of that door is the answer that that age-old question – “what if?”.
Opportunities for us to use our imaginations are all around us. We just need to open our eyes to the fact that they exist.
Once you allow yourself to see that “imagination” is actually a part of reality, then your reality will reshape itself to allow for space in your world where the things you did not realize were possible now have a home in your world.
It’s what Walt Disney did, and it’s what he wanted for the world. For all of the joy that he’s given us, we owe it to him to do it for ourselves.
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