My mind races a lot. I canβt help it. Whenever I talk to someone, read something, observe an interaction, etc. I immediately start thinking about other things. Itβs not an absentmindedness. Iβm present. Iβm just busy making connections between what Iβm learning and have already learned. If Iβm lucky, Iβll come up with ideas as I combine two ideas in a new way.
And Iβm starting to see the benefits of accumulating these ideas. The more ideas I have access to, the richer the set of experiences Iβve experienced, the faster the flywheel spins and the more connections I come up with.
A few weeks ago I was feeling really drained. It was a physical exhaustion and I just wasnβt as interested in reading or learning as normal. Fortunately, my friend Sam called me. Carving out time to talk, without an agenda, and explore ideas rejuvenated me.
Reflecting on the sudden infusion of energy I got from that conversation, I drew two lessons:
- Itβs important for me to always be filling up my inspiration cup - listening, reading, observing provides the raw materials I need to be fulfilled. Theyβre necessary, but not sufficient.
- The refinement of those materials into a finished product is best accomplished through conversation and my mood reflects that.
This creates a nice virtuous cycle. I learn new things. I share them. I come away richer and with even more new ideas. Repeat.
The important part then, is that I need to share. Itβs why I write - to start conversations.ΒΉ Itβs why I call friends even when texting might be easier. Itβs not about broadcasting, because itβs not about me. Itβs about the exchange of ideas.
When I talk with others, I get new ideas. Itβs why Iβve come to believe that the seed of imagination is not myself - itβs others.
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