Don't Think of Elephants

So I came across this very thought provoking question.

Is there such a thing as an "original" idea?

At first you might want to say "Yes, of coarse.." but take a moment to think about it.

We are who we are because of what we hear, what we see, what we read, what we watch, who we are with, and in that sense, no idea is original.

When I say "Don't Think of Elephants?" what do you think of?

Elephants. Every idea that we have, originates from another idea that someone else had.

Did you know that Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a remake? Yep! The plot was written by Arthur Brooke and was originally called "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet."

So even back in the 16th century, people were getting ideas from other, original, ideas.

But then I wonder where Arthur Brooke got his insperation for "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet." 

So doesn't that just add to the wonder of the question?

 Someone says "Anything you do [creatively] has a direct relation to something you have experienced in one form or another in real life. Use your imagination to exaggerate or lessen that sensation."

So hearing that makes me think that no two people are inspired by one thing the same. If you put 10 people in a room and have them watch the same bit of art, whether it be a book or a film or a photo, each of them are going to feel completley different about the piece. They may all have the same opinion, but they will all be motivated differently.

Now, in THAT sense, every idea is "original" because no one two people are going to create the EXACT same thing. Because everything we do is based off what we have experienced and how we let those experiences filter into our heads and no two people have experienced the same things. 

So in closing. All ideas are original or non are.

Isn't that liberating?

Lynz

"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."