The Etymological Dictionary defines an iconoclast is a “breaker or destroyer of images” from the Late Greek word eikonoklastes. Later, an iconoclast was viewed as “one who attacks orthodox beliefs or institutions.” Today, iconoclasts like to think we can do things that others say can’t be done, because we perceive things differently than other people. This difference in perception plays out in the initial stages of an idea, in how we manage our fears, and in our experience of the world as a whole.
We're not bound by the conventions of others, nor to we particularly like to follow the rules set out. It's not that we're all law-breakers and rebels, but more like we're hearing an FM station while much of the world is tuned to AM.
Solomon Asch, Warren Buffett, Nolan Bushnell, Dale Chihuly, Ray Croc, Walt Disney, David Dreman, Richard Feynman, Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, Martin Luther King, Jr., Paul Lauterbur, Jim Lavoi, Stanley Milgram, Florence Nightingale, Branch Rickey, Burt Rutan, and Jonas Salk all fit the category of "iconoclast".
The iconoclast doesn’t literally see things differently than other people. More precisely, we perceive things differently. There are several different routes to forcing the brain out of its lazy mode of perception, but the theme linking these methods depends on the element of surprise. The brain must be provided with something that it has never processed before to force it out of predictable perceptions. Iconoclasts are adepts at creating novel perceptions.
There are lots of correlations to this dynamic in life - the one that comes to mind most quickly is the "chaos theory" of the late Baron Prigogine, "Once an organism experiences chaos or disorder as a means of dismantling itself; the organism always reassembles itself into a more evolved and expanded structure."
Someone else explains that when something difficult, painful or challenging happens, it is wise to look to see what that situation makes possible that would not have otherwise been possible. "Like a new adventure, a closer friendship, or chocolate in your peanut butter." My life has been a testament to this dynamic - taking the challenging and reframing, recognizing that what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.
The Etymological Dictionary defines an iconoclast is a “breaker or destroyer of images” from the Late Greek word eikonoklastes. Later, an iconoclast was viewed as “one who attacks orthodox beliefs or institutions.” Today, iconoclasts like perceive things differently than other people - or maybe we just like to be annoying. Either way. This difference in perception plays out in our ideas, worldview and metaphysics - and in how we manage our fears and shadow self. It works well for me.
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