Motivation, Imagination, and a Paper Clip Can Help Save the World
From imagination to action in the fight for climate change.
Key points
To enhance motivation towards climate change we must start by exploring personal meaning and importance.
Divergent thinking and imagery tasks emphasize the need to transition from common to uncommon solutions.
Motivation and imagination training, when combined, can help how we approach future challenges and goals.
Imagine waking up each morning, armed with the knowledge that your daily actions can play a pivotal role in the battle against climate change — an ever-looming threat to our planet. Despite our collective good intentions, the translation of these noble aspirations into tangible actions often proves elusive. It's a paradox rooted in motivation, that hidden link between intention and action, which, in turn, hampers our ability to imagine a sustainable future.
This motivation dilemma is a two-fold concern. Firstly, individuals often voice a yearning to be more sustainably minded but lack a personal connection to the issue which makes climate initiatives an unimportant priority. Secondly, this very motivation crisis constrains our ability to think creatively, trapping us in a cycle of stagnant problem-solving. As psychologists, coaches, and educators, it's our responsibility to unravel these complexities.
Reframing the Motivation Dilemma
Governments set ambitious climate goals, but change often blossoms from the collective actions of individuals. Motivation often stands as the bridge between intention and action, and its absence dims our vision of a sustainable future. Many, despite genuine desires to make a difference, stumble in maintaining commitment amid life's daily demands.
To confront this motivation challenge, we must begin with self-reflection. In a recent discussion at a hedge fund, two engineers — Paul and Louise — showcased differing views. Paul deemed all climate actions a futile endeavor, while Louise placed faith in transformative technologies. Yet, both were stuck in the same stage of behavioral change — ambivalence, a common barrier that prevents personal pro-environmental steps.
Whether aligning with Paul's “we’re all doomed” skepticism or Louise's “the robots will save us” optimism, many imagine a sustainable future only to halt prematurely, daunted by global contributors like the U.S., China, and India. As these nations grapple with their environmental impact, thoughts shift from "what if" to a more defeatist "what is", limiting how we imagine.
Navigating the motivation dilemma necessitates delving into personal meaning — understanding why pro-environmental behaviors matter at all. Regardless of personal convictions, uncovering the 'why' reframes motivations, shifts priorities, reactivates creativity, and reignites our ability to imagine a sustainable world. By fostering an awareness of the interconnectedness of individual actions with global efforts, we bridge the gap between imagined intention and impactful action.
Reimagine: What Is to What If
Divergent thinking, measured by the Alternative Uses Task (Guilford, 1967), gauges creative ideation—the ability to generate inventive ideas. Applied to everyday objects like a paper clip, this task reveals the richness of our imagination.
Two decades ago, I performed this exercise when I was an undergraduate at University, and being a hoarder of notes I have my original answers. You can try it now should you have a spare three minutes, a pen and paper, and an intrigue to know how you would compare. List as many things as possible you could do with a paper clip — go!
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