The process of original creation is when humans reach beyond with blind faith into the magician’s hat, knowing that they will pull out something new. There is a certainty that comes when one has imagined a vision of the future.
Pure and original creations are ideas realized that change the course of the world. They are original realities. They start as a dream, and build in momentum until they became real life.
At the time, they seem like magic and then they a miracle that they now exist and then they fill the globe. These ideas have revolutionized the world.
Here are a few original creations:
- Wheel
- Printing press
- Electricity
- Light bulb
- Bike
- Car
- Plane
- Phone
- TV
- Computer
- Internet
This is just to name a few among the many that have advanced our society beyond our wildest dreams.
We live in an age of incredible speed, accelerating to incredible heights; it is time to match that accelerated innovation with more original creation.
Innovation the product of action.
“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”
Peter F. Drucker
Innovation is defined as the action or process of transforming or changing existing ideas.
Innovation is a by-product of mediocre-to-mid level thinking. Let’s be honest, most people can think of a better way of doing something, but it takes a select few to take that innovation to the world successfully.
But we’re not talking about execution at the moment. We are here to create!
True genius, on the other hand, pushes the limits of innovation continually, until they reach the realms of original creation.
Often it doesn’t take us tapping into our inner genius to innovate or improve things, but we must if want to realize original creation.
It is easy to improve on something, but what about creating something completely new?
What about creating revolutionary concepts, unprecedented thoughts, or making ground-breaking discoveries?
Innovation is needed; it is the natural progression of things. But what about the real transcendent ideas that will leap us forward into new levels of humanity? I believe we can still make these leaps. And with more frequency.
Why were there ages of incredible growth, innovation, and creation? It was because they first imagined these amazing discoveries.
It is not to be said that innovation is less important; it is often on the path of innovation we have a breakthrough. With that said, it is important to note, that we can’t wait idly for breakthroughs to happen.
They will come as we push into deeper into the process of original creation.
Creativity, the bridge.
“The future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind: artists, inventors, storytellers — creative and holistic ‘right-brain’ thinkers.”
Daniel H. Pink
Creativity is the bridge between the mind and the action one takes. It is the connection between obscure dots in the vast landscape that is our minds and the tangible realities on this earth.
Creatives have the ability to decipher The What, and The Why and then translate it into The How; they design the future.
Then innovators act out The How.
Creative people are so important because they bring to light solutions to problems that no one else thought possible. And sometimes, even come up with solutions to problems many did not even yet realize were problems until they had already been solved.
Some have great ideas and some can execute a plan, but the creative marries the mind and the action together.
It makes it possible.
Let’s go even deeper, though.
Imagination is everything.
“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.”
Albert Einstein
Imagination is defined as the faculty or action of forming new ideas or images or concepts of external objects not present in the internal senses.
It comes from the Latin root word “Imago”, meaning “Image”. The long form of this old Latin word is “Imaginari”, meaning ‘Picture to oneself’.
Imagination is at the soul level. It consults deep within us.
And whatever faith you hold or belief you follow, you can connect deeply with God or a higher power or the universe or whatever you call it, inside your imagination.
This is the lost art, we lose it as we grow up.
As kids, anything is possible. We played between our ears so much, cultivating this vibrant imagination. It was a healthy thing to do.
One day, somewhere along the way, we stopped.
We were told it was bad. To stop being such a kid. To stop looking out the window in class. To stop being so childish and pay attention.
Pay attention to what, though? (I am still wrapping my head around the old system of schooling…)
We should have been feeding our imagination, cultivating our creativity and fostering the tenacity to see our dreams become reality.
Though these rebukes were probably for good reason or at least for good intention, it took a toll on our innocence — on our imagination — and it began the silencing of our creative powers.
Schools have failed our kids. They have turned them into robots, and now we are trying to make them human again.
Honestly, who has actually took time to use their imagination lately?
Imagined something in the last several months even?
Who actually spent time with their own original thoughts in the past year?
We don’t use our creative powers as much as we could and if we use our imaginations at all it is for a short stint before we get distracted again.
Those that sustain imaginative exercises, the few, are the innovators of our day. The ones that transcend and are considered genius are the ones that spend large healthy doses with their imagination.
They are usually called crazy at first. But they end up being the top 1%.
“If you’re not doing some things that are crazy, then you’re doing the wrong things.”
Larry Page
Action turns creativity into innovation and every once in awhile, original creation.
