Creative Vision
Insight vs Hindsight
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” —Hebrew Proverb
Whether you agree with anything else in the Bible or not, the truth of this proverb has been repeatedly proven throughout the course of history, both ancient and current.
Those who refuse to perceive, acknowledge, and adapt (vision), suffer/perish for their lack of vision. This is true whether you were a Neanderthal resisting the rise of homo sapiens sapiens (just one theory among many), a modern hiker who camps overnight in a dry gully, or the giant, mobile phone company (Nokia) that shut their eyes to the rise of Android.
The First World War was caused by a monumental lack of vision on an international scale. Additionally, millions of soldiers died needlessly, because military commanders lacked vision. These “leaders”, blindly insisted on sending cavalry charges against tanks, and in forcing men to charge across open ground, to be torn apart by fortified machine gun emplacements. So much evil, stupid, and unnecessary destruction, all because of a lack of vision.
Right now, there is massive scientific evidence regarding global warming. Scientists have identified causes, suggested solutions, and projected probable consequences. However, thus far, vision has most often been trumped by greed and power-mongering.
Unfortunately, President Trump is, by no means, the only evidence of the lack of political vision in the world today. It would seem that people in the UK, Australia, South Africa, and many other “democratic” nations, are all intent on voting with closed eyes (and minds). The proverbial ostrich may feel safe with its head in the sand, but actually, it’s only presenting its prime rump to the predator. (No, ostriches don’t actually stick their heads in the sand.)
Entrepreneurs are often spoken of as visionaries, because they see, and gamble on things that others do not. Artists, poets, playwrights, and novelists all know the vital importance of vision. Art without vision is, at best, ordinary — the ultimate, negative, artistic judgement.
With that in mind, here are a few questions:
- What is vision?
- How do we know if we have “vision”?
- How can we best use our vision?
Let’s answer these questions in some detail.
- What is vision?
The easiest way to explain, or think about vision, is to compare it to its physical namesake — sight.
(I’ll use these two terms — vision & sight —to refer to the physical and metaphysical, from here on.)
For the most part, similar “rules” apply.
- Some people see better than others. Even within the range of “normal” sight, there are individual variances in how well people see.
- Some people need assistance to see clearly. This is true whether one’s physical sight is good/normal or not. Faulty sight may require spectacles, contact lenses, or lasik surgery. However, there are times when even good sight needs assistance, maybe to see something far away — binoculars, or very small — microscope.
- For the most part, we see what we want, or expect to see, and it takes training and effort to see otherwise. Take a look at this video to see what I mean.
- Not being able to see is a massive disadvantage. This is not to say that the sight impaired don’t achieve amazing things. But, sight is a hugely important tool in our human toolbox, and living without sight puts one at an obvious disadvantage.
If I cannot see new, or different destinations, then how can I even know about them? Even reaching known destinations can be tricky if I cannot see, especially if there are variable, or unknown obstacles.
Vision, at its most basic, is therefore the ability to:
- distinguish a need to “move”
- target a desired goal
- move toward it
- avoid, or deal with obstacles
Okay, so if that’s vision, in a nutshell, how do I know that I’m not blind?
How do we know if we have “vision”?
While it is really rather simple to know whether or not we have sight, just how do we know whether we have vision?
Well, I’d like to start with the assumption that we all, to one degree or another, have vision. I firmly believe that “visual blindness” is even rarer than physical blindness, if it even exists at all. The question thus becomes, “Are we using our vision”.
If you’ve read any of my other posts, you’ll probably know that I believe in universal creativity — i.e. all people are, or have the capacity to be creative. Well, vision is an aspect of creativity. Vision is a part of the creative process.
Since we all have the ability to be creative, we all have vision. Once again, the question is therefore not whether I am “visually” blind, but whether I’m using my vision.
So, my final answer (no I don’t need to phone a friend) is :
You know you have vision, or at least the potential for vision, because you are human.
2. How can we best use our vision?
Well, if you think back to the sub-title of this post, there’s a not so subtle clue. Use of vision really comes down to two things:
- Insight — 1. an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding. 2. penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth. (dictionary.com)
- Hindsight — recognition of the realities, possibilities, or requirements of a situation, event, decision etc., after its occurrence. (dictionary.com)
Of these, insight is by far the most popularly recognised as being part of vision.
“The best vision is insight.” — Malcolm S Forbes, erstwhile publisher of Forbes Magazine
“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Insight — with its various aspects of penetrating discernment makes one look and feel wonderful. Nothing gives one’s ego, or reputation a boost like perfectly “calling” a situation in advance, and being proven right.
Insight looks to the future. Insight analyses, and predicts. Those known for their insight, are often labelled “forward-looking”, “visionary”, or possibly even “prophetic”. People with insight are admired, and often held in awe.
