Destructive Daydreams: Why Wishful Thinking is Dangerous

"The problem with positive fantasies is that they allow us to anticipate success in the here and now. However they don't alert us to the problems we are likely to face along the way and can leave us with less motivation—after all it feels like we've already reached our goal."

"...fantasies about an idealized future may indeed lead to poor decisions. Such fantasies create a preference for information about pros rather than cons, particularly when people are not yet serious about pursuing the realization of the future."


"Fantasies that are less positive–that question whether an ideal future can be achieved, and that depict obstacles, problems, and setbacks–should be more beneficial for mustering the energy needed to attain actual success."


http://www.spring.org.uk/2012/06/destructive-daydreams-why-wishful-thinking-is-dangerous.php