The purpose of this section is to build understanding of what is in place today and surface the unstated beliefs and guiding ideas that uphold current reality.

• Start at the bottom of the column.
• In the box labeled “Activities,” ask:  Thinking about how things are now, what do people tend to do day to day?
• In the box labeled “Structures,” ask: What types of plans, policies, or structures have led to those activities and events?
• In the box labeled “Beliefs,” ask: What stated or unstated beliefs do those structures reflect?
• In the box labeled “Vision,” ask: Considering what you observe today, what vision would characterize most of the system today?

• Starting in any row, notice and capture the gaps between the current reality and the ideal future.
• Focus on the gaps that are most important to close to reach the ideal future or ones that seem surprising.

• Starting in any row, begin to brainstorm strategies for closing those gaps. 
• You will not generate a comprehensive plan but rather a set of ideas to explore further. 
• Consider both efforts that are already underway that could be leveraged to narrow the gaps or new strategies that could target the gaps directly. 
• You may not identify strategies for every row at this stage. Start with the gaps that feel most important.

• What do you now understand about the topic that you had not recognized before? 
• What aspects of the ideal future seem most important to pursue? 
• What first step could you take toward enacting any of the strategies?