Adjacent Possible

Adjacent Possible
Category
Problem-Solving
Similar
Zone of Proximal Development

Definition

A mapping of possibilities in a present circumstance that captures both the immediate limits as well as the creative potential for change and innovation.

Origin

From Stuart Koffman's At Home in the Universe: The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity.

Everyday Use

It's difficult to integrate our long-term goals and objectives with our day-to-day actions. It's often challenging to see _how_ we can move from our present situation into an imagined future. At those times, it's helpful to think about the _adjacent possible — _what is a next step, simple and achievable yet unambiguous, that could be made today to move onto that path, getting us one step closer to our goal.