Innovating Beyond Clichés: Reimagining the Definition of Insanity
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Introduction to Fresh Perspectives
This message goes out to anyone who has ever relied on the famous saying:
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”
While this quote is often used to capture attention with its cleverness, its frequent repetition has dulled its impact.
Research conducted by Dr. Emrah Duzel at the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience highlights why our brains are drawn to new information. According to a summary from Science Daily, Dr. Duzel states:
When we encounter something novel, our brain perceives it as potentially rewarding. Familiar stimuli, however, lose their appeal because they no longer promise a reward. Consequently, only entirely new experiences trigger increases in dopamine levels.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure and excitement in our brains. Therefore, to engage readers effectively, it’s crucial to evoke that dopamine rush through new ideas rather than relying on tired quotes.
The Myth of Attribution
One reason to seek alternative sources when discussing innovation is that the quote often attributed to Albert Einstein is not originally his. Its roots trace back to a twelve-step program and have been incorrectly credited to various figures, including Rita Mae Brown and Werner Erhard. A search on Medium alone reveals countless instances of this misattribution, with many authors opting for vague phrases like "It has been said that..."
Kudos to Alliene Burha, who did the research to trace its origins correctly.
Breaking the Cardinal Rule
The second reason to avoid this quote is that it violates the fundamental writing principle of “show, don’t tell.” Wouldn’t it be more compelling to provide a specific example of someone repeating the same actions and expecting different outcomes?
The Ineffectiveness of Repetition
Lastly, the quote often appears during discussions encouraging new actions towards positive change. Ironically, its frequent use exemplifies the very challenge it seeks to address—our brains' struggle to innovate beyond habitual thinking.
Using this cliché can be likened to impulsively selecting a puppy at a pet store, unaware that it’s exhausted from constant handling. If both the puppy and the quote could voice their thoughts, they'd likely ask for a break.
Embracing New Alternatives
There are numerous other quotes that effectively convey the necessity of trying new things, such as:
“The doer alone learneth.”
— Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra (1908)
“Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.”
— Theodore Levitt, Harvard Business Review
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”
— Jessie Potter, The Milwaukee Sentinel (1981)
“He who never made a mistake, never made a discovery.”
— Samuel Smiles, Self-Help: With Illustrations of Character and Conduct
“The only thing more painful than learning from experience is not learning from experience.”
— Earl Wilson, in his syndicated column
Show, Don't Tell
To truly embody the role of a writer, we should vividly illustrate the absurdity of repeating actions with the hope of different outcomes. Here are some humorous definitions of insanity:
Insanity is...
voting for a Democrat or Republican and expecting change.
writing about trending topics rather than your genuine interests for success.
entering a relationship (or remaining in one) with the belief your partner will change.
thinking you’ll make a profit from your new eCommerce venture in less than five years.
assuming your mind will calm down simply by starting to meditate.
visiting your parents with the expectation that they’ll stop treating you like a child.
Now it’s your turn! Share your creative definition of insanity in the comments, and I’ll include the most popular ones in this article.
Conclusion: Letting Go of Old Clichés
You now have the tools to avoid referencing that overused quote again. Instead of recycling a well-known phrase, you can inspire your readers to pursue innovative paths and new ideas. Just remember, the true definition of insanity for writers is holding back creative thoughts when sharing them could inspire others.