The Thought That You Don’t Have Any Idea is an Idea
Published on May 14, 2025
By EMN
- At times, when I encourage people to write, the common
response I hear is, “I don’t have any idea to write.” But here’s something
interesting: the thought that you don’t have an idea is itself an idea.
- In philosophical terms, any mental content—whether it shows
knowledge or expresses a lack of it—is still an idea. When you say, “I don’t
have an idea,” you’re actually engaging in thought. You’re observing your mind
and making a judgment about what’s there. That act of thinking is already an
idea. Often, when people say they have no ideas, they’re not empty—they’re just
full of vague or scattered thoughts that haven’t taken shape yet. The feeling
of “not having an idea” can actually be the starting point of insight. It’s not
the absence of thought, but a special kind of thought—one that can lead to your
next creative or meaningful step.
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- Everyone Has Ideas—So Start Writing
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- Many people don’t write because they believe their ideas are
not good enough. Some think, “My thoughts are silly,” or “Who would want to read
this?” But here’s the truth: most great thinkers didn’t begin with brilliant
ideas. They simply started by asking questions.
- Isaac Newton saw an apple fall from a tree and wondered,
“Why did it fall down and not up?” That question, which sounds like something a
child might ask, led to the discovery of gravity. James Watt got his big idea
about the steam engine by watching a boiling kettle. A simple moment in the
kitchen changed the world. Albert Einstein imagined riding on a beam of
light—this strange daydream helped him build the theory of relativity.
- All these began with what seemed like “small” or even
“silly” thoughts. But these thinkers paid attention. They didn’t ignore their
curiosity—they followed it. You don’t need a genius idea to start writing. You
just need to notice what makes you curious.
- Ask yourself simple questions like:
- Why do people act the way they do?
- Why are we often selfish, even though we know helping others
is good?
- Why do we hate when love is the better choice?
- Why do we overeat when we know it’s unhealthy?
- Why do we pray when drinking tea but not when eating ice
cream?
- These small questions are like little sparks that can start
something bigger. If you write them down and think more about them, they may
grow into something meaningful. Even if they don’t change the world, they might
change you—and maybe someone else too.
- Writing is not about being perfect. It’s about being honest.
It’s about giving your thoughts a voice. When you write, you’re letting your
questions breathe. So don’t be afraid of “silly” ideas. Don’t wait until you
feel “smart enough.” Start with what you have. Start where you are. Ask,
wonder, imagine—and write.
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- Small Ideas Can Grow Big
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- The simple thoughts you have today can turn into big,
powerful ideas. For example, the thought, “What if we could talk to someone far
away?” led to the invention of the telephone. A small idea like, “What if I
shared my thoughts in a story?” could become a blog, a book, or something that
touches hearts.
- Ideas are like seeds. If you plant them by writing them
down, and take care of them through reflection and curiosity, they can grow
into something beautiful and strong. Many writers and inventors started with
one small idea and kept developing it. So don’t throw away your simple thoughts—they
might be more important than you think.
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- Think More—Like the Great Minds
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- Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle didn’t have the internet,
mobile phones, or modern tools. Yet they came up with ideas that still shape
our world today. They thought deeply, asked questions, and discussed with
others. If they could discover so much with so little, how much more can we do
in today’s information age?
- Thinking doesn’t always mean sitting still. It can happen
while walking, talking with a friend, or watching something that sparks your
interest. Great ideas often start with simple questions like “Why?” or “What
if?” So, slow down. Be curious. Let your mind explore. You don’t need to be a
genius—you just need to think more and care about your thoughts.
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- Read to Grow Ideas
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- To get good ideas, you also need to read. Reading fills your
mind with new thoughts, stories, and perspectives. It helps you think deeply,
question more, and connect ideas in fresh ways. Just as a plant needs water to
grow, your mind needs good reading to stay alive and sharp. Reading opens your
eyes and feeds your creativity. So read often—because great ideas grow in
well-fed minds.
- In the end, the very thought that we have no ideas is proof
that we do. It shows we are thinking, questioning, and aware—and that is where
all ideas begin. Everyone has ideas, even if they seem small, unclear, or silly
at first. What matters is paying attention to those thoughts, asking questions,
and daring to write them down. The truth is: we always have ideas—we just need
to notice them.
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- Liba Hopeson
