In Part One, we explored the habits that keep us from dreaming—the unconscious patterns that teach us to stay inside what already exists. But recognizing those habits is only part of the work. If we want to imagine something different, we also have to practice becoming capable of creating it. In this episode, I return to Norma Wong’s When No Thing Works to explore practices that interrupt our old patterns and expand our capacity to dream: clearing the decks, breathing, standing on the hill, cultivating relationships, and storytelling. These practices ask us to make space, come back into our bodies, widen our perspective, tend to what we’re growing, and tell fuller stories about what might be possible. Because we can’t think ourselves into a different future. At some point, imagination has to become embodied practice. Feel Into It * What am I trying to manage more efficiently that I could simply stop carrying? * Where in my life do I need more space—not so I can fill it again, but so I can actually pay attention? * What changes when I slow down enough to breathe before deciding what comes next? * Where might I need to “stand on the hill” and look at my life, a relationship, or a problem from a wider perspective? * Which relationships am I actively cultivating? Where is there reciprocity, tending, and room for mutual growth? * What future have I dismissed because I decided too quickly that it was unrealistic? * If I let myself tell the whole story of the future I want—without immediately explaining why it couldn’t happen—what would that story sound like? * What is one practice I can begin now? References + Things Mentioned Norma Wong, When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of CollapseThis episode—and Part One—draws from Wong’s discussion of the habits that constrain our capacity to dream and the practices that help us interrupt those habits and cultivate new possibilities. David Foster Wallace, “This Is Water”I reference Wallace’s well-known commencement speech while talking about breath, awareness, and the things that can become so ordinary that we stop consciously noticing them. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death CleaningI mention the practice of Swedish death cleaning while talking about clearing physical space, letting things go, and intentionally giving meaningful belongings to other people. Part One: Why We Stopped DreamingIf you haven’t listened yet, Part One explores the unconscious habits and inherited ways of thinking that can limit our ability to imagine beyond what already exists. Stay Connected Website: chloehodson.orgEmail: bloomedchloe@gmail.comTikTok & YouTube: @ms.chloehodson You can listen to Feel Into It wherever you get your podcasts. If something in this episode made you think, question, imagine, or feel differently, I’d love to hear from you. And if you enjoyed the episode, following, rating, sharing, or sending it to someone who might connect with it always helps support the podcast. Get full access to Chloe Hodson at bloomingcurriculum.substack.com/subscribe