Let’s take someone who I’m sure has been called crazy more than once: Elon Musk, for example.
The electric car is an innovation. He took something good, a car, and made it better, yet the function stays the same.
Yes, they changed the way it was powered, which in itself is a brilliant step forward, especially in these times of harsh climate change, but it was not an entirely new concept. It was just packaged right at the right time.
Which is a testament to his brilliance in execution, on top of being a part of incredible innovations and original creations previous to Tesla.
For another example, I would argue the rocket that can land itself and take materials and people to satellites and eventually to Mars is on the border of innovation and pure creation.
To actually colonize Mars, now that’s original!
Let’s go even deeper.
How can we cultivate our imagination?
How can we use it to help us become something better?
Something we never realized we could be?
Imagination opens us up to our childlike core; which has no pride, fear, jealousy, doubt or despair.
Without these inhibitors, pure thought can happen; opening the floodgates to inspiration.
In this vulnerable place, and only there, can your imagination thrive.
Stop improving someone else’s ideas, and start creating brand new ones!
“Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.”
John Dewey, A Study of Relation of Knowledge and Action.
This whole time, we were supposed to keep our imagination intact! Who knew?!
Think of how many breakthroughs or original creations that would have catapulted us further if, instead of just the minority, but the majority tapped into their unrealized imagination.
We must rediscover our lost imagination! We must rediscover our “Old Friend”.
Old Friend (Amicus Antiquis — a poem translated from Latin)
Aged and far from innocent paths,
Remote and dilute is my mind and understanding.
Lost in pernicious labyrinths, therefore,
Drawn to figments, or fragments of thoughts and acts.
Rare indeed is nature designed to relish the interior light,
Or savor the restored sight of creation.
Much to do with recompense, the infant’s gift renewed,
Imaginari, old friend, forgive my absence.
Daniel Fortis Equus Visae, Ancient Latian thinker, 100BC
What are all the benefits of using imagination?
Imagination spurs creativity which leads to innovation and original creation. It’s the only way to create!
The top 1% take so much uninterrupted time tapping into their inner genius; their imagination.
It is the lost art! And more powerful than you believe until you start taking some time.
“Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. It is arguably the most transformative and revelatory capacity.”
J.K. Rowling
Daydream with your imagination! When you do let go of those inhibitions holding you back, don’t come back! Let it all flow out! Every hope and dream!
Let it out! As you do you’ll see possibilities that you never could of living in the land of many distractions. Cultivating imagination needs absolute restraint from distractors: phones, computers, and notifications.
Getting alone, unplugging, and losing yourself is a must.
Nature works well for this process.
It’s important to note that meditation and pondering can be blended with imagining, but they are all different and it’s important to give each their own time.
Start with 5 minutes. This will be hard enough as it is, trust me!
Schedule it in with your pondering or meditation moments and imagine your life how you have always wanted it to be. Unreserved and unchecked. Let the right brain take over for a minute, heaven forbid, and let loose!
“Imagination should be used, not to escape reality but to create it.”
Colin Wilson
Think of who you will become, what you’ll do, all the people you’ll impact and all the things you can dream up!
Write down what you’ve imagined.
Now do it!
“Perhaps imagination is only intelligence having fun.”
George Scialabba
It might seem silly or crazy to spend time with your imagination, but you must be able to stare crazy in the face and not flinch.
I have too many times cowered under heavy scrutiny and turned away from my designs; believing the naysayers instead of my imagined vision. Only to find out months and years later that others are doing what I had already dreamt up.
Kevin Talbot, at Relay Ventures, during a TedTalk, refers to this as a principle of simultaneous invention or multiple discovery. All successful entrepreneurs that imagine a great idea have an urgency to turn it into a reality for these reasons.
Don’t let others steal your dreams! Live so boldly that you scare yourself often. Dream deeply! Imagine every chance you get!
When people start calling your ideas crazy, that means you might be onto something!
Become crazy and then become genius. Everyone has the capability of genius status, believe it or not, and you’re right either way.
Remember to couple it with action!
Imagination without action will never lead to creativity, innovation or original creation.
Here are a few great quotes to inspire you!
“Truth is in our dreams, in the imagination.”
Eugene Ionesco
“The true sign of Intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein
“Reality can be beaten with enough imagination.”
Mark Twain
Pick the one that resonates the most for you and take action by picking up my Free Checklist to help you accelerate your goals and dreams. You’re on your way to pure original creation!