Creative Time Lab was delighted to present our work last week in Bangalore, India, where our co-founder Dr. Anna Sircova led an engaging session on how people imagine their personal and global futures — and how these visions shape emotions, agency, and collective action.
A central moment of the workshop came from the collective reflection on a scenario that questioned whether the future exists at all. This prompted strikingly diverse emotional and cultural responses:
- Some observed that even contemplating a “non-existent future” can generate anxiety — especially in cultures where future-thinking is tied to meaning, productivity, and purpose.
- Others, drawing from more cyclical or spiritual worldviews, expressed that the future is neither guaranteed nor necessary as a psychological anchor; what matters is the continuity of the “microcosm” — our actions, values, and their ripple effects.
- Several participants noted that uncertainty is universal, but a hopeful or optimistic stance is what allows life to remain meaningful in the present.
- One student connected the discussion to childhood intuitions — the sense that life itself could be a dream — emphasizing that despite uncertainty, hope remains a stabilizing force.
These reflections beautifully illustrated how cultural models of time (linear, circular, or layered) shape not just how people imagine the future, but how they emotionally inhabit it.
Moreover, during the session, we explored the contrasting perceptions of personal futures (often optimistic and goal-oriented) versus global futures (frequently marked by anxiety and urgency), supported by findings from our international research. We also presented our interactive, sensory-based installation, The Space of Futurization —made possible by the generous support of the Fondation APRIL —which aims to transform abstract future-related anxiety into tangible hope and reflective agency.
We were warmly hosted by Joby Thomas, PhD, Dean, and Dr. Jayesh M P, and had the pleasure of meeting the motivated students from the Nudge Club), whose curiosity and behavioural-science lens enriched the discussion.
Thank you to every participant for your openness, insights, and visionary contributions. Together, we are learning to navigate and nurture the possible futures.