Our "Janus-Like" Powers

So here we are in January, named after the two-faced Roman god Janus, who in their mythology was the god of gates and doors, and beginnings and endings.

I  believe that Janus's double-faced nature also symbolizes much of what goes on when we engage in creative thinking, that is, seeing something in more than one way. I love how the Nobel prize winning physician Albert Szent-Gyorgyi describes creative discovery:

Discovery consists of looking at
the same thing as everyone else
and thinking something different.

When we tap into our "Janus-like" powers, it's as though we use one head to "look at the same thing as everyone else," and the other head to be creative and "think something different."

When we think like Janus, we take something out of a familiar context and then think about it in other contexts so that it takes on fresh new meanings. Human beings have been using their imaginations in this way since the beginning.

• The first person to look at an oyster and think "food" did this.
• So did the first person to look at a ship's sail and think "windmill."
• As did the first person to look at sheep intestines and think "guitar strings."
• And the first person to look at a perfume vaporizer and think "gasoline carburetor."
• And the first person to look at baby's urea and think "skin moisturizer."
• And the first person to look at a trapeze safety net and think "trampoline."
• And the first person to look at Internet searches and think "advertising medium."

Do you have these Janus-like powers? Well, if you've ever used a pen as a weapon, or a potato as a radio antenna, or a T-shirt as a tourniquet, or a telephone book as a booster seat, then the answer is a resounding "Yes!"

So, this month, every time you see or hear the word "January," think to yourself:

"Oh yes, Janus — that's my cue to use my
imagination and think something different."

Have a good month!

Comments

[Cam Beck]

It seems every time I come here, I learn something new and useful, and even sometimes obscure. How do we harness and nurture that ability you describe?

[Mary Richmond]

I often wander the universe in my mind wondering just such things as who decided to mix peanut butter and jelly or thought making a marshmallow seemed like a good idea? Creative leaps are often just the result of having to cross the river in our minds, don't you think? Some people walk around the long way, some build a bridge, some create the catapult. Thanks for the reminders to keep our brains buzzing and ready for leaping!

[Roger von Oech]

Cam: "How do we harness and nurture that ability you describe?" Going here would help: http://blog.creativethink.com/creative_thinking/index.html

: — )

[Roger von Oech]

Mary: Good luck to you!