On Being Original?

Question

What do you understand by originality ? How can someone be "original" can you explain it, in detail for me ?

Answer 1

Original is a kind of Unique.

So theoretically, because everybody is unique, everybody has the capacity to be original.

However, since most people end up following other people, even though everybody is still unique, few people are clearly original.
And since we tend to follow others, most of us don't end up becoming visionary, original leaders of our own lives.

If you don't know how to be original, it's because you are so used to listening & following others, that you've neglected yourself. You may not be living from your heart, mind, & soul as much, if you know what I mean.

So I suggest you go on a vision quest, a self-pilgrimage. The next time you have vacation time, go somewhere, anywhere by yourself. Make sure there are no other people around. Spend a lot of time there, a couple days at least. Go there to Find your Self. Eventually, all of society/culture/money/ego crap will kind of temporarily drift away, and you'll be left with your Self. Just go out there and Be - and see what happens. I wouldn't know, since I'm not You. You want to be an original person? Then go back to the Origin. And the Origin = You.

You might even go a little crazy... but so what? If you think about it, that's also part of being original. Just like this crazy idea.

Sometimes I've always wanted to do this kind of thing. But I've usually been absorbed with 1 thing or another related to my life goals. I wouldn't need to do it for the sake of originality, however. I'd just do it for the sake of the experience.

So if you tried this idea, you'd probably be the first person to go on a vision quest to a random nowhere in order to discover your own Originality. Now that would be original!

Answer 2

Being Original

Answer 3

Being original just means that you follow, and perhaps develop, ideas that no one else has. Most people's ideas are influenced by someone else's ideas; the only difference is that they put their personal spin on things. More specifically, a music producer can come up with original songs that don't sound like any other songs ever made; a fashion designer can create a look that's original. Being original, in a nutshell, just means that you carry out your individuality, no matter what manner.

Answer 4

In my day, we called it doing our thing, dressing the way we wanted to, listening to whatever music we wanted to, just doing it and not worrying about what the other kids did or thought or even society or our parents.

In retrospect on looking back at the yearbooks from hs, we all pretty much looked alike clothes wise and hair wise , but we did indeed pursue things differently. Many of the boomer generation explored different lifestyles and experiences and weren't so obsessed with being famous or being rich.

That for some came much later, but in most boomers who were looking for originality, I think there was a sense of wanting to contribute to the world to make it a better place. Many succeeded in both small and big ways and that's what originality is . Doing it your way, but not hurting anyone or anything in the process.

Answer 5

I don't think there is much of a way for anyone to be totally original these days.
Originality: using your own words when writing, dressing in your own style, choosing your own lifestyle, being an individual as much as you can, not being a "sheep", educating yourself and keeping an open mind about many things.
To me, it is also, not caring what others think about me and my choices. As long as I am respectful of others and don't hurt anyone else in my process of being original, why should it matter!

Answer 6

Not giving ANYthing at all for what other people think...like Kurt Cobain(Nirvana). It entails doing what you feel like AND what you think people generally should be doing. This comes close to what Sartre means with his 'existentialism'. When you chose for yourself, you chose for all mankind, since you think it is right.
Being original is doing your own thing only, and therefore developing your full, personal potential.

Answer 7

Originality doesn't really exist anymore. Usually "orginal" people have their own unique styles and ideas, and never really follow after people. They are natural leaders. But after awhile people copy them, so their uniqueness isn't really unique anymore. Hense why I said it doesn't exist.

Answer 8

"There is nothing new under the sun." The Bible. Ecclesiastes