There's a thing called delusional disorder, which is a mental disorder characterized by isolated delusions without any accompanying symptoms like hallucinations or thought disorders. In more simple terms, it's when one is delusional for no apparent reason.
In life, I think a healthy level of "being delusional" is great. Despite its demerits, a touch of delusion can help us navigate and pass through even seemingly unsurmountable obstacles. Since it allows us to believe, even when evidence suggests otherwise, that our goals are attainable.
For instance, I'm often fascinated by historical figures who made the seemingly impossible become possible.
The Wright Brothers, were constantly ridiculed for their initial gliders, but they nevertheless persevered in their "delusional" belief that humans could take to the skies.
Jules Verne penned a fantastic story of journeys to the moon and beyond in the 19th century. Back then, space travel was purely the realm of fiction.
Yet, just over a century later, Neil Armstrong supposedly took one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind when he landed on the moon, fulfilling Verne's "delusional" vision.
The ability to connect with someone instantly across vast distances is more than a norm today. But not too long ago, this too was in the realm of fiction.
The inventor of the telephone, was initially met with skepticism and even derision for his "delusional" contraption. How dare he suggest that a simple device could connect two voices across miles of nothing but empty air? The very idea was ludicrous!
Innovation And Delusion
The point I'm getting at with these examples is that we've come to realize that the line between delusion and innovation is often quite blurry.
However, there's a crucial distinction between the "delusion" that fuels innovation and the kind that leads us astray. The Wright brothers, Verne, and Bell weren't simply clinging to unfounded beliefs.
Their "delusions" were grounded in a deep understanding of their fields, a relentless pursuit of their visions, and a crucial element often missing in true delusion: a willingness to experiment and adapt. I believe that's a great way to recognize true delusions, which is an unwillingness to experiment and adapt.
The danger arises when we become too fixated on the "delusional" aspect and neglect the critical elements of research, reason, and adaptation.
In today's data-driven world, a strong emphasis is placed on practicality and logic. investors seek concrete plans and measurable outcomes, leaving seemingly outlandish ideas to struggle for funding.
Isn't there space for exploration, for pushing boundaries even if the end goal isn't entirely clear at the outset?
This hyper-rational approach mostly solves for efficiency and often risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. By demanding immediate justification and clear-cut goals for every idea, we might be inadvertently shutting the door on the next Wright Brothers, for example.
Imagine a world where the Wright Brothers were pressured to present a detailed five-year plan for manned flight, complete with projected passenger numbers and revenue streams. Their groundbreaking innovation would've probably remained grounded, a victim of the very system designed to ensure success.
The real point is, sometimes the most groundbreaking ideas emerge from a place that appears illogical at first glance. Granted, a healthy dose of reason is essential, but so is the freedom to explore the uncharted territories of human imagination unaccompanied by the rigidity of common sense.
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