The first misconception we must toss out is that originality requires abandoning what came before. It doesn’t. At its core, originality is about synthesis—taking the roots of what you know, mixing them with the soil of your experiences, and letting something unexpected grow. Original thinkers aren’t people who
reject tradition. They’re people who listen to it, question it, and then remix it to suit their needs.
One of the most counterintuitive lessons I’ve learned is that constraints fuel creativity. I’m more than familiar with that from lack of representation and resources. People often think freedom is the key to originality—limitless time, limitless resources, limitless possibilities. But limits
sharpen your focus. They force you to think creatively within boundaries and find ways to bend the rules without breaking them. My best writing doesn’t emerge from endless freedom but from wrestling with constraints—genre expectations, deadlines, or even my doubts.
This applies to life as well. Think about the obstacles you face, the so-called limitations that frustrate you. What if they weren’t
barriers but creative prompts? What if you used them as a catalyst to think differently instead of wishing them away? The obstacle in front of you isn’t blocking your path—it is the path.
Here’s another thing that might surprise you: originality isn’t about being the first, either. It’s about being authentic. Some of the most profound ideas don’t come from chasing novelty but from looking inward. The stars you’re reaching for
in your life are already there, buried beneath layers of noise, routine, and the opinions of others. To think originally, you must first ask: What do I genuinely believe? What do I value? What do I want to create—not because the world demands it, but because I can’t create it?
This isn’t easy. We live in a culture that rewards sameness that measures success by likes, shares, and approval.
Original thinking often feels risky because it requires stepping away from that safety net. It’s tempting to mimic what’s already working for others and follow templates and trends. But here’s the truth: if you’re not risking rejection, you’re not thinking originally.
One of the best tools I’ve found for cultivating originality is embracing curiosity. Not the passive kind of curiosity that skims the surface but the deep kind that
asks “why” five times in a row. Children are masters at this. They see the world not as a fixed set of rules but as a puzzle waiting to be explored. Somewhere along the way, we lose that instinct. We stop asking questions and start accepting answers. Reclaiming your curiosity is one of the most radical things you can do.
I also believe originality thrives on discomfort. Growth doesn’t happen in
comfort zones. To think in new ways, you must step into spaces that challenge you—whether reading books outside your usual genres, talking to people who see the world differently, or questioning assumptions you’ve held for years. The stars are brightest when you’re willing to leave the familiar behind.
But here’s the paradox: even as you reach for the stars, you must stay grounded in your roots.
True originality doesn’t discard your history or identity—it draws strength from it. For me, my roots as a black writer shape everything I create. They remind me that originality isn’t about escaping who you are but fully inhabiting it. The stories I tell, and the worlds I build are not detached from my experience on a granular level. They’re born from it.
How do you apply this to everyday life?
Start small, Gentle Reader. Look at something familiar and ask yourself how it can be expressed differently from the norm. Then, Reframe a problem as an opportunity. Listen more deeply to your instincts, even when they contradict others’ expectations.
In my opinion, originality isn’t something you strive for. It’s a practical way of injecting the real, unique, original you into the world that’s both
deeply personal and endlessly expansive. It’s about finding your roots, reaching for your stars, and daring to live—and think—on your own terms.
In the end, original thinking isn’t about being extraordinary. It’s about being you, fully and unapologetically. So go ahead. Dig deep. Stretch wide. And watch what grows.
Peace,
love and power.
