by Owen | Feb 17, 2020 | Creativity, Impromptu
We can spend a lot of our creative lives criticizing the work of others. We all want to believe we could have done a better job or had a better idea. “I would have done it this way instead” or “That color? Really?” Hell, a lot of people are all criticism and very little creativity. But let’s be honest, we don’t know any better. Not really. We are all lost on the creative path, trying to stumble on something worth sharing. Some of us maybe a little farther down, but we are all just trying to figure it out.
So why waste your time criticizing? Because the truth is that criticizing comes easier than creating. And that soothes us. Creativity and ego are a matched pair. As we start to build creative confidence, we inevitably want to show it off. As we develop a style, we are suddenly at odds with everyone else’s. So we point, and we criticize, and we nitpick and try to show how much more creative we are than everyone else. Creativity without creating.
The worst crime of all, however, is believing we have any say in what someone else created. The truth is it’s probably just not for us. We can dislike something, but if we do, well then, it wasn’t made for us, and that’s okay. Everyone is trying to connect with someone. That someone isn’t always you. So leave it alone. Maybe someone will come along and see beauty where you never could.Â
Don’t bother fretting about how it’s not what you would’ve done — go and do it.
by Owen | Feb 16, 2020 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
What I Accomplished: 6 Months of Weekend Reflection
In honor of 6 months of these posts, I’ve decided to change the name to the Weekend Reflection. It feels more fitting for what these posts, and this blog, has become.
What started as a way to reflect and vent has now become a regular practice and routine. More than that it lead me to the creation of this blog and a whole new creative outlet I never knew I had. I wouldn’t have imagined 6 months later it would become such a vital part of my life. Here’s to sixth more months of reflections ahead.
The sound designer in me absolutely loves this audiobook, although it’s more like a performance. Break Shot, from the mouth of Taylor himself, takes you through his childhood and artistic beginnings through to his initial success. Early recordings, demo’s and performances are scattered throughout, tying the narrative together beautifully. I’m relatively new to the world of memoir and biography, but even this short 90-minute piece has given me more than I could have asked for. I will absolutely be digging more into the genre. The audiobook is free for audible members until April, and I highly recommend you take the time. Fan or not, it’s a brilliant look into one of the most prolific songwriters of our time.Â
This book couldn’t have come along at a better time for me. Kleon, following up on his first book Steal Like an Artist (another recommendation), reveals the necessity and tools of sharing your work. This for me has been one of the most difficult things to do. I’ve always felt a bit strange sharing this blog. This book has given me a lot to think about, and more importantly a lot to work on and experiment with. One of the great things about Kleon is his practical advice (like reading obituaries!). His books give you a palette of things to try. I will absolutely be referring back to this book and his others for advice as I continue to create.
What I’m Working On: Writing Routine
Working more regularly on the blog I’ve settled into a kind of routine. In order to keep myself accountable, I’ve decided that I’m going to do my best to stick to a publishing schedule. Mondays and Wednesdays are Impromptu post days. These posts, as the name implies, are written the day off with minimal editing. They serve mostly as reflections of what I’ve been pondering and/or drafts of what may become larger pieces. These impromptu pieces help to keep me on my toes and force me to get something out, even if it’s not perfect. In order to balance this, I will be publishing longer Articles on Fridays. These will feature more in-depth topics or reflections and will be written ahead of time with more editing. Hopefully, the balance of these two styles will keep things interesting and lead to even more development.
by Owen | Feb 14, 2020 | Articles, Practices
When we are just starting down the path of self-improvement, it can be hard to find the things worth focusing on. We all have grand visions of the future, but we often have no idea how to get there. While it’s great to have those kinds of goals, the only way to get there is one day at a time. The road to fulfillment starts with a fulfilling day.
So what makes for a fulfilling day? I believe there are seven areas we can all improve and reflect on every day: intention, creativity, health, productivity, communication, presence, and courage. Each of these qualities creates the framework we need to achieve each of our individual goals and, when practiced every day, lead to a better life. Every day, we can reflect on how to improve ourselves in each of these small ways.
Every night, I write down each point and reflect on how they played a role in my day. Did I work to improve on them? How can I do better tomorrow? This simple practice of clarity and reflection is the foundation of a positive day. I hope a quick breakdown of these qualities can help you as well.
Intention
Our intention is the fuse that starts the chain reaction of a good day. When we practice intention, we develop a deep understanding of how and why we make the decisions we do or devote ourselves to specific activities or practices. It helps us to refine what it is we truly want and, more importantly, what things we are willing to let go of. It comes from a deep sense of personal clarity and purpose.
