Images Influence Action
Jul 14, 2021The images we surround ourselves with matter. They invoke thoughts and feelings that shape the future. What sort of images do you allow yourself to be surrounded by? In what direction do those images take your thoughts? How then are your actions impacted? Images and stories can immerse us in future worlds allowing us to not only see but feel feelings that can move us to action.
The earliest images of human civilization were related to storytelling. Storytelling is our most foundational form of communication dating back to ancient times. We are told stories of cultures, societies, religions, regions, and families. Stories are critical because the human brain processes imagined experiences the same way it does real ones. Because of this, stories are often adopted as fact regardless of their actual merit. From stories our minds create images and from images our minds create stories.
The earliest images of human civilization were related to storytelling. Storytelling is our most foundational form of communication dating back to ancient times. We are told stories of cultures, societies, religions, regions, and families. Stories are critical because the human brain processes imagined experiences the same way it does real ones. Because of this, stories are often adopted as fact regardless of their actual merit. From stories our minds create images and from images our minds create stories.
We’ve come a very long way from primitive cave paintings. We are now bombarded by images constantly. The culmination of the constant images that surround us create unconscious stories within our minds daily. Humans have an endless number of preconceived thoughts and ideas that our brains unconsciously jump to without us even realizing. It’s known as the ladder of inference. This is how the human brain naturally works. We can’t necessarily keep it from happening. How we use this ability is up to us.
What types of images do you allow yourself to be surrounded by and what types of images do you want to be surrounded by? (hopeful and aspirational; dystopic and disturbing; peaceful and pondering; or careful and timid)
There is a tendency to blame the media for the images we see. While I will agree the impact of media in our society is significant. I also believe the control is ours if we choose to take it. The responsibility is ours to turn off media if we don’t care to be bombarded by its particular images and stories, BUT, it is also our responsibility to diversify the images and stories we are surrounded by so we can be open minded and informed to make better decisions that can pull us towards futures we map out instead of being pushed towards futures we have no hand in creating.
Check out the images in these two videos. What feelings do each set of images evoke? What types of decisions would you make about the future of your business or family if these were the stories and images you were surrounded by?
We’ve come a very long way from primitive cave paintings. We are now bombarded by images constantly. The culmination of the constant images that surround us create unconscious stories within our minds daily. Humans have an endless number of preconceived thoughts and ideas that our brains unconsciously jump to without us even realizing. It’s known as the ladder of inference. This is how the human brain naturally works. We can’t necessarily keep it from happening. How we use this ability is up to us.
What types of images do you allow yourself to be surrounded by and what types of images do you want to be surrounded by? (hopeful and aspirational; dystopic and disturbing; peaceful and pondering; or careful and timid)
There is a tendency to blame the media for the images we see. While I will agree the impact of media in our society is significant. I also believe the control is ours if we choose to take it. The responsibility is ours to turn off media if we don’t care to be bombarded by its particular images and stories, BUT, it is also our responsibility to diversify the images and stories we are surrounded by so we can be open minded and informed to make better decisions that can pull us towards futures we map out instead of being pushed towards futures we have no hand in creating.
Check out the images in these two videos. What feelings do each set of images evoke? What types of decisions would you make about the future of your business or family if these were the stories and images you were surrounded by?
We’ve come a very long way from primitive cave paintings. We are now bombarded by images constantly. The culmination of the constant images that surround us create unconscious stories within our minds daily. Humans have an endless number of preconceived thoughts and ideas that our brains unconsciously jump to without us even realizing. It’s known as the ladder of inference. This is how the human brain naturally works. We can’t necessarily keep it from happening. How we use this ability is up to us.
What types of images do you allow yourself to be surrounded by and what types of images do you want to be surrounded by? (hopeful and aspirational; dystopic and disturbing; peaceful and pondering; or careful and timid)
There is a tendency to blame the media for the images we see. While I will agree the impact of media in our society is significant. I also believe the control is ours if we choose to take it. The responsibility is ours to turn off media if we don’t care to be bombarded by its particular images and stories, BUT, it is also our responsibility to diversify the images and stories we are surrounded by so we can be open minded and informed to make better decisions that can pull us towards futures we map out instead of being pushed towards futures we have no hand in creating.
Check out the images in these two videos. What feelings do each set of images evoke? What types of decisions would you make about the future of your business or family if these were the stories and images you were surrounded by?
Images and stories matter. They influence our actions which creates the future. What future are you creating?
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