Iconoclast Meaning :
Historically speaking,iconoclasm is a social belief in destruction of old icons and monuments.
In later days , it was linked to those individuals who challenged cherished beliefs or established institutions on the grounds that they are wrong and should be discarded.
In today’s world, an iconoclast is a person who does something that others think can’t be done.
These are persons who’re looking to break free from conventional thought patterns.
What makes a person an iconoclast ?
An iconoclast overcomes mental barriers that stop most of others cold.
The brain has three natural roadblocks that stand in the way of anyone who tries to have an iconoclastic thinking:
i) Flawed perception
ii) Fear of failure
iii)The inability to persuade others.
In short, to become an iconoclast, a person has to master three primary skills = perception + courage + social skills
Perception :
Iconoclasts are able to do things others say can’t be done, because iconoclasts perceive things differently than other people.
“The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes. —Marcel Proust”
This difference in perception plays well in the initial stages of an idea.
It plays out in how they manage their fears, and it manifests in how they present their ideas to the masses.
Courage :
Iconoclasts tend to trained their brains, over a long period, to manage the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear responses.
While most other individuals might react instinctively to fear-inducing situations, these people can inhibit this fear-response, allowing them to face challenges without being paralyzed by fear.
Social Skills:
Iconoclasts that we remeber today, were the ones who possessed strong social skills that helped them communicate their ideas and rally support from others.
This social aspect was essential for transforming innovative thoughts into reality, as it facilitates collaboration and collective action. It has been observed that even the best thoughts or the most innovative ideas fail to get acceptance if the originators lack the persuasive skills.
Summary:
It is, of course, not easy to be an iconoclast. An iconoclast has a risk of social and professional ostracism, frequently alienating colleagues and friends, and he must face a daily reckoning with a high likelihood of failure.
He walks a real tough road.
And although there is a certain romantic notion to the image of the rugged individual, who, against all odds, triumphs over conformity
But a simple fact is that most people don’t want to be an iconoclast because the path to become an iconoclast is full of heart-aches, an anger which is always suppressed and never-lasting humiliations.
Iconoclasts can be made:
Three key traits are not fixed; rather, they can be cultivated through experiences that challenge existing perceptions and stimulate creativity.
Intentionally going through novel experiences in fostering imagination, stepping outside familiar environments can lead to breakthroughs in thinking.
If someone is interested in going deep in this subject, you can read the book,”Iconoclast” by Gregory Berns.
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