Fear vs Faith: Mind Your Mindset Sample

Day Three: Mind Your Imagination

Imagination is a key component of mindset, but you may not even realize it. Imagination can lead us to fear and despair, or imagination can lead us to hope and faith. Imagination is a seldom appreciated tool for mindset. Let’s explore how imagination played a role in the story of the scouts who explored God’s promised land and then came back with reports for the community.

The 10 scouts who brought back a fearful report did a lot of observing when they explored the land. But then they started imagining. We can see the evidence of this in verse 32 when they say, “the land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there.” I can just picture them, observing the big people, the fortified cities….and then they move from observing to imaging. “The land devouring” conjures an image of a sink hole with a giant mouth, sharp fangs and grinding molars ready to chew up all who enter!

Hey, I’m right there with them. My brain can create pictures of dramatic doom as well! Take this example. I may see the facts first: I’m to speak to a crowd who looks bored and distracted with the speaker before me. The room is too hot, it is the end of a long day of presentations, and mine is last. Then, my imagination kicks in: I imagine people even more bored and distracted during my talk. I imagine them nodding off, getting up to leave, and diving into the entertainment of their phones. My imagined speaking experience increases my anxiety and makes me feel tentative. I can feel the accusing voices telling me I don’t have anything important to say anyway. The result? I will be discouraged and tentative as I begin my talk.

By way of contrast, let’s look at where Caleb and Joshua’s imagination takes them. Remember, they see the exact same things as the other scouts. But then, their imaginations lead them to this phrase in verse 9, “they are only helpless prey to us!” This phrase makes me think of tiny bunnies, scurrying away from a mountain lion! Caleb and Joshua’s imagination goes in a completely different direction than the other scouts! And, in my example of my despairing imaginings about giving a talk, if I deliberately shift towards hopeful imaginings about speaking to the crowd the result is very different. With intentional practice, I can imagine the audience perking up as I tell my opening story, then putting their phones away, nodding and smiling, perhaps even jotting down notes! If I spend some time in hopeful imaginings, then I’m going to walk up to that podium with a completely different energy! An engaged crowd is far more likely if I enter the talk with hope and faith!

Our imaginations compel us and the people around us. We would do well to recognize when our imaginations kick in and learn to pivot towards hopeful imaginings instead of negative ones. It will increase our hope and joy and give those around us inspiration as well.

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