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Writing is…
Writing is like drawing a map, organizing my thoughts and experiences. Looking back to redraw the trails, landmarks, roads, terrain, places I want to remember and know how to get to, new surprising and compelling places that I may have never experienced without exploring. A map I can use when I feel lost, confused, turned around.
Writing is like medicine, when I feel stressed from thinking too much, when I want to feel discouraged, hurt, angry, sad. Writing is medicine for my soul.
Writing is like a microscope and satellite, it helps me focus down into something so fine and granular, see everything it’s made of. While at times it also helps me see things from a distance, like seeing the Earth from up in the sky, from a bird’s eye view. To see how things are connected, how things interact with each other, help identifying patterns and context.
Writing is a form of transmission, from what’s on the inside to the outer world.
Writing is an expression of the soul.
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Your talent and passion were meant to be shared…
“When you love something you want to share it with the world.”
Maybe the purest words and single greatest reason for sharing and generosity summed up beautifully.
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Creativity
It starts with an idea – it’s imaginary, elusive, intangible, theoretical. It’s a culmination of all our experiences, knowledge, intuition converging at a point, we’d call “inspiration”.
But it’s just an idea, just a thought, hypothetical, until we bring out into the world. Until then, it’s as valuable as having never existed.
Creation is the journey of the idea into the “real” world. We are its guide, protector, nurturer so that it can exist and thrive, be the hope, light and inspiration for others.
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1% Better Everyday
Kaizen. A Japanese concept meaning “change for the better” or “continuous improvement.”
I don’t know if there is a single source to credit the philosophy of 1% Better Everyday but the idea is captivating in its simplicity, in its contradiction to the go hard, get it now mindset.
It’s saying avoid the traps and pitfalls of the “extreme makeover” and “overnight success” mentality.
It’s a process for developing and fortifying strong, lasting habits.
It’s a mindset for growth, development and continuous, sustainable improvement.
It’s an attitude of humility and accepting development as a long-term, goal consisting of hard work and effort – not an easy, instant transformation and over-estimating our own capacity and ability.
It’s a way to take advantage of how our brain and habit formation works. Just 1% more allows for the new growth to become “old” habits, while taking on another 1% growth the next day.
1% can be anything, effort, time, speed, focus, intention, knowledge, skill, awareness, physical, mental, intellectual, emotional… pick any one to get 1% better at that day.
1% is compounding, it snowballs. Theoretically, the idea is that the 1% compounds everyday. That is 1% better everyday for a year, will end up being 37 times better.
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Now & Later
Be present in the moment.
Even just one step ahead is too far, trying to predict and anticipate.
And one step behind is thinking too much of the past.There is a time and place to evaluate and seek awareness for guidance but too much causes anxiety and imbalance.
Living in the present and in the moment, is being in sync with the here and now without echoes from the past and anxiety of what might be in the future.
Life is meant to live.
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Special is not special…
Get back in line.
Don’t stand out.
Who do you think you are?
You’re not special.Being “special” is only reserved for that select few, that rare breed, the top single percent, right? Isn’t it audacious, narcissistic, conceited and arrogant for someone to believe they’re “special”?
How many people hold back their talent, ability, skills because they think they’re not “special”. A talent that can help themselves, the people around them, bring something beautiful and needed into the world. But they hold back, step back in line, never stepping into who they are and need to become. Because they started believing they weren’t special, thinking special is only for a few people and that wasn’t them, or someone told them or made them think they weren’t special.
Special by definition means not everyone can be special. But everyone is special… wait let me rephrase that, there is something special in everyone. There is a talent, ability that is beautiful, shines, gives light to others, that people need, is generous just by the act of bringing into the world. Sharing it with the world gives the person meaning, a feeling of being rewarded and valued. It’s their “special” talent that makes them feel special, unique and needed.
Special isn’t being special, unique or differentiated from others. What’s special is the person that allows that special thing that’s inside of them (and in everyone) to shine, create, be open and free to share with the world.
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One word at a time…
All you need to write is paper and pencil. It’s only through scripts that you learn the specifics about the structure of film and what cinema is.
Don’t look at the peak. Keep your eyes on the ground, climbing patiently one step at a time. Looking at the top, you’ll get frustrated.
The required patience of a writer is to write one word at a time, the forbearance of the dull and tedious task of getting to the last page.
It should not be something painful, but as routine. Most people give up halfway.
Creativity comes from a rich reserve within… creating comes from memory.
Akira Kurosawa, one of my creative heroes. His philosophy, perspectives, storytelling, creativity, stoicism, life, approach, mindset, views on life, humanity & creativity resonate still to this day.