Dear Creativity,
Please have the courage and tranquility to care about my freedom.
Revisit your origins. Tell me what you’re really like.
Design your life and craft your soul. Be curious. Fill your canvas. Draw something that would make your 8 year-old self proud. Put your pencil down, draw a line and go.
What skills would you like to learn? What are your hobbies? What’s your favourite scent?
Don’t cry, don’t cry, do cry! Live the life you want to live. But don’t be a jerk. Use your imagination.
Challenge norms. Keep experimenting.
Go on holidays. Take a random Wednesday off. Don’t overthink,
Break the mould. Make what you wish, exist. Start over when needed.
Stay humble, always.
Dream, explore, question, breathe, imagine, write, draw, paint, make it fun and weird.
Flip your perspective, collect memories, smell nature, feel, love, grow!
Learn who you are, who you want to be, why and how. One day at a time 🙂
Que o vento leve, o que não for leve!
With love,
from your best friend!
A poem about the evolving me
My curiosity, ambition and ability to be water led me here – To unexpected places, to scenes that go beyond my wildest imagination. And I’m grateful for this.
But a big knock said “It is time to solidify your soul and use your superpower of being water only from time to time.”
I agreed. Thinking what’s the point of being Superman, if he cannot be Clark Kent?
Being true to myself is a path to success.
So I wrote to my older version “If we were to meet in a sentence in time, it would be: 2 souls who seek control over everything, you have your story and I have mine.”
On my journey, I met a friend called vulnerability. In the beginning i had no hope about us becoming close. But all the new places that I was hanging out, she was also there. So I said to myself: if she likes the same things as me, maybe I could make an effort for our relationship to evolve.
Over time, she introduced me to unique experiences I strangely enjoyed. She taught me that my need for control and managing the unmanageable was the craziest thing I ever attempted.
Her favorite saying is: Whatever you try not to feel, you have to feel at some point. Be brave, you won’t regret it! Those who don’t go through the hell of their feelings, don’t overcome them.”
The path I’ve chosen has left my controlling tendencies behind. Sometimes, I look back and miss those simpler times. I would like to give her the pin I bought in Camden Town saying I want to KI _ _ you.
In case we meet again I would like to ask her. Can you describe a life without feelings? Because I certainly can’t.
Babi
The creative process
This is shit.
This is awesome.
This is tricky.
This is ok.
This is awesome.
This is terrible.
This might work.
This is great.
What are the next milestones?
The protagonist
Set your goals and become the protagonist of your own narrative.
To shape your life story according to your desires, take the reins and steer it in the direction you want.
Two renowned theatrical productions, “Punchdrunk” and “Sleep no More,” captivate audiences by immersing them in the action. Instead of passively sitting in their seats, viewers actively follow the unfolding scenes across various locations.
Only by closely tracking the protagonists can they truly optimize their experience, although even a partial engagement still provides enjoyment.
This parallel can be drawn to our own lives. At times, we find ourselves stuck in moments or situations that don’t align with the life we truly desire. Whether it’s remaining in toxic relationships or engaging in pointless arguments, there are instances where we need to deviate from these paths and seek an alternative route.
In a similar vein, this article delves into the art of screenwriting, exploring the stories found in books and movies. At their core, these narratives revolve around a central character striving to achieve a particular goal.
“It’s a personal growth trajectory. Facing obstacles, making friends, colliding with enemies and learning on the way. The protagonist attains the goal by overcoming its flaws and changing on the way.”
“Stories are our way of making sense of life and drawing deeper meaning from it. We use movies and books to understand our lives, as well as our own reflections. We are all storytellers. Intentionally or non-intentionally we always create stories because without them our lives seem random and meaningless. It’s important how we shape our narratives and where we place ourselves in them.”
Nihan kucukural
In life, you are in charge of your own destiny. You are the main character, not a helpless victim. You have the power to make choices, take action, and determine your own well-being. Your decisions, both good and bad, shape the course of your story. You don’t just react to things that happen to you; you actively create your own path.
