Is it possible to have an original thought?

Many of our thoughts are reactions to a singular external stimuli e.g. You see a flower and you might think "pink" or "beautiful." You see the ocean and might think "vast" or "moving."
Some thoughts are more complex and are reactions to memories of external stimuli and combined with other memories e.g. "Imagine an ocean made up entirely of undulating flowers."
But what about an original thought? A thought that's not a reaction to any external event or object. Is it possible to form a thought from nothing?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

I precisely believe that is what the brain is trying to do when we dream. Develop a thought from nothing.

Magnolia · 31-35, F

That's really interesting. Do you believe you've had an original thought from a dream?

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

@Magnolia: I believe I have... but I think my mind was more receptive when I was younger and not so much now. I think that some of the most developed thoughts are the ones we lose when we wake.

Magnolia · 31-35, F

@Spokeskitty75: Do you have interest in lucid dreaming?

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

I do think lucid dreaming is interesting and have been able myself to influence my dreams with "conscious" actions. At other times, I've just been along for the ride.

Magnolia · 31-35, F

Can you tell me about your lucid dreams?

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

@Magnolia: well, I can tell you about certain things I believe I have "changed." I have had the ability to take a dream that was starting to turn into a nightmare and stop that from happening. There is always a feeling I get in a dream that something is going to give it that terror element. I have been able to consciously "stop" that from happening. I have also been able to wake myself in a dream. That is very common. But some things that are not so common, I have been able to make people appear that I want to see in that particular dream. I have also been able to consciously "dress" people in a dream.

Magnolia · 31-35, F

Oh wow. I'd love to have some more experience with lucid dreaming. I've only had 2 and I woke up almost immediately. The first one was choosing to float up into the sky but I woke up because I was too excited. Have you had many of these dreams?

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

@Magnolia: yes, I have had the flying dreams... to the point when I wake up I actually feel myself landing on the bed. Was I actually floating?!? 🤔

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

@Magnolia: I have had plenty of lucid dreams. All with different levels of "control"

Magnolia · 31-35, F

Wow i love that! How fascinating. We'll have to have a nice, long chat in PM's at some point.

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

@Magnolia: absolutely!! I love chatting about these kind of things. 😊

Magnolia · 31-35, F

@Spokeskitty75: Oh me too. Somebody else in this thread just reminded me of something interesting that happened to me - an out of body experience. I think I'll write about that soon.

Spokeskitties75 · 46-50, M

@Magnolia: I have not experienced that for myself, however... I believe I have seen others during it.