Given the state of our world today, it has never been more necessary to cultivate a hopeful imagination in life. MHN came to understand this from a young age, forever struggling to belong. She found refuge in drawing, with each line a way to express her emotions and every landscape illustrated as a reflection of her inner world. It was this segway into the world of creation where she felt most free, and the practice of "worldbuilding" that she found her way back home. "Worldbuilding" is about creating fictional worlds for stories, but when applied to our lives, it becomes a tool for crafting a hopeful vision and pathway for our future.
Age 31, MHN discovered she had autism, a crucial part of her story that explained all the challenges growing up. In the decades that spanned between realizing the depth of her struggles but not having a name for them, she cultivated a strong imagination to survive. "Worldbuilding" was this escape and outlet to build resilience.
THE WORLDS WE MAKE will show readers the power in breaking the rules, focusing on small changes and creative boundary making. It champions adaptability, curiosity, and openness to nonlinear living so readers can live life on their own terms. It ultimately aims to promote self-discovery and resilience while emphasizing the crucial role of imagination in mental health, neurodiversity, and humanity.
Across 12 carefully designed chapters, MHN illustrates how nurturing your imagination can lead to improved mental well-being, a journey guided through using "worldbuilding." Here, worldbuilding goes beyond its literary roots, becoming a hands-on technique for crafting supportive and nurturing environments.
The overarching goal of this work is empowerment through practical action. By breaking down the concept of worldbuilding into actionable steps, the book offers readers the means to construct their own supportive environments. This isn't just theoretical; it's a practical call to action that aligns with emerging academic research and societal trends. In this way, readers are equipped with a robust toolkit to craft environments that not only enrich their own lives but also make meaningful contributions to communal well-being.