In Love with the Future – How can we create change through the power of imagination?

Mike Kauschke in Dialogue with Rob Hopkins

In the midst of our many crises, the future can look like something to avoid or to fear. But Rob Hopkins sees the future as a field of possibility. The co-founder of the Transition Town Movement, which brings change to the concrete, local human level, sees his work for change rooted in our power of imagination. When we can imagine a new future and long for it, it will be the strongest motivator to act.

He created podcasts and trainings in which he travels into the future with his guests or participants to the world people want to live in. For him this changed his attitude as an activist and made him investigate the power of a love for the future, that he explores in his new book “How to Fall in Love with the Future”

Rob Hopkins says, “In my work I try to help people to imagine what a low carbon future could be like, if we take the fear out of it and cultivate a longing for it. Imagination allows us to generate longing. Longing is one of the most powerful and precious things that we have right now. As activists we often think, we just need to give people a sufficiently terrifying report and they're going to change the world. But that’s delusional. We're only going to create a different future if we long for it first.”

To awaken people to this power of imagination Rob Hopkins runs “Imagination Catalyst” trainings for organizations as diverse as Balenciaga, London Marathon Group, local councils and Museum Booster. He says about this work:

“We need to be able to fill people's imagination with possibility, stories, longing, desire and a belief that is about moving towards a future that's so irresistible and delicious that we have no choice. If it feels like we're being dragged away from something irreplaceable, we're not going to do it. So, we have to create that kind of longing. And that's the work of imagination, music, poetry, storytelling and art.“

In this inspiring conversation, Rob Hopkins explores the power of imagination, community, and collective vision in shaping a sustainable and hopeful future. He shares insights on how time travel, art, and diverse voices can ignite collective longing and action to address climate change and societal challenges.

www.robhopkins.net

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