Insight is unquestionably a vital aspect of vision.
Hindsight, on the hand, is often rather looked down upon.
“Hindsight is always 20/20.” — common English saying
“If I’d known then, what I know now.”— common English saying
Hindsight is generally considered to be one of life’s cruellest booby prizes. Hindsight is seen as rubbing your face in your failure. Not only did you fail, but now you can see, with horrifying clarity, why and how you failed. Hindsight is most often seen as cruel and useless.
But hang on a moment, is hindsight really just a cruel joke at our expense? Surely not.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
— George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist
This quote is often paraphrased as “Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.” Whichever version of this saying you prefer, it clearly tells us that hindsight/memory/history is absolutely vital to future success, or possibly even survival.
Santayana reminds us that hindsight is not just a cruel trick to fill us with regret for past failures. Hindsight is quite possibly the most vital and valuable learning aid at our disposal.
In fact, without hindsight, insight becomes practically impossible. Insight is based on analysis. (both conscious and unconscious — what we call instinct) Analysis requires both experience, and components of comparison, neither of which can exist without hindsight.
So, hindsight is not merely a cruel, cosmic joke, aimed at our past failures. Rather, hindsight is, or should be, a tool for learning. If hindsight is 20/20 (perfect vision/sight), then we are blessed with a crystal clear view of what we did right, what we did wrong, and all other aspects — whether predictable/controllable, or not — of any past situation. What a valuable gift!
As such, hindsight affords us an unparalleled opportunity, not to mourn our past failures, but rather, to better plan for our future successes.
Hindsight informs our insight.
Without hindsight, insight becomes rare, and unpredictable, if not impossible, for lack of data, if nothing else. So, hindsight is not, or need not be experienced as a negative. Rather, hindsight, used with insight, forms vision, which is part of the creative process.
“The worst pain a man can suffer: To have insight into much and power over nothing.” — Herodotus, Greek historian, 5th century BC
For my own use, and in light of what I’ve just said, I like to replace “insight” with “vision” in the above quote.
Truthfully, there are few things worse than having the vision of what needs to be done, without the power, or control to do anything about it. A semi-humorous version of Santayana’s quote says, “Those who learn from history, are condemned to stand by and watch, as those who didn’t, repeat it.”
All this, actually brings us round to referencing last week’s blog post, about Creative Control. So, you should read it if you haven’t yet done so. In short, last week, I said that we have total control over only one thing in life — our actions, and that which informs our actions.
How, you may ask, does that apply to vision?
I’m so glad you asked. Vision informs, or should inform our actions. (along with morality) Since our actions are the only thing over which we have total control, vision is, or should be, a vital component of our lives.
Vision tells us where we have been, where we are, and what is ahead of us. But, as they say in the late-night adverts, “That’s not all!”
Vision, by means of hindsight-informed insight, also tells us where we can, should, or shouldn’t go — how to get or avoid getting there.
To be absolutely honest, the stresses and strains of the past few years have derailed my vision, along with any and all previous plans for my life.
In working hard to rebuild the habit of creative expression, and creative discipline, I’ve been making a small start in the right direction. However, I have not yet, sat down and re-examined my life-vision/s. Nor do I currently have any strategic plans in place to make any vision a reality.
Well, that brings me to my semi-weekly challenge — to myself, and to you all.
- Do you have a vision for your life? I include in this query, both a long-term, more or less universal vision, and multiple shorter-term, situational/project-related visions.
- Are you constructively using hindsight to inform active insight, in order to achieve/set vision for your life? Are you learning from your (and others’) past successes and failures? Are you using that data to analyse the way forward, and decide where you want to go?
- Do you take action, based on your vision/s? Remember, a wise man said that vision without power/control/action is a source of great pain. Maybe one of the reason’s you (or I) are often anxious and/or depressed is because we express the belief — through inaction — that we are powerless to fulfil our vision/s.
Here is a true saying:
“If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.” — Zig Ziglar.
In a life without vision, you will no doubt, coincidentally achieve some things that will feel good. However, think how much more might be possible if you actually had your eyes open, and were aiming at something specific.
With that in mind, not only am I challenging us both to begin thinking actively and urgently about vision for life, but next week’s post will provide a practical outline for strategic planning. It is an outline that I’ve been using for years, in business, non-profit projects, and my personal life.
Thanks to all of you that read and recommended last week’s post, and of course, to my new followers. Welcome. While I obviously write to work through things for myself, it is a wonderful bonus to know that I’m not the only one reading my posts, or getting anything out of them. Thanks again.
As usual, please read, comment, discuss, recommend, like, share, and follow. See you all next week, when we’ll begin to really get this rubber on the road.
