Riding the Edge: Living With Creative Tension

When one holds a vision that stretches the mind and convention, when one dreams of realities that may seem like pure folly to the popular consensus, when one strives to reveal a truth that hasn't been seen by the masses, one becomes accustomed to being different. One also becomes accustomed to living a life with a certain amount of tension - tension between what is envisioned and what currently exists. Robert Fritz, author of The Path of Least Resistance, has described this differential as "structural tension." Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, referenced Fritz's model, making it more widely known as "creative tension."

Those who can live in this tension and hold their vision for what they see as achievable not only become accustomed to being different but they also become accustomed to this tension. Senge once told me he thought personal mastery was achieved when people could hold this tension without seeking relief from it. Most people tend to succumb to the desire to reconcile this tension and get more comfortable. They relieve it by either lowering their vision and their expectancy for their desired future or by overstating the present reality, making it seem better than it is. Often worse; they give up on their vision but start acting as if they still embody it. This often leads to them martyring themselves – taking consolations in the image they think they are projecting rather than making the kind of difference they claim they want.

The envisioned future can be a quality of life for oneself or one’s loved ones, business success, or even a quality in the world one wants to see. It helps if the envisioned reality is more expectancy rather than specific expectations. Be somewhat flexible in the form of your envisioned reality. When assessing the existing reality, exploring what you want to see changed, be sure to tell the absolute truth without exaggeration so the condition is portrayed accurately. Here’s the graphic I used in Getting to the Better Future, my latest book:

 

Scientists who discovered major breakthroughs in their fields are examples of such visionaries who mastered the ability to function in this creative tension. Great artists, composers and other creative people with visions that soared beyond the conventional are also examples of people who can function effectively with this tension in their lives.

 

Those who have mastered this are able to hold it as a part of everyday life, sometimes over decades of time. They don't give up or become resigned about any lack of “progress” from the current reality to the envisioned one. It doesn’t mean those who live here don’t get discouraged or never experience despair, loss, grief or sadness. The difference is they don’t let these feelings stop them. They use them to energize their intentionality and their vision. 

 

Do you know any of these people, people who have been holding the creative tension for years and years, feeling alive and empowered, continuing to hold their visions for a better life or a better world? Do you want that ability yourself? Try it out. You may find you can hold the tension between what you want to see happen and what is presently so far better than you think. It certainly won’t hurt to try.

Comments

[debbe kennedy]

Hi John,

This message is so timely for me! I'm not sure why I went here at this particular moment. Just felt was drawn. Now I know why. Thank you for pushing my reset button. VISION brightening!

Debbe

[Marrikelle]

Thank you very much for this article - it bought much releif as this tension is what I have been experiencing for a few years, a constant misalignment between my vision and the reality of the my world.
Now I know I'm not the only one.

[John Renesch]

Marrielle, not only are you not alone, you are among the masses of people who have the privilege of having a vision beyond mere physical survival. The times are chalenging for those of us who see greater possibility for ourselves and the rest of the world. Thanks for your note and I come you come back again, John

[John Renesch]

Thanks for the compliment. I'm curious as to who is the author who enjoyed my writing.