Imagination as a Superpower

January marks National Poverty in America Awareness Month, a time when we are reminded of the staggering realities of economic inequities in the United States and beyond. Poverty is often described in terms of numbers such as income thresholds, unemployment rates, and housing and food insecurity, but behind those statistics are human lives shaped not only by material scarcity but also by psychological constraints.

One of the most overlooked tools in addressing poverty is imagination. Rosie Bingham Davis, past president of the American Psychological Association and counseling psychologist, has dedicated her career to illuminating the issues of poverty and the perceptions and stigma of those who live in deep poverty. I had the opportunity to discuss these issues with her on my podcast, Wellness in Today’s World. She provided her lived experience of living in deep poverty and how it impacted her professional and personal life and the choices she made. We also talked about the issues of poverty and the idea behind her book, Rosie’s Superpower: The Power of Imagination (2025). She argues that imagination is not a luxury reserved for artists or dreamers but a psychological resource that can help individuals and communities reframe their circumstances and envision new possibilities.

Poverty Beyond the Numbers

Living in poverty is not simply about lacking money. It is about the narrowing of choices, opportunities, and futures. When resources are scarce, the ability to dream can feel indulgent or even impossible. Yet, without imagination, the future can become a repetition of the present.

Psychologists have long studied the impact of scarcity on cognition. Research shows that poverty can consume mental bandwidth, leaving little room for long-term planning or creative problem-solving (de Bruijn & Antonides, 2022). This is where imagination becomes critical. It allows individuals to step outside immediate constraints and picture alternatives.

Imagination as Psychological Resilience

Davis’s work highlights how imagination functions as a form of resilience. By envisioning different futures, people can cultivate hope—a psychological state that fuels persistence and problem-solving. Imagination is not about ignoring reality; it is about expanding it by thinking about the endless possibilities.

Consider a student growing up in a low-income neighborhood. Without exposure to role models or opportunities, their vision of the future may be limited. But through imaginative exercises like storytelling, art, or guided visioning, they can begin to picture themselves as scientists, teachers, or entrepreneurs. That act of imagining is the first step toward making those futures possible.

Collective Imagination: Communities Dreaming Together

Imagination is not only for the individual; it can be collective. Communities and societies that come together to imagine alternatives can generate powerful social change. Visioning sessions, participatory design projects, and community storytelling initiatives allow residents to articulate shared dreams. These collective acts of imagination can inspire policy changes, grassroots movements, and new programs.

For example, community-based organizations have used imagination workshops to re-envision neighborhoods plagued by violence or disinvestment. By imagining safer streets, better schools, and thriving local businesses, communities can create a blueprint for advocacy and action. Clearly, the responsibility to address poverty must be at all levels, including at the global and national levels.

Lessons from Rosie’s Superpower

Davis’s book offers several key insights:

• Imagination is a skill. It can be cultivated through practice, education, and exposure.
• Hope emerges from imagination. When people can picture alternatives, they are more likely to persist in pursuing them.
• Systemic change requires imaginative leadership. Policymakers and educators must dare to envision alternatives to entrenched inequality.

Imagination Essential Reads

Superconstruction: How Your Brain Imagines the Future

Imagining From Multiple Perspectives

Her call to action during National Poverty in America Awareness Month is clear: Imagination must be treated as a vital resource in the fight against poverty.

Moving Forward: A Psychology of Possibility

As psychologists, educators, and community leaders, we have a responsibility to nurture imagination. This means integrating creative practices into schools, community programs, and policy discussions. It means recognizing that imagination is not frivolous or a useless waste of time. It is foundational to resilience, innovation, and equity.

Awareness about poverty is not only about acknowledging the challenges of economic inequality; it is about embracing the tools that can help us overcome them. By cultivating imagination, we can empower individuals and communities to break cycles of poverty and build futures filled with dignity and opportunity.