Visioning: A radical new way to unlock creative ambition
Concrete fantasies spark breakthroughs—here’s how 'visioning' rewires desire
LessWrong contributors Gretta Duleba and John Wentworth introduce 'visioning'—a practice of vividly imagining unrealistic but high-energy futures to reignite creativity and agency. Unlike visualization, it prioritizes raw desire over step-by-step planning, helping people escape 'local maxima' in work or life.
Visioning involves conjuring detailed, often fantastical scenarios that evoke strong emotional reactions, such as John’s vision of genetically engineering monsters in a labyrinthine tower or Gretta’s desire to tattoo vat-grown skin. The practice isn’t about feasibility but about tapping into latent ambitions and desires, which can then fuel motivation and innovation. Examples like imagining a snowy forest at night or a hovercar trip to Home Depot reveal how visions trigger 'agentic' behavior—acting as a compass for what truly excites individuals beyond societal expectations or detached principles like effective altruism.
- Visioning = vivid, unrealistic fantasy generation to spark creative energy (e.g., 'genetically engineer monsters' or 'tattoo vat-grown skin').
- Unlike visualization, it focuses on desire over feasibility, helping escape 'local maxima' in careers or personal growth.
- Practitioners report increased motivation, fun, and 'agentic' behavior, aligning actions with true passions.
Why It Matters
Unlocks untapped ambition by prioritizing desire over constraints—redefining how we set goals.