These famous words were spoken by the cartoon character Dilbert by Scott Adams. The phrase suggests doubt. Doubt in the idea of change is often times rooted in our own self-imposed confinement of past experiences. These experiences (former collections of ideas and experiences) affects our ability to truly embrace change. Hence the natural corollary to our ability/inability to think outside the box.

Are humans incapable of original thought?

One of the main points of this idea is defining what an original thought is. All the time we come up with what we think is an original thought, yet this thought has come from somewhere. Humans cannot imagine something that excludes everything they have ever seen. Therefore, are we incapable of original thought? If we are incapable of original thought, is this one of the limiting factors on our advancement as a species?

Many would say that a song writer creating a new song is original. But is it? Is it not a collection of former lyrics/melodies/sounds/notes previously heard or played? Yes and No. The answer would really depend on whether we focus on the question around humans being incapable of original thought or whether we embrace the music and the smile it leaves in our heart.

And so it goes … sometimes we let philosophy get in the way of change. We fail to take in as much “original thought” from every channel in order to improve and broaden our abilities and our senses. To “smell the flowers” as it were. To “hear the music”. How much does this limit your potential?

So my message is: embrace change. Go first. Be a thought leader even when those thoughts are inevitably a compilation of everything you’ve done said and heard.

Who knows, it might just be perceived as original!

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