Why does imagination not have the same Thrill and Excitement anymore?

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As a child, my imagination was pure fantasy—completely detached from reality. But as I grew older, reality crept in, shaping my dreams in ways I hadn't noticed at first. Slowly, my once-boundless fantasies became more practical, and I found myself struggling to feel the same thrill. I kept wondering: Why is it so hard to imagine now? Why doesn’t it excite me anymore? After years of wrestling with these questions, I finally found the answer, and I want to share that experience with you.

As we age, our imagination becomes tethered to reality. It doesn’t vanish, but it transforms into something more practical. For instance, when I was a child, I imagined flying away at night, exploring the world for months. Years later, that same fantasy changed—I still imagined flying, but only returning home before sunrise so my family wouldn’t worry. The shift was subtle, but over time, these small changes accumulated, making it difficult to enjoy pure imagination.

Reality surrounds us daily, shaping our thoughts and limiting what excites us. We start craving ideas that feel at least somewhat possible. So, how do we rediscover that sense of wonder without rejecting reality altogether? The answer lies in a simple framework:

Need + Desire + Passion

These three elements define the kind of imagination we can still enjoy as adults. Take my current fantasy as an example:

I dream of writing the world’s greatest novel, earning recognition, dressing like a hero, signing autographs, receiving international awards, fulfilling my family’s dreams, and traveling the world with my wife while writing more masterpieces.

• Need – Earning money through writing to support my family.
• Desire – The fame, recognition, and lifestyle I envision
• Passion – Writing itself, the craft that drives me

But here, I define passion in two ways:

1. The standard definition – Something you love doing.
2. For this story – A source through which you fulfill your needs and desires. This doesn’t have to be something you love—it could be your current…