When facing uncertain situations or contemplating leaving a specific circumstance, it’s normal to feel lost or insecure. It’s important to pay attention to the details but not get too caught up in them. The past may hold valuable clues that can guide you towards the best path for your journey.
Imagine your life as a blank page waiting to be written. You have the opportunity to craft your own story.
And if you find that you’re not satisfied with the current plot-line, remember that you can always rewrite it 🙂
The feelings of creating a new business
Starting can be overwhelming with so many ideas swirling in your mind, waiting to be transformed into reality.
Unlike typical entrepreneurship resources, I want to delve into the emotional aspect of the journey.
Initially, self-doubt creeps in. We question if anyone would be interested in what we want to create. Fear holds us back from pursuing our dreams, and we consider giving up.
The urge to quit may last a few minutes, hours, or even days. Eventually, your idea resurfaces, and you can approach it with a clearer perspective, refining your plans.
Writing things down is crucial. When you document your plans:
A. You see the messiness and identify areas for improvement. This stage may take months.
B. You gain the confidence to move forward!
With a clear goal and newfound confidence, you believe in your ability to succeed. The next step is to break down the goal into actionable steps. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. We often procrastinate on tasks that we’re uncertain about or lack the necessary resources (money, skills, time) to tackle.
Do what you can, and your confidence will grow through progress, even if it deviates from the order you initially envisioned. Life doesn’t always follow a linear path, so why should a business plan?
It’s time to seek honest feedback from trusted friends. It’s a vulnerable moment, but remember to stay strong. Prepare a set of questions, with the most crucial one being, “Would you use/consume this product?” Consider the cost involved (free, more or less than a certain price). Brace yourself, as you may need to make both minor and major adjustments.
This feedback loop should continue indefinitely. Select the most constructive feedback and carry it with you—it becomes part of your brand. Engaging with clients not only benefits the founders but also allows them to be a part of an exciting journey.
Don’t forget to take breaks and engage in activities that bring you joy. Hobbies, quality time with family and friends—these moments are well-deserved rewards for your hard work.
Self-knowledge is crucial because there will be times when inspiration and motivation wane. Understanding yourself helps you identify the root causes behind these moments. It’s important to develop coping mechanisms to overcome such hurdles.
“The universe will reward you for taking risks on its behalf.”- Shakti Gawain.
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” – Ella Fitzgerald.
Life designer
Living the life we want to live. The concept of Life Design empowers individuals to live the life they truly desire.
The concept was introduced by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans at Stanford University and elaborated upon in their book ‘Designing Your Life‘
Life Design incorporates design thinking methods and journaling to address significant questions and make important decisions regarding various aspects of one’s life, including education, career, and overall purpose.
Just like when using Google Maps, where you need to know both your desired destination and your current location, the same applies to designing your life.
The initial step involves assessing four crucial areas of your life: health, work, play, and love. Health encompasses emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Work encompasses both paid and volunteer engagements. Play refers to activities pursued purely for enjoyment, and love encompasses relationships with partners, children, friends, and pets.
The objective is to find a harmonious balance among these four areas, with the specific balance being unique to each individual. For example, a younger person may prioritize play, while an older individual may focus more on health.
The underlying belief is that everyone has the capacity to live the life they truly desire.
Leading with things we can’t control
“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius.
Micromanagement has detrimental effects on freedom, innovation, engagement, motivation. And the valuable element of uncertainty in our lives.
It is essential to recognize the aspects within our control and learn to let go of those that are not. Emotions are natural, but we should exercise control over the narratives we tell ourselves.
According to an article by Harvard Health, cognitive distortions are internal mental filters that contribute to our anxiety and negative self-perception. Our brains constantly process vast amounts of information, and to cope with this cognitive load, they seek shortcuts.
