Great ideas happen where Vision meets Reality

My best ideas come when I first get deeply honest about the gap between what I actually see and what I want to see.

I take in and acknowledge reality, the world I see around and within me at this moment; and then overlay that reality with my dream, my vision, what I want to see in the world and within or even for myself.

HERE’S THE TRICK: rather than indulging in complaining or empty wishful thinking or letting that gap discourage or upset me, I just get really curious instead. I ask empowering questions like:

• What action, service, offering, etc. could I put inside that gap between reality and my vision that would make that gap even a little bit smaller?

• What can I easily add to this present moment that would immediately bring my vision closer into being?

I also look at my inner world and ask myself provocative questions like:

• What stressful, limiting thoughts am I believing that may be preventing me from taking action in support of my vision?

• Who would I have to be to live the vision I see?

Combining deep honesty and unflinching curiosity inspires creative – and useful – thoughts about what I can do to visibly move reality in the direction of my vision.

The best innovators and creators are masters at dancing on that sharp edge between reality and vision.

Steve Jobs was infamous for his “reality-warping” tactics, the often bizarre Jedi mind tricks he would wield towards people in an attempt to get them to do things they thought completely disconnected from current reality. Of course, Steve built Apple Computers, but he only did so by being fully aware of reality before attempting to warp it.

If you’re disconnected from reality, whether you’re lying to yourself or just delusional about what’s actually going on around and within you, then your dreams and visions have nowhere solid to ground. Your head will be stuck in the clouds and your feet, dangling high above the earth and moving frantically about, will essentially get you nowhere.

On the other hand, if you have no vision, or if you let the gap between your vision and the reality you see frustrate, upset, or otherwise deter you rather than get you profoundly curious … well, then you’re just stuck with “reality”.

What exciting possibilities do you see where reality meets your vision?