Delusional Energy: Why a little fantasy can fuel bold change

Being completely delusional gets bad press. It’s a slur. It’s probably not something you want to be, or described as. ‘She’s completely delusional’ is not often received as a compliment. And yet, when I interview people for my podcast or the Do Radio show, being delusional comes up as something the people felt they were, in a way that helped fuel their mad idea for success, fame, achievement. It was part of their drive.

Think about the stories you have heard from people who have achieved societally perceived success. Founders who launched companies with no funding. Athletes who trained for medals no one thought they could win. Writers who finished books after years of rejection. It can sound absolutely delusional listening to their origin story.

So what if that “delusion” isn’t the mis-step we are lead to believe, what if we need a little bit delusion to help us to make the moves we want to make.

The Problem With Being Sensible

When we want change, real change, big change, the rational mind can become our greatest obstacle.

It calculates the odds.
It lists the risks.
It reminds us of previous failures. And every reason why this isn’t a good idea.

And often, it concludes: not likely, calm yourself.

If we only acted when success felt probable, many bold ambitions would die in the planning stage.

This is where a certain kind of constructive fantasy becomes useful. The ability to see a version of the future that doesn’t yet exist, and seems to be ridiculous, and to believe in it just enough, allows us to move before the evidence arrives. Without that stretch beyond current reality, we rarely attempt anything transformative.

The Research on “Positive Illusions”

With this line of thought I did a bit of digging around for some research or perspectives on this observation. What do the experts say?

Well, psychologist Shelley Taylor coined the term “positive illusions.” Her research suggests that mildly inflated beliefs about our abilities or future outcomes can actually improve resilience, motivation and performance. Psychologically healthy people are not perfectly realistic. The research identified three common patterns:

1. Unrealistically Positive Self-Views

People tend to see themselves as more capable, more moral, or more competent than objective measures might suggest. Most individuals believe they are “above average” on desirable traits, statistically impossible, but psychologically powerful.

2. Illusions of Control

We often believe we have more influence over events than we truly do. While complete control is an illusion, believing we have agency increases persistence and effort.

3. Unrealistic Optimism

People tend to believe that positive outcomes are more likely for them than for others, and negative outcomes less likely.

At first glance, this sounds like denial. But the research suggested that these mild distortions are adaptive and create useful energy.

They are linked to:

• Greater resilience under stress

• Higher motivation

• Stronger persistence

• Better coping during adversity

This isn’t about extreme delusion. The key word is mild. These illusions are flexible. When faced with overwhelming contradictory evidence, psychologically healthy individuals adjust.

Rather than being harmful, these small distortions were linked to greater resilience, persistence, and well-being. In uncertain or high-risk pursuits, like launching a business or making a bold life change, this sliver of optimism bias can fuel action before evidence exists. The key distinction is flexibility: positive illusions are adaptive when they motivate effort and can adjust in the face of new information. It’s not about denying reality, it’s about believing just enough beyond it to move forward.

In other words, slightly overestimating ourselves may help us persevere long enough to succeed, and take action that othewise we would not.

Similarly, Albert Bandura’s work on self-efficacy shows that belief in our capability, even before mastery, significantly increases the likelihood of achievement. People who believe they can influence outcomes are more persistent, more creative in problem-solving, and more willing to recover from setbacks.

Belief precedes capability.

And then there’s Angela Duckworth, whose research on grit highlights the power of sustained passion and perseverance. To commit to a long-term, uncertain goal requires a degree of optimism that might look unrealistic at the outset. From the outside, that optimism can look like delusion. From the inside, it feels like conviction.

So, it’s a thing.

Is It Delusion or something else?

It’s interesting that people say ‘I was completely delusional’, but I rarely hear people say ‘I was courageous’ ‘I was persistent’ ‘ - and yet it might be what they were actually doing. There is a difference between destructive delusion and productive boldness.

Destructive delusion ignores evidence, refuses feedback, and persists blindly.

Productive delusion holds a compelling vision while remaining adaptive. It allows for learning, iteration, and course correction.

Entrepreneurial research often references the concept of “visionary overconfidence.” Many founders begin with underestimated timelines and overestimated probabilities of success. Yet without that initial distortion, they might never begin.

The world rarely changes because someone calculated perfect odds. It changes because someone believed beyond them.

Fantasy as a Bridge

When we imagine a bold future, starting a business, changing careers, writing a book, leading differently, we are temporarily living in a story that hasn’t yet materialised. If we remove that story and focus only on present constraints, momentum collapses.

A small amount of fantasy can act as a bridge between current reality and your desired change.

It allows us to tolerate uncertainty.
It protects motivation during slow progress.
It quiets the inner critic long enough to act.

Neuroscience research on visualisation suggests that vividly imagining success activates similar neural pathways to real performance. Athletes have used this for decades. The brain rehearses possibility before the world catches up.

Fantasy, in this sense, is rehearsal.

The Middle point: Grounded Ambition

The sweet spot lies somewhere between naive fantasy and paralysing realism.

Too much realism: we never begin.
Too much fantasy: we ignore warning signs.

The magic is in holding a bold internal narrative while staying externally responsive.

This is particularly relevant in periods of change. When you want something different, a new direction, a reinvention, a shift, there will rarely be enough data to justify the leap. At some point, you step forward because you believe.

And perhaps belief always contains a flicker of delusion.

Things to ponder…

• Where might being “realistic” actually be holding you back?

• What ambition or idea have you dismissed because it felt improbable?

• If you allowed yourself 10% more audacity, what would you attempt?

• What evidence are you waiting for that can only appear after you begin?

• How can being a little bit more ridiculous serve you right now?

Perhaps bold change requires a reframe.

Not Am I delusional?
But Is this belief helping me move?

Because sometimes, the people who look delusional at the start are simply the ones who refused to let current reality dictate future possibility. And if you are feeling completely delusional, maybe that’s just exactly what you need!