Is Imagining a waste of time?
When I ask coachees to visualise a future state, some get uncomfortable.
They ask – “Isn’t this basically daydreaming?”, “This is just imagination.”, “I would rather think practically about what I need to do.” etc.
I understand the hesitation. But imagining an end state can do something that purely analytical thinking sometimes doesn’t.
It can make a vague desire more concrete. Instead of “I want better work-life balance,” you begin to see what a good day actually looks like. When do you start work? When do you stop? What are you doing in the evening? Who are you spending time with?
And as the picture becomes richer, other things can emerge — what really matters to you, what is missing today, what trade-offs you are willing to make, and sometimes even what you need to do next.
When I explain this, some people become curious and give the exercise a real shot with all enthusiasm (and some laughter 🙂) .
But some still hold back. And when we explore that resistance, interesting reasons sometimes emerge.
One is the fear of getting attached to the picture. “If I allow myself to really imagine this life and it doesn’t happen, won’t the disappointment be worse?” So keeping the future blurry can actually feel safer.
For some, imagining an ambitious future feels presumptuous: “Who am I to think I could have that?”
For some, there is embarrassment. Visualisation can feel like motivational videos, manifestation or wishful thinking.
And many of us have absorbed a strong cultural message: Serious people are rational. They analyse, plan and act. Imagining, feeling and dreaming are somehow less legitimate.
But visualisation is not a prediction or manifestation, it is simply another way of thinking – thinking in pictures and feelings rather than words alone.
Scientific experiments also suggest that vividly imagining future situations can improve planning, support emotional regulation, and encourage choices that favour long-term benefits over immediate rewards.
The next time you are trying to make an important career decision, rethink your work, improve a relationship, or make a significant change in your life, try something before making the action plan.
Imagine that things have worked out well.
Ask yourself the questions – What does an ordinary day in that future look like? What are you doing differently? What are you feeling? What is present that isn’t present today?
You may discover information that wasn’t available to you when you were only thinking in words.
Have you tried this before and if yes, what changes did that bring? Please share.
