Distinctiveness as the Seed of Creation

Two long lost twins walk next to each other – looking identical and

not knowing it. One is the CEO of a mega corporation and the other is a

professor. A mystical transformation happens and they swap places. The

question is – does this change their destinies?

What makes us distinct? What makes you, you and me, me? Science would

make us believe that the axiom of choice – that pesky construct without

which it is difficult to construct anything – makes the difference.

Religion would go into the opposite direction and make us all the same.

In reality it is our distinctiveness that arises out of the fact that we

are in a different point and time at every point and time. We are all

human beings that need to live in the here and now and that need to take

what is in front of us and make it work.

Working through a lot of thinking in the last while has led me to the

conclusion that distinction or differentness is at the root of the start

of creation and thus greatness. It is only when we start asking what is

different that we start seeing similarities, possibilities and

eventually all creativity. It is a catalytic moment when we start

looking! And looking, hearing, feeling, touching and smelling is only

interesting when we start observing the changes from one consistency to

another. When we see colour out of monotony, when we hear the

combination of harmony, melody and beat – do we hear music – when we see

the spirit in a person – do we judge them on their differentness. When

we see pattern in chaos, we start to suspect that there is something

there.

In realising the identity of others and of other things – do we start

to understand ourselves and the power within. Testing this power becomes

a fascinating journey in which we find many meanderings all coming back

to a simple central truth – it is about you and what you put out into

the universe. It is about enhancing your distinctiveness and your

ability to perceive the distinctiveness of a specific situation,

opportunity or person – that ultimately determines if you take more or

less out of a situation.

Being different also invariably increases the variance in a sample.

By conforming to a central tendency – the system becomes mediocre,

controlled and while its capacity to deliver increases – its usefulness

and ultimately longevity tends to wane. Systems that do not change –

i.e. that do not tend to encourage difference – tend to disappear and

make entropy stabilise over time – through transforming that which moves

into the static, dead and non-existent. Homogeneity is simply not an

acceptable paradigm for creation.

To perceive a difference – you need to compare it to things that have

come before it – implying growth. Comparison and relation are two

faculties that aid us in determining what to focus on in comparing two

situations.

Difference also implies utility – and this is where it starts to get

interesting. By seeing that something is different from something else –

we can start finding a use for this difference. It ignites the world of

possibility – starts a flame of existence and enthuses the very being in

each of us. By seeing the difference and realising its use – we become

different! We own the knowledge of the ages when we observe the

distinctiveness around us and we become this knowledge.

The next steps are practical – can this difference be harnessed, what

is required to do so, am I using its essence, am I connecting this to

ideas that are already existing and can I guide a user into accepting

this idea.

At this point the impact becomes tangible – the idea is formed and

the impact will start to ripple. With a bit of voice, some good

advocates and a tinkle of luck – the distinctiveness has turned into

creation.

The difference between the two people walking next to each other – is

their perception of the difference between them – not from themselves –

but from anyone that wishes to observe it. When their journeys get

interchanged mystically – they will each have contributed differently to

their situation, possibly much different to their foregoer – through

having looked at experiences differently, comparing differently and

eventually finding the genius within – which is activated by their

individual power as creators – each driven by their distinctiveness.

So I guess the point of this message is simple – be yourself, do what

you think is right (or wrong). Choice is a construct that makes

difference visible – but only in as far it must still be exercised. A

choice not made – is missing an opportunity to create – to be different

and to decrease the messiness of being human. Lets not be apathetic to

life – to opportunity and to each other – it borders on silliness if we

choose to do nothing (which could be fun if we all did it).