You are a Prism
Dear Creative (yes, you),
Has the thought ‘someone else has already done it’ ever stopped you from starting a project?
If so, it may help you to know that…
You are a prism.
Let’s break down what that means and why it matters.
First, MOST ideas have been done before.
We have countless rom-coms and action movies, but we keep making them (and we're not gonna stop anytime soon). Even though we've already seen these universal human themes of romance, heroism, and overcoming-the-odds play out on screen, there's always a new way to express and explore those themes and ideas.
Second, you are in fact very rare.
The specifics of how that math works can be googled and explained by someone smarter than me. Just know that the probability of you existing is WILD. The odds were not in your favor, and yet here you are. You are already an improbable walking miracle.
What does that mean for your ideas that have “been done before”?
Before you bring an idea of any kind into the world, it starts as something amorphous, abstract, and full of potential. That idea can be expressed in a million different ways.
When you (specifically you) bring an idea to life, something magical happens.
The idea is filtered through you - your life experience, your subjective preferences, your unique skills, your medium of choice, your taste, culture, spirituality, and the influence of this moment in history.
This is why it's so important to keep practicing creativity, and even more so to double-down on skills, knowledge, or hobbies YOU enjoy. By doing this you'll hone...well, you.
You'll become more yourself.
And every idea that passes through your mind to your hands and into reality is stamped with your unique perspective.
The next time that silly little voice tries to stop you because “it’s already been done” please remember:
You are an improbable multifaceted prism.
Your unique view of the world makes our little planet richer and helps others see life from a new point of view. You never know when someone will need your perspective, so keep on creating.
You are creative, you got this.
XOXO,
Ambassador of Official Fake Bureau of Creativity
