Towards an integral futures vision

Abstract

Purpose

There are many challenges to be addressed in today's world. Futurists have a process, methods and skills to submit to a positive advancement of these challenges, which is the purpose of this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is the author's synthesis and reflection of the more positive aspects of addressing the problems facing contemporary society.

Findings

The author concludes the visioning operation needs to be near the beginning of the future's practice with the focus on presencing “what does the future want from us in this matter?” How can people serve “it” instead of their ego? This will take maturity, being conscious, and having an attitude of gratitude and service to something bigger than ourselves.

Originality/value

When futurist practitioners practice the approach of foresight planning, the viewpoint examined here is that the vision exercise should be placed at the beginning of the process. The priority of the visioning activity should include an inquiry of what wants to emerge from the “evolutionary integral future.” This consideration widens the perspective to include the well‐being of the whole ecosystem, with the possible benefits of resilience, waking up, growing up, and showing up.

Citation

Collins, T. (2013), "Towards an integral futures vision", On the Horizon, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 214-217. https://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-11-2012-0030