How we imagine the future is increasingly recognized as a key marker to psychological wellbeing. Neuroscientists refer to this process as Future Oriented Mental Time Travel (FOMTT); and psychologists simply as Prospection. Unfortunately, our repertoire for prospection is limited by what is stored in memory, i.e., on past experience. If not thrilled with our past, however, are we doomed to repeat it? The bad news is the brain has evolved to develop a filter referred to as negativity bias, to more often bring to our attention whatever is, or has been wrong versus right with us and the world, and project this to the future. Our survival depended on this feature to better detect and avoid hazards, and operates largely unconsciously. The good news is, we can consciously and proactively engage our imagination to counteract this process, for generating more positive possibilities, for facilitating and accelerating change.

The practical strategies covered in this workshop are supported by recent innovative neuroscience research that explains what keeps us stuck, and points to how the practice of future oriented mental imagery can generate breakthroughs – to virtually rewriting history; for thriving and not just surviving. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it also establishes mental imagery as two-way conduit to boosting intuition and enhancing decision-making in alignment with best interests.