Are you an original? If you say, “Yes,” then you are wrong. Upset by that statement? Let me explain. Something does not come from nothing but is built upon what came before. Therefore, nothing is original. The Wright brothers were not the first to come up with the idea of crewed flight --even Galileo was inspired by the stories of flying men left by the ancient Greeks. Being original is an impossibility, because, at some point in time, someone else has thought that thought, worn that outfit, and painted that painting. However, it is possible to be, UNIQUE, and that is the first step in becoming a creative individual.
In his book, Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, Austin Cleon states the following,
“Don’t just steal the style, steal the thinking behind the style. You don’t want
to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes.”
As a mother of teens, I find it rather interesting to note how youth try so hard to be different. What do many of them do? They wear what everyone else is wearing so they can “fit in” and be different? Or, the more outwardly expressive souls who dye their hair bright colors and lust for the day when they, too, can get intricate tattoos so they can be different right along with the crowd of people who have the same bright colored hair and elaborate tattoos? When it comes to fashionable clothing and tatts, the true creatives are the designers and artists who first created them.
The Unique Individual
What many do not realize is this: to find out what makes them unique, all they have to do is close their eyes and think. People are a compilation of their ancestors, each individual a melting pot of nations. Going beyond the physical, there are mental attributes. You can walk into an art classroom and the whole class is painting the same exact picture, yet each art piece is manifested differently. Why? It is about individual and distinct perspective. Compound this with natural talents and proclivities, and you have a unique individual.
The Answer
If you desire to be creative, then stop being “original” like everyone else. Focus on the greatness within you. Embrace every nuance of your personality that makes you a unique individual –then you will stand inimitable. Now take a deep breath, close your eyes, and think.
Comments