---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The act of envisioning is mainly useful…"
description: "\"The act of envisioning is mainly useful as a means for identifying what matters most to you now.\" — Stewart D. Friedman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg"
---

#  The act of envisioning is mainly useful as a means for…

![“The act of envisioning is mainly useful as a means for identifying what matters most to you now.” quote by Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg)

> “The act of envisioning is mainly useful as a means for identifying what matters most to you now.”

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Imagining futures helps clarify current priorities and guide action.

**In simple terms:** Envisioning clarifies what matters now.

Key Takeaway

Use imagination to set priorities.

Themes

goal‑setting clarity vision

Mood

hopeful strategic

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- personal relationships
- project planning
- life coaching

Key Concepts

future planning self‑reflection

Questions to Reflect On

- What does your imagination reveal about your priorities?
- How can you turn vision into action?

A Different Perspective

Imagination may distract from practical steps.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Act Envisioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-envisioning-659578/) [Envisioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envisioning/) [Envisioning Mainly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envisioning-mainly-659577/) [Identifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identifying/) [Identifying Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identifying-matters-659579/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Subconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subconscious/) [Useful Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-means-659580/) [What matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-matters/)

## Related quotes

> [Letters are above all useful as a means of expressing the ideal self; and no other method of communication is quite so good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hardwick/letters-are-above-all-useful-as-a-means-of-expressing-the-ideal-self/)

[Elizabeth Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hardwick/)

> [Be prepared for negative responses sometimes. It doesn't have anything to do with you. It's just sometimes you're not the right look, or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailee-madison/be-prepared-for-negative-responses-sometimes-it-doesn-t-have-anything/)

[Bailee Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailee-madison/)

> [I'm really good at envisioning things. Even when I haven't experienced something, it doesn't mean that I haven't felt it before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-mcrae/i-m-really-good-at-envisioning-things-even-when-i-haven-t-experienced/)

[Tate McRae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-mcrae/)

> [I believe that thinking positively and envisioning the best possible outcome can add to your achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maxwell/i-believe-that-thinking-positively-and-envisioning-the-best-possible/)

[Stella Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maxwell/)

> [I enjoy the challenge of envisioning something in your head and then making it come to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griff/i-enjoy-the-challenge-of-envisioning-something-in-your-head-and-then/)

[Griff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griff/)

> [When we create something, we always create it first in a thought form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/when-we-create-something-we-always-create-it-first-in-a-thought-form/)

[Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/)

> [“We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hunt/we-who-cut-mere-stones-must-always-be-envisioning-cathedrals/)

[Andrew Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hunt/)

> [“Yeah, this place needs a better-quality blueberry muffin." I raised a pointed finger. "And I could provide it." "You sound pretty sure of yourself,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-simses/yeah-this-place-needs-a-better-quality-blueberry-muffin-i-raised-a/)

[Mary Simses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-simses/)

> [You must spend time every day, even if it is just a few minutes, in practice of creative envisioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-must-spend-time-every-day-even-if-it-is-just-a-few-minutes-in/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [Just taking a piece of dirt and envisioning the building you'd like to put on it - it's an amazing process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-undertaker/just-taking-a-piece-of-dirt-and-envisioning-the-building-you-d-like/)

[The Undertaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-undertaker/)

> [“If you don’t like your current situation, career, or relationships, by envisioning a different reality and constructing a new life within your mind, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-huang/if-you-don-t-like-your-current-situation-career-or-relationships-by/)

[Alvin Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-huang/)

> [“s far as the Law of Attraction and your power vision go, once you’ve come up with what you want to manifest, don’t worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-rios/s-far-as-the-law-of-attraction-and-your-power-vision-go-once-you-ve/)

[Art Rios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-rios/)

> [The idea of taking a song, envisioning the overall sound in my head and then bringing the arrangement to life in the studio...well, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/the-idea-of-taking-a-song-envisioning-the-overall-sound-in-my-head/)

[Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/)

> [We sat in silence, both of us looking up at the stars. He was probably envisioning a machine headed for Pluto. I wished i…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/we-sat-in-silence-both-of-us-looking-up-at-the-stars-he-was-probably/)

[Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/)

> [“I had this tendency to think things through a little too much, envisioning things in the future while I completely missed the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-clark/i-had-this-tendency-to-think-things-through-a-little-too-much/)

[Catherine Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-clark/)

