This reminds me of how the novel “Healing Resistance” introduced me to the word “cryptomnesia” where someone unconsciously remembers something and believes it’s an original idea. Happens so often!
Ok so I have a favorite influencer who feels really grounded in who she is and I follow her work pretty closely. Then, the other day, I noticed that a recent follow looked an awful lot like my favorite creator. And I realized that I probably look a lot like favorite creator too. And we are all probably consuming the same things. And maybe the easier it is to post (let’s say) an outfit that gets 1,000,000 likes and comments is actually not a sign of success. It sort of made me realize that in 2026 I want fewer people to like and understand me because I want to be more driven by ME and not everyone will get ME.
This essay was a much needed nudge in that direction. Thank you!!
It’s crazy cause I’ve had this same experience and then I’m shopping the same 5 “niche” brands and we all end up looking the same.
But to your point it’s hard not to feel a sense of failure if you post something that doesn’t resonate with as many people but maybe that’s a reframe I need to make in 2026
It's a bit sad but also very comforting to see that you also struggle with the same "are my ideas original" problem. I look up to you a lot in that regard, so it's nice/frightening to see that you don't have a perfect solution either!
oh I def don’t have the perfect solution! i actually think it’s quite a common human experience but exacerbated by the internet and where people turn to for inspiration these days
This is incredibly insightful. As the internet and online media has continued to progress, I can’t help but feel like we’re continually slipping towards a “law of averages” type of scenario, where radical creativity is being traded for mass production
yes yes yes — and as a result we dilute our own ideas and culture starts to become more homogenous. It’s hard to be radically creative and for your work to be seen when so much of the audience is on algorithm based platforms
This is so on point! A good reminder to strive to fill our life with things we find true joy in and that truly interest us to regain our actual originality – beyond the algorithm and trends. Thanks for sharing this piece!
Very reminiscent of the day I had a great idea for a post … called no original thoughts club… sound familiar? I thankfully realised that was one of your posts before publishing with that title lol. Great post as always!!
The part about "precedent" culture in banking really landed. There's this weird feedback loop where consuming algorithmicly curated content makes us crave correctness over exploration, which then reinforces that same homogeneity. I've caught myself defaulting to "safe" creative choices becuase I dunno if something novel will resonate, but that's exactly how we end up with everything looking idneticalto begin with.
EXACTLY. Beautifully said — it’s especially apparent if your work is dependent on an algorithm (substack included) so you’re conditioned to immediate feedback loops and sticking to where the conversation already exists vs experimenting
this is so beautifully written 🤤 i share a lot of your sentiments tho i feel like i wouldn’t have been able to express them as well as you have, i feel like being chronically online has made me less sharp :/ so thank you for this piece! it was a wonderful reminder of the value of individuality + community influence
the idea that my personal taste can be summed up perfectly by an algorithm is so terrifying… 2026 mission is to confuse the algos 🫶
confuse the algos and more closet sales 🙂↕️
This reminds me of how the novel “Healing Resistance” introduced me to the word “cryptomnesia” where someone unconsciously remembers something and believes it’s an original idea. Happens so often!
oooh I didn’t realize this was a known concept but im glad it’s a common human experience
Ok so I have a favorite influencer who feels really grounded in who she is and I follow her work pretty closely. Then, the other day, I noticed that a recent follow looked an awful lot like my favorite creator. And I realized that I probably look a lot like favorite creator too. And we are all probably consuming the same things. And maybe the easier it is to post (let’s say) an outfit that gets 1,000,000 likes and comments is actually not a sign of success. It sort of made me realize that in 2026 I want fewer people to like and understand me because I want to be more driven by ME and not everyone will get ME.
This essay was a much needed nudge in that direction. Thank you!!
It’s crazy cause I’ve had this same experience and then I’m shopping the same 5 “niche” brands and we all end up looking the same.
But to your point it’s hard not to feel a sense of failure if you post something that doesn’t resonate with as many people but maybe that’s a reframe I need to make in 2026
It's a bit sad but also very comforting to see that you also struggle with the same "are my ideas original" problem. I look up to you a lot in that regard, so it's nice/frightening to see that you don't have a perfect solution either!
oh I def don’t have the perfect solution! i actually think it’s quite a common human experience but exacerbated by the internet and where people turn to for inspiration these days
This is incredibly insightful. As the internet and online media has continued to progress, I can’t help but feel like we’re continually slipping towards a “law of averages” type of scenario, where radical creativity is being traded for mass production
yes yes yes — and as a result we dilute our own ideas and culture starts to become more homogenous. It’s hard to be radically creative and for your work to be seen when so much of the audience is on algorithm based platforms
This is so on point! A good reminder to strive to fill our life with things we find true joy in and that truly interest us to regain our actual originality – beyond the algorithm and trends. Thanks for sharing this piece!
thank you for reading angel 🩵
Your last paragraph nailed this for me 🫨🫨🫨🫨🥲🥲🥲🥲 here’s to 2026!!!
it’s going to be our year!!!
This is one of my fave pieces I’ve read lately
Wow thank you what a compliment!!
You are brilliant!!🫶
Very reminiscent of the day I had a great idea for a post … called no original thoughts club… sound familiar? I thankfully realised that was one of your posts before publishing with that title lol. Great post as always!!
HAHHAA I’m obsessed. Honestly I was like wow great idea 🙂↔️
The part about "precedent" culture in banking really landed. There's this weird feedback loop where consuming algorithmicly curated content makes us crave correctness over exploration, which then reinforces that same homogeneity. I've caught myself defaulting to "safe" creative choices becuase I dunno if something novel will resonate, but that's exactly how we end up with everything looking idneticalto begin with.
EXACTLY. Beautifully said — it’s especially apparent if your work is dependent on an algorithm (substack included) so you’re conditioned to immediate feedback loops and sticking to where the conversation already exists vs experimenting
SO GOOD
Thank you sweet Evie!!! 💘
Perfectly put, I also hallucinate "original" ideas and then freak out when I see they've already been done before!!
Ugh this is my greatest fear!! It's crazy sometimes you have an idea and you're like "wait IS that my idea?"
Loved this piece Tina -- so layered
this is so beautifully written 🤤 i share a lot of your sentiments tho i feel like i wouldn’t have been able to express them as well as you have, i feel like being chronically online has made me less sharp :/ so thank you for this piece! it was a wonderful reminder of the value of individuality + community influence
LOVED IT!!