The important thing to keep in mind when setting an intention for your day is what you deem to be your inner drive. Take time to reflect on what you are devoting yourself to, either that day or in life. Whenever you are faced with a decision, refer back to that purpose. How does what you are doing right now apply? If not, why are you doing it? What is the personal reason for making this decision? Simply taking the time to pause and consider the paths in front of you can make all the difference.
Developing an inner sense of purpose may sound daunting to some. One of the best ways to develop this is by working backward from your intention. At the end of every day, look back at the activities and big decisions you focused on. Which ones did you feel good about? Which ones did you not enjoy? What was it about the positives that made them exciting? What might they all have in common? The more you deconstruct your daily interests, the more you can define what it is you truly want. As this intention becomes clearer, you can more actively apply it and keep yourself accountable.
Health
Did you eat well today? Excersize? How did you sleep? Making sure we are healthy is the foundation of a good day. When we take the time to treat ourselves right, we set ourselves up to focus and cultivate good experiences. I’m sure we can all think of a time where lack of sleep has made us lash out at a co-worker or make a wrong decision. If we don’t take the time to treat our minds and bodies well, how can we expect to use them well?
We don’t need to go on a crash diet, eat pounds of carrots, or hit the gym for 3 hours every morning to work towards being healthy. Start the morning with some stretching or a short jog, add a piece of fruit to your lunch or go to bed an hour early. Small steps make a huge difference when it comes to our health and can make all the difference in determining a good or bad day.
Creativity
Regardless of who you are, or how creative you think you may be, we must take some time to be creative every day. It could be something as simple as sketching for 30 minutes during your lunch break, or a few minutes of free writing. Don’t focus on whether its good or bad. Your creativity is just for you. Try, if you can, to make this time separate form any work you have to do. Even if you are an artist or creative already, it’s just as important to try out a new medium or make something just for fun. The goal here is to channel your artistic sense in new ways and take time away from work or stress.
Taking just a few minutes to be creative each day can be one of the essential practices of our day. Its often in these times of creativity we find the answers to problems we were blind to before. It also opens us up to new ways of thinking. Giving our minds free creative time reminds us that we are not locked into patterns or rules.
Productivity
Productivity is often considered the most measurable quality in judging a good day. Did we get all of our work done? Did we use our time effectively? But, we need to be careful. Often productivity becomes workaholism with a dangerous focus on efficiency. But, productivity is often more concerned with limitations and good choices. The key is choosing to focus on what matters when it matters. It’s not about working hard on everything, but working deliberately on what matters now — not tomorrow, not next week, not next year.
One way to keep your productivity on track is to write down three things you want to focus on completing today, no more and no less. This process forces you to limit yourself to what is important. It also creates a sense of balance. Perhaps once those three tasks are completed, you allow yourself to move onto something else, or, use the rest of your day to take a break. As you implement this practice, you will get a better idea of what kind of tasks you can handle in a day. Sometimes those three tasks might be biting off more than you can chew and force you to take a step back tomorrow. Over time you will find the productive sweet spot of a good day.
Connection
We can fight against it all we want, but its important to connect with others, yes, even for us introverts. I don’t expect us to engage with every uber driver or waiter we encounter, but finding one or two people to connect with personally makes all the difference.
Connecting with others helps to keep us out of our heads and consider everyone else. It reminds us that we have a responsibility not just to ourselves but to others. I think it’s very easy to forget that the work we devote ourselves to is seldom for ourselves, and that requires vulnerability. We are all here to serve others through our work, so take the time to connect with those people. Try to make their day just a little bit better. Listen and give meaningful responses. Give and take. Even a small favor or a few words of support go a long way.
Start by introducing yourself to a new person at work. Share an article or funny post with an old friend. We don’t need to become extroverts. All we need is a little consideration and a willingness to be vulnerable.
Presence
Presence is perhaps the most challenging thing to cultivate. Amongst smartphones and social media, we rarely have any space in our day. Our minds jump from one hit to the next with never a moment in between. I’m not going to beat around the bush, its an addiction, one we all suffer from, and one we need to step back from. The problem is that we have lost the space to think and be present in the moment. These moments of space are vital to self-improvement and a positive day. It is in the moments of presence we consider the world around us and the real consequences of our actions. No space means no reflection. No reflection means no growth.
