Knowing yourself

Imagination, when rooted in self-awareness, allows us to empathize with and understand others’ experiences—even those we haven’t lived ourselves. By knowing ourselves and gaining insight, we sharpen our perspective, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:22, and can truly “love our neighbor as ourselves” (Mark 12:31). This inner clarity not only fuels empathy but also helps people envision their future with greater accuracy. As Einstein noted, knowledge provides the base, but imagination drives growth, creativity, and connection.

I’ve had many experiences that turned out exactly as I imagined. I believe the key to turning imagination into something close to real experience is knowing yourself well. By understanding yourself, educating yourself about situations you’ve never gone through, and comparing them to similar ones, you can make your imagination more accurate.

I’ve been able to understand and help people with problems I’ve never personally experienced—and you can, too. Many people say they can’t understand others without sharing the same experiences. Still, I believe that a deep and intense imagination can help you empathize with people whose lives are completely different from your own.

Jesus said,

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”
– Matthew 6:22, NIV

That speaks to perspective—how clearly we see inwardly affects everything outwardly. When we know ourselves—when we examine our own hearts, intentions, and patterns—we illuminate our own path and see others more clearly too. That kind of clarity fuels imagination, empathy, and insight.

Jesus also said,

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
– Mark 12:31

This teaching pushes us to go beyond simply recognizing others’ struggles—we are called to feel them as our own. True empathy comes from not just understanding someone else’s pain but also imagining how it feels from within their heart.

Why do you think some people can predict their actions in ten years with near-perfect accuracy? I know this idea isn’t perfect, but even Albert Einstein said,

“While knowledge provides a foundation for understanding, it is the power of imagination that propels us forward, enabling us to innovate, create, and inspire.”

What are your thoughts on this?