A lot of times when I sit down to write these things I think, “What do I have that is significant to share with the world?” It’s a tough question to swallow at times, because it can be isolating. If we human beings tie our self-worth to what we contribute, then it’s really easy to bring yourself down if you feel strongly that you don’t measure up.
It’s not something that is fixed overnight, either. When I think about my trajectory, I feel like writing is one place where I can really grow as an individual. Not necessarily because I want to share my ideas with the world, but because I think writing is integral to communication. Words on a paper are crucial to convey ideas, and ideas run the world. To share ideas effectively, they must be effectively communicated.
Communication is central to human existence. From the beginning of time, we have sought out ways to connect with other humans to strengthen our tribe. In the early years of homo sapiens, coherent language was probably built around basic needs of life: sex, shelter, and sustenance. Now, as the world has evolved, communication between beings is invaluable to the future of the species. Good ideas stick out, and some of the best ideas are timeless. Edison’s lightbulb will certainly stand the test of time. The Roman Colosseum was likely born from either an individual idea or a shared consensus, and it’s an Ancient wonder of the world. Steve Jobs’ iPhone was the result of a collection of ideas to revolutionize mobile devices.
The thing about ideas is that they have the power to be iterative. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again is a little bit misleading. “If at first you don’t succeed, consider another way” is a little more rejuvenating because these words remind us that there are other means which we can use to accomplish our goal.
The one thing that living with OCD has taught me is that reframing is absolutely integral in a world in which the mind is overly critical. Conscious reframing to find the silver lining and positivity can keep us motivated when we feel like we can’t push anymore. Furthermore, the principles of reframing can also be applied to the very concept of idea generation. An iteration is effectively redesigning a solution such that the next version is better equipped to tackle the problem, in the same way that reframing poor thoughts is aimed at developing a better version of one’s own self-defeating behaviors.
In this mode of thought, it becomes all the more imperative to think of how we can capitalize on our weaknesses. In some ways, I think John Nash’s creativity in mathematics was a byproduct of his schizophrenia. Albert Einstein was boundless in his intelligence in spite of being declared dumb as a child. So many of those in society who are most visible to us have experienced deep suffering, but we often only pay attention to what they have accomplished.
Why do we reframe? It’s a conscious investment in your future self, which is the best investment anyone could make.