We don’t need to be hermits to cultivate presence in our lives. Taking a few opportunities a day to step away from it all is a great first step. Try going for a walk around the neighborhood and leave the phone behind. Or, try a short meditation practice each morning. I like to go out into nature to sit, think, and observe. Find what works for you and stick to it. You’ll quickly see how a few minutes of space can clear up any anxieties or problems you cant find your way through.
Courage
The only way to improve is to try something new, experiment. It often involves doing something we would never have considered before — and that takes courage. Courage is the linchpin of the fulfilled day. Acting courageous means putting aside regrets or wants and taking a leap. Maybe it’s bringing a new idea to your boss or sharing your first blog post online. At some point, if we want to improve, the only thing left to do is jump.
At the beginning of every day, write down one scary or vulnerable act you can complete. Start simple. Maybe it’s trying to small talk with a new person, or sending that resume out. Whatever it is, make sure it’s actionable. There needs to be some sense that you are overcoming fear and putting yourself out there. Over time these small steps will help to build your confidence, and you can take on bigger and bigger challenges. Think of it as a game. The more you play, the better you get, and the more fulfilled you get to feel when you’ve done it.
Spend some time considering how you can apply these practices to your everyday life. Even a small step in a few places will show heaps of improvement.
What will you try to work on? Are there other qualities you think are important?
by Owen | Feb 12, 2020 | Impromptu
One of the best things we can gain from our reading practice is a vocabulary of experiences. These are the nifty and perfect little phrases that somehow seem to sum up or represent a fundamental concept in our life or work. We plaster them on our walls, news feeds, and even on our bodies with ink. They become guiding principles and reminders of our development. These epithets reveal some core of our being, clarifying something we’ve always known but never been able to put into words.
They might show up as personifications of a struggle such as Steven Pressfield’s concept of Resistance in The War of Art. Sometimes they represent states of character, like Elizabeth Gilbert’s Trickster in Big Magic. Or a word may perfectly and poetically describe a personal experience, such as the Stoic concept of Sympatheia. Maybe one piece of vocabulary isn’t for you. But chances are someone somewhere has founds the words you are looking for, and they are worth seeking out.
Whatever you come across, hold onto that vocabulary. Write it down and reflect on it. Consider how it might apply to your own life. Try coming up with your own. Perhaps meditating on an experience, you can find some small piece of meaning worth holding onto or sharing with others. These words and phrases may seem insignificant, but in times of stress or uncertainty, they can act as small guideposts, bringing us back onto or revealing the path ahead.
by Owen | Feb 10, 2020 | Impromptu
One of the things I think a lot of people struggle with (especially as students or young professionals) is an anxiety that we have so much more to learn before we are ready to do something. It’s hard not to think that way when the professionals around us seem miles ahead. Publishing, winning awards, or working with world-class performers — and only a few years older than you. So we assume we must be missing something. That there is some knowledge or skill that you have yet to learn. We think if only we can find it, we can be like them.
I felt like this for a long time about my sound design work. I would read dense textbooks cover to cover and ask probing questions at conferences. But every attempt failed. I dug a thousand holes; I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I knew it was something that was going to change everything — if only someone could give me the answer.
I see this today in my peers too. Whenever an industry professional visits or hosts a Q&A, the same questions pop up. “If you could give us one piece of advice…” or “What’s one thing you wish you had known…” they ask, digging another trench. Nevertheless, when their cliche questions are met with cliche answers (“be kinder” or “try more things” or “start early”), the eager students frown, nothing here, they think.
But the truth is the search isn’t one of ambition or drive. It’s one of fear. Because we already know the answer. There is no book or quote or mentor that’s going to change everything and make us “like them.” The truth is that it’s going to take hard work, and experimentation and kindness, and all of those other cliche’s we disregard at every turn. Deep down, we know this, but we are afraid to believe it. Because, if we do have the answers, if we do know what we need to know, then the only thing holding us back (and the only thing we can count on) is ourselves. And that’s a terrifying realization.
There is no magic weight loss plan. It’s just good nutrition and exercise. There is no “perfect” marketing plan for your social media, just experimentation, and development. There is nothing that is going to keep us from failure or take us beyond the “rest.” It’s a matter of work, dedication, and improvement.
So its time to stop searching, stop digging. You know what you have to do. And you’ve known for a long time. What’s important now is taking what you’ve learned and practicing it. Move beyond the mentors and the safety and just try. It’s going to be hard, and scary but its also going to be exciting. There is nothing more exciting than making progress on yourself and your work.
You know the answer. It’s not hidden if we stop avoiding it.
