--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot imagine what will be if you…" description: "\"“You cannot imagine what will be if you are constantly concerned with what already is.”\" — Jocelyn K. Glei" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_imagination_you-cannot-imagine-what-will-be-if-you-a_1810268.jpg" --- # You cannot imagine what will be if you are constantly… ![“You cannot imagine what will be if you are constantly concerned with what already is.” quote by Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_imagination_you-cannot-imagine-what-will-be-if-you-a_1810268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_imagination_you-cannot-imagine-what-will-be-if-you-a_1810268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_imagination_you-cannot-imagine-what-will-be-if-you-a_1810268.jpg) > ““You cannot imagine what will be if you are constantly concerned with what already is.”” [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on the present limits imagination of future possibilities **In simple terms:** Current preoccupations block future vision Key Takeaway Shift focus from present to future possibilities Themes mindset creativity future Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Goal setting - future planning - creative brainstorming Key Concepts Presentism imagination growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What would you create if you let go of the present? - How can you balance present duties with future dreams? A Different Perspective Obsessing over now can cause anxiety ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Constantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constantly/) [Constantly Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constantly-concerned-2108625/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagine Constantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-constantly-2108626/) ## Related quotes > [Indeed, religion allows people to imagine that their concerns are moral when they are highly immoral - that is, when pressing these concerns inflicts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/indeed-religion-allows-people-to-imagine-that-their-concerns-are/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [I like people who can see what other people can't yet imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick-maloney/i-like-people-who-can-see-what-other-people-can-t-yet-imagine/) [Sean Patrick Maloney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick-maloney/) > [We are never either so fortunate or so misfortunate as we imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-never-either-so-fortunate-or-so-misfortunate-as-we-imagine/) [Francois De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Conflict acting on intelligence creates imagination. Faced with conflict, creatures are forced to imagine what will happen, where the next threat will come from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/conflict-acting-on-intelligence-creates-imagination-faced-with/) [Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/) > [That's the way I work: I try to imagine what I would like to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-coppola/that-s-the-way-i-work-i-try-to-imagine-what-i-would-like-to-see/) [Sofia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-coppola/) > [Imagine trying to live without air. Now imagine something worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/imagine-trying-to-live-without-air-now-imagine-something-worse/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) > [“Sometimes we think we should be able to know everything. But we can’t. We have to allow ourselves to see what there is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/sometimes-we-think-we-should-be-able-to-know-everything-but-we-can-t/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) > [I often like to think that our map of the world is wrong, that where we have centered physics, we should actually place literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-often-like-to-think-that-our-map-of-the-world-is-wrong-that-where/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [You can't really imagine music without technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/you-can-t-really-imagine-music-without-technology/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Imagine: you've spent all day traipsing round London, lost in a maze of chaos, trying to find a hidden illusion; you've been living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brooks/imagine-you-ve-spent-all-day-traipsing-round-london-lost-in-a-maze-of/) [Kevin Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brooks/) > [“You can create anything that you can imagine!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-anthony/you-can-create-anything-that-you-can-imagine/) [Paul Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-anthony/) > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [Imagine the world without God !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chizim/imagine-the-world-without-god/) [Chizim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chizim/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) ## More by Jocelyn K. Glei > [“We are all works in progress. Each day presents an opportunity to learn more, do more, be more, and grow more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/we-are-all-works-in-progress-each-day-presents-an-opportunity-to/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Truly great creative achievements require hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of work, and we have to make time every single day to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/truly-great-creative-achievements-require-hundreds-if-not-thousands/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“continuous partial attention,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/continuous-partial-attention/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“99U’s Manage Your Day-to-Day assembles insights around four key skill sets you must master to succeed: building a rock-solid daily routine, taming your tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/99u-s-manage-your-day-to-day-assembles-insights-around-four-key-skill/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“All of the most fulfilled people I know focus more on the quality of their connections than the quantity of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/all-of-the-most-fulfilled-people-i-know-focus-more-on-the-quality-of/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“people have a really bad habit of coming in and checking e-mail first thing in the morning. And for many people, the morning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/people-have-a-really-bad-habit-of-coming-in-and-checking-e-mail-first/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“when folks want to talk creativity, what they’re really seeking is help with execution, ways to take action more effectively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/when-folks-want-to-talk-creativity-what-they-re-really-seeking-is/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“THE MULTITASKING MYTH Studies show that the human mind can only truly multitask when it comes to highly automatic behaviors like walking. For activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-multitasking-myth-studies-show-that-the-human-mind-can-only-truly/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“The next time you experience a creative block, resist the temptation to doubt yourself, or to put in more blind effort. Stop and ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-next-time-you-experience-a-creative-block-resist-the-temptation/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“What I do every day matters more than what I do once in a while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/what-i-do-every-day-matters-more-than-what-i-do-once-in-a-while/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“The idea that the best way to communicate with people is 24/7 is not really an idea about maximizing productivity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-idea-that-the-best-way-to-communicate-with-people-is-24-7-is-not/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Limit your daily to-do list. A 3” × 3” Post-it is perfect—if you can’t fit everything on a list that size, how will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/limit-your-daily-to-do-list-a-3-3-post-it-is-perfect-if-you-can-t-fit/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“I never schedule meetings in the morning, if I can avoid it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/i-never-schedule-meetings-in-the-morning-if-i-can-avoid-it/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Follow your passion” is bad advice. I reached this conclusion after spending a year researching a basic question: What makes people love what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/follow-your-passion-is-bad-advice-i-reached-this-conclusion-after/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“For his book Willpower, psychologist Roy Baumeister analyzed findings from hundreds of experiments to determine why some people can retain focus for hours, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/for-his-book-willpower-psychologist-roy-baumeister-analyzed-findings/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) [Explore all 114 Jocelyn K. Glei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) ## More Concerned quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The time has come when the whole world must be concerned about me. From now on, American Christianity must follow me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/the-time-has-come-when-the-whole-world-must-be-concerned-about-me/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I feel like I won the Lotto, as far as that show's concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/i-feel-like-i-won-the-lotto-as-far-as-that-show-s-concerned/) [Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) [Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/) > [“Is something bothering you, Sam?” Nixon asked with a deep furrow between his concerned chocolate eyes. “You mean besides the dead body lying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-dyllin/is-something-bothering-you-sam-nixon-asked-with-a-deep-furrow-between/) [D.T. Dyllin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-dyllin/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) [Browse all 3,551 Concerned quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You cannot imagine what will be if you are constantly concerned with what already is.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jocelyn K. 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