A theory of everything (TOE) is a theory of theoretical physics that fully explains and links together all known physical phenomena, and predicts the outcome of any experiment that could be carried out in principle… Many candidate theories of everything have been proposed during the twentieth century, but none have been confirmed experimentally. The primary problem in producing a TOE is that general relativity and quantum mechanics are hard to unify. This is one of the unsolved problems in physics.

- Wikipedia, Theory of Everything

There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

What is a ‘Creative Theory of Everything’? And why would you want one?

I once took a highly scientific online psychology test (yes, I believe everything I read on the internet) that determined that I am an INTP Myers-Briggs personality type. INTP personality types have a tendency to think towards systems and abstract design. They are also especially drawn to theoretical constructs. In other words, how do things fit into an overall pattern?

Sadly, I lack the brain capacity (or perhaps it’s the attention span) to be a physicist. Not to mention an utter lack of an ability to do math. I’m a creative. And no matter how many different creative-type labels I’ve tried and rejected, because they don’t quite fit, “creative” is broad enough and non-restrictive enough to be one that I’m finally sort-of comfortable with.

I love the creative process. I think it is the engine that drives your entire life. Even if you don’t define yourself as a “creative”. Even if you call yourself a parent, a doctor, a chef, a financier, or a bum. Life is creative.

To draw inferences from this, the professions that define themselves as ‘creative’ can (and do) derive inspiration from darn near anywhere. But how does this work? Is it pure chaos, as it seems at times to be, or is there some unifying theory holding the whole thing together? Where are the clues? Where do we start looking?

For myself – it starts here.