When the Will & the Imagination Are Antagonistic, Imagination Always Wins

 

A Casual Conversation

The living room was buzzing with laughter as plates of snacks circled around. It was supposed to be a casual get-together of youngsters, when the topic suddenly took a philosophical turn.

“You know,” Priya said, settling into the couch, “we’ve always been told that where there’s a will, there’s a way. But lately I feel imagination plays a bigger role than willpower.”

Sanjiv raised an eyebrow. “Imagination? Bigger than will? That sounds debatable.”

Rohan jumped in immediately. “No, I’m with Priya. Look at the Wright brothers! If they’d just relied on will, they would’ve kept fixing bicycles. Imagination made them believe humans could fly. That’s what truly drove them.”

Aditya leaned forward, excited. “Exactly! Once they imagined it clearly, willpower automatically followed. They crashed so many times, people mocked them, but imagination pulled them through.”

Ria nodded. “We’ve seen that even in India. Remember Abdul Kalam? His will helped him study under a kerosene lamp, but imagination took him further. He didn’t just want a job, he wanted rockets, satellites and a great future for the country.”

“True,” Rashmi agreed. “Lots of people study hard. But not everyone imagines a future big enough to stretch their life beyond ordinary.”

Vignesh snapped his fingers. “That reminds me of Narayan Murthy. Will was keeping him working as a hardworking engineer. But imagination made him visualise India as a global tech leader. That picture kept Infosys alive when they had no money and no recognition.”

“Imagination pulled the team forward,” Aditya added.

Sanjiv’s brother Sandip chuckled. “You all are making it sound like a movie script.”

“But real life works that way!” Rohan replied. “Look at Walt Disney. Will made him chase cartooning, but every rejection could’ve broken him. Imagination - talking animals and  magical castles kept him going.”

Priya glanced around the room. “Even for students it’s the same. Will makes them sit and study. But imagination is what keeps them awake at night. Picturing success, the pride in parents’ eyes, their dream careers.”

Sanjiv leaned back, thoughtful now instead of sceptical. “So you’re saying will says, ‘I must,’ but imagination says, ‘I want.’ And ‘I want’ has more power.”

Ria smiled. “Because imagination moves the heart. Will moves the mind. When both move together, that’s when things really happen.”

There was a moment of silence as everyone took that in.

“Well,” Aditya finally said, laughing, “next time I’m lazy at the gym, maybe I’ll try imagining six-pack abs instead of forcing myself to lift weights.”

Everyone burst into laughter, and the discussion ended on that warm note, not with a conclusion, but with a shared feeling that dreams begin not with discipline, but with a picture that makes effort worthwhile.

About the Author

The Hidden Psychology of How We Keep Things

There are moments when a familiar memory suddenly brings a new perspective. Recently I was reminded of an old blog of mine - How My FIL’sPortfolio Discipline Became His Legacy - where I had written about my father-in-law’s meticulous approach to managing his financial investments. The more I reflected on it, the more I realised that his portfolio discipline was only one part of a much larger picture. His entire life was organised, not just his finances.

Every physical item he owned had a designated place. Whether it was a book, a tool, a pen, or an old document, he knew exactly where to find it. He never searched, he simply retrieved. And this wasn’t limited to the material world. His memory mirrored that same clarity. He could effortlessly recall the smallest details - dates, names, conversations from decades ago - with surprising accuracy.

This made me wonder: Is there a connection between how someone arranges their thoughts and how they arrange their physical belongings?

The more I observe people around me, including myself, the more I feel there is a connection. Individuals who think in a structured, systematic manner tend to carry that approach into their surroundings. They don’t like clutter, whether on their table or in their mind. They prefer closure, clarity, and order. If something is kept outside its usual place, they instinctively correct it, not because of compulsion, but because it aligns with how their mind operates. And this very habit makes recall almost automatic; when everything has a home, retrieval becomes effortless.

On the other hand, people who often find their thoughts scattered, unfinished tasks, pending decisions, unresolved emotions, tend to surround themselves with physical disorder as well. The room mirrors the mind. Drawers become a reflection of unresolved plans. A desk becomes a metaphor for priorities jumbled together.

Imagine if one consciously began organising the external environment, the workspace, the cupboard, the digital files. Would the mind slowly learn to follow? Or perhaps the change must happen the other way, begin by organising internal thoughts and discipline will naturally express itself in the physical world. Either way, the two appear deeply interconnected.

The encouraging part is that this is not an inherited trait reserved for a chosen few. It is a practice, one that anyone can build. A small, consistent “change of mind” can dramatically transform not only how one thinks, but also how one lives. It is, therefore, entirely reasonable to conclude that the way we keep things around us is a strong indicator of how our mind works, and with deliberate effort, both can improve together.

About the Author