Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world... — Mae Jemison

Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.

Author: Mae Jemison

Insight: Most of us get the message early: imagination is fine for kids, but adults need to be practical. We're steered toward proven paths, safe choices, sensible careers. And then somewhere in our twenties or thirties, we realize we've gotten really good at talking ourselves out of ideas before anyone else even has the chance to. We've become our own robbers. The thing about creativity isn't that it's frivolous or optional—it's actually how you make decisions about your own life. Curiosity is what lets you notice what actually matters to you versus what you think should matter. When you stop asking questions and exploring possibilities, you're not being more mature; you're just outsourcing your choices to whatever seemed reasonable to someone else. Your imagination is the tool that lets you see yourself differently, in situations you haven't lived yet. The harder part of this isn't defending yourself against other people's judgment—it's noticing when you've internalized that judgment so completely that it feels like your own common sense. The life you want rarely looks exactly like the life you're supposed to want. You get to find out what that difference is, and then actually pursue it.