These cognitive distortions compel us to try to control and make sense of the information we receive. However, a lack of self-awareness makes us prone to blaming external factors and other individuals for the problems in our lives that we could address ourselves.
A beneficial exercise involves setting clear expectations and goals for both our personal and professional lives, and then allowing life to unfold naturally to the greatest extent possible. Embrace the flow of life.
Self-awareness plays a crucial role in discerning what we can and cannot control in our lives. By cultivating self-awareness, we gain the ability to navigate this distinction effectively.
Trust the process
Embracing resistance is the catalyst for progress. By achieving small victories every day, we propel ourselves toward our goals, surpassing even our own expectations.
Failure serves as a stepping stone to success. It fuels our determination and tenacity in pursuing our goals. Failure humbles us and compels us to learn when to delegate and when to change our course.
In my article time to quit, I highlight examples of companies that transformed their business models due to the lack of success of their products. We also witness numerous instances where ambitious ventures by established corporations fail, leading them to change directions.
Resistance can take various forms, such as the fear of failure, self-doubt, or procrastination. We can overcome resistance by continually refocusing on our dreams, dedicating ourselves to our craft, and acknowledging that facing resistance is a natural and necessary part of our journey.
In relationships, we often seek specific attributes and qualities in a partner. However, when we let go of these prerequisites, we open ourselves to living freely and allowing life to surprise us without unnecessary interference.
The purpose and overarching goal should remain steadfast, but being open to changing our course is also a vital aspect of the process. Trusting the process becomes essential.
Destiny
Small decisions taken everyday take you to your destiny. If you don’t plan where you are going, you will find yourself anywhere.
To plan the journey to our destination, first we need to understand and accept where we are now. We have very little control over things, but we can control our mindset.
1. Use your past to boost you, but don’t live in it.
2. Detach from unhealthy habits and relationships.
3. Have courage not fear. Get used to live outside of your comfort zone.
4. Dreaming big and small take the same amount of time. Think on the life you want to have. Write in details.
5. Be consistent, have one plan that you stick with it (not multiples), have discipline.
6. Be flexible and redesign the plan when needed. Create an entrepreneur mindset for your life.
7. Don’t over complicate. Things look complex, but it is part of our work to make it simpler.
8. Don’t take yourself too much seriously. Have fun 🙂
Belief
The power of believing something could happen involves a mix of values such as faith, confidence, trust, persistence, resilience and courage.
Bill Wilson is the co-founder of AA, he created a 12-step program for fellow alcoholics and the spotlight of the program is the belief in a higher power. Since then, Alcoholics Anonymous has helped an estimated 10 million people get sober.
Before founding AA, Wilson, an alcoholic of almost two decades, was told by a friend that God had been his ticket to sobriety. He laughed at first.
Many of AA’s participants are former non-believers or lack religion altogether. So why, exactly, does a program where 7 of its 12 steps require participants to belief in a higher power? The answer lies in how habits are changed.
One of the topics discussed in the book The Power of Habit from Charles Duhigg is how the program works and why some people succeed and others don’t.
The author describes the “Golden Rule of Habit Change”, you have to identify the 3 parts of the habit loop: 1. what triggers the behavior (cue), 2. the routine/behavior and 3. the reward. We must swap out the routine — while keeping the trigger and reward the same.
AA helps its members to create a list of triggers, and to discover what reward they get from drinking. To alter the habit, AA teaches members to rewire their routines so as to achieve the same reward without the unwanted behavior. For example, instead of drinking with a colleague at a bar when stressed, members are encouraged to meet with their sponsor. Often, the “reward” from drinking isn’t being drunk, it’s social interaction or relaxation.
Researchers had been perplexed that the former alcoholics they spoke with pointed God as the key to why they remained sober. But then they realized that God was just one way that people strengthened their cognitive ability to believe. Once alcoholics were able to believe in God, they were able to start believing in the change required for their new habits. AA hadn’t given people a religion, it had given the ability to believe in changes.
Faith is a key pillar to change.