The Importance of Ideal-Seeking Behavior in a World of Increasing Relevant Uncertainties

The traditional goal-setting methods that provided clear pathways and predictable outcomes in a less complex and uncertain world are now incapable of addressing the evolving dynamics of our times.

Ideal-seeking behavior — the desire to continuously striving for an ever-evolving future — offers a pathway to becoming pro-actively disruptive to thrive in uncertain times.

Opposite from goal-seeking behavior — which focuses on the short term and immediate gratification- ideal-seeking behavior is characterized by both the desire and the ability to progress towards an ideal by choosing a new goal when a previous one has been met or the effort to meet it has failed and the desire/ability to sacrifice a goal for the sake of the ideal.

Integral to this behavior is the concept of tropophilia, or the love for change and uncertainty, which fosters the pro-active adaptive behavior necessary to feed on complexities.

Goal-Seeking vs. Ideal-Seeking Behavior

Goal-seeking behavior is rooted in achieving specific, measurable objectives and it is inherently limited to a specific time/space. When people or organizations engage in goal-seeking behavior, they identify a particular endpoint…