## More by Stewart D. Friedman

> [The key to overcoming resistance to change is to frame your actions and continually adjust them as you move forward to so that those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-key-to-overcoming-resistance-to-change-is-to-frame-your-actions/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Michelle Obama is a powerful example of someone who has learned how to align her actions with her values, manage boundaries across domains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/michelle-obama-is-a-powerful-example-of-someone-who-has-learned-how/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Family, community, and the realm of the private self - your mind, body, and spirit - are all important sources of the inspiration, support,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/family-community-and-the-realm-of-the-private-self-your-mind-body-and/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Continual improvisation on a theme is a more useful way to think of how to bring the various parts of life together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/continual-improvisation-on-a-theme-is-a-more-useful-way-to-think-of/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [My research and practice indicates that people need to be doing work they love and to love the work they do. They need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/my-research-and-practice-indicates-that-people-need-to-be-doing-work/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Firms that fully embrace the needs and interests of the whole person will win today's competition for the best talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/firms-that-fully-embrace-the-needs-and-interests-of-the-whole-person/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [People struggle most with seeing new ways of doing things and often need help in breaking through their tradition-bound mindsets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/people-struggle-most-with-seeing-new-ways-of-doing-things-and-often/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [People of all ages, but especially young people, require work that as meaning, or social value. Since they're not getting the kind of long-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/people-of-all-ages-but-especially-young-people-require-work-that-as/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Executives are afraid of losing control if subordinates try to roam too far. Conversely, hierarchy squelches talent by forcing rote standardization through the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/executives-are-afraid-of-losing-control-if-subordinates-try-to-roam/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Women make up half our workforce and this has an impact at home on spouses and children. This means the workplace must change because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/women-make-up-half-our-workforce-and-this-has-an-impact-at-home-on/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Instead of the metaphor of scales in balance, I prefer the idea of a jazz quartet: you're trying to make music that feels and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/instead-of-the-metaphor-of-scales-in-balance-i-prefer-the-idea-of-a/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Invest in helping people know what matters to them and who matters to them (and why), and encourage them to continually experiment with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/invest-in-helping-people-know-what-matters-to-them-and-who-matters-to/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [I find that many people have a hard time, at first, in painting a compelling image of an achievable future; to envision their legacy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/i-find-that-many-people-have-a-hard-time-at-first-in-painting-a/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Managing the boundaries between work and the rest of our lives - family, community, and the private self - is now a much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/managing-the-boundaries-between-work-and-the-rest-of-our-lives-family/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

> [Change is surely the order of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/change-is-surely-the-order-of-the-day/)

[Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

[Explore all 50 Stewart D. Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/)

## More Envisioning quotes

> [“I had this tendency to think things through a little too much, envisioning things in the future while I completely missed the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-clark/i-had-this-tendency-to-think-things-through-a-little-too-much/)

[Catherine Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-clark/)

> [We sat in silence, both of us looking up at the stars. He was probably envisioning a machine headed for Pluto. I wished i…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/we-sat-in-silence-both-of-us-looking-up-at-the-stars-he-was-probably/)

[Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/)

> [The idea of taking a song, envisioning the overall sound in my head and then bringing the arrangement to life in the studio...well, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/the-idea-of-taking-a-song-envisioning-the-overall-sound-in-my-head/)

[Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/)

> [“s far as the Law of Attraction and your power vision go, once you’ve come up with what you want to manifest, don’t worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-rios/s-far-as-the-law-of-attraction-and-your-power-vision-go-once-you-ve/)

[Art Rios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-rios/)

> [“If you don’t like your current situation, career, or relationships, by envisioning a different reality and constructing a new life within your mind, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-huang/if-you-don-t-like-your-current-situation-career-or-relationships-by/)

[Alvin Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-huang/)

> [Just taking a piece of dirt and envisioning the building you'd like to put on it - it's an amazing process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-undertaker/just-taking-a-piece-of-dirt-and-envisioning-the-building-you-d-like/)

[The Undertaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-undertaker/)

> [You must spend time every day, even if it is just a few minutes, in practice of creative envisioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-must-spend-time-every-day-even-if-it-is-just-a-few-minutes-in/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [“Yeah, this place needs a better-quality blueberry muffin." I raised a pointed finger. "And I could provide it." "You sound pretty sure of yourself,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-simses/yeah-this-place-needs-a-better-quality-blueberry-muffin-i-raised-a/)

[Mary Simses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-simses/)

> [“We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hunt/we-who-cut-mere-stones-must-always-be-envisioning-cathedrals/)

[Andrew Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hunt/)

> [When we create something, we always create it first in a thought form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/when-we-create-something-we-always-create-it-first-in-a-thought-form/)

[Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/)

> [I enjoy the challenge of envisioning something in your head and then making it come to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griff/i-enjoy-the-challenge-of-envisioning-something-in-your-head-and-then/)

[Griff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griff/)

> [I believe that thinking positively and envisioning the best possible outcome can add to your achievements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maxwell/i-believe-that-thinking-positively-and-envisioning-the-best-possible/)

[Stella Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maxwell/)

> [I'm really good at envisioning things. Even when I haven't experienced something, it doesn't mean that I haven't felt it before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-mcrae/i-m-really-good-at-envisioning-things-even-when-i-haven-t-experienced/)

[Tate McRae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-mcrae/)

> [Be prepared for negative responses sometimes. It doesn't have anything to do with you. It's just sometimes you're not the right look, or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailee-madison/be-prepared-for-negative-responses-sometimes-it-doesn-t-have-anything/)

[Bailee Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailee-madison/)

> [For me, the whole process involves envisioning this book in my head as I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/for-me-the-whole-process-involves-envisioning-this-book-in-my-head-as/)

[Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/)

[Browse all 46 Envisioning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envisioning/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The act of envisioning is mainly useful as a means for identifying what matters most to you now.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stewart D. Friedman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful-as-a-means-for-identifying/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Envisioning"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful-as-a-means-for-identifying/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/stewart-d-friedman-13434_envisioning_the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful_1651544.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The act of envisioning is mainly useful as a means for identifying what matters most to you now.” — Stewart D. Friedman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stewart D. Friedman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The act of envisioning is mainly...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful-as-a-means-for-identifying/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-act-of-envisioning-is-mainly-useful-as-a-means-for-identifying/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```