Initial Thoughts
This is going to be the very first part of something I’m going to attempt over the coming, however many months, to get myself back into the mindset of creating. It’s hard to create, even if it’s something simple like a blog post. I’m fine with journaling, there’s 0% chance that anyone else will see it, a blog on the other hand, while close to 0% for me it is still higher and so there is that extra pressure of creating something that is worth at least some modicum of attention.
The project: Attempt to create more and consume less and hopefully get to the point where I’m at least producing 50% of the amount that I consume (I listen to way too many podcasts so this is probably impossible).
Consuming
I am extracting, in a way, from society instead of adding to it. While most of the things I am consuming are infinite because they’re merely data packets and by me consuming them I am not depriving anyone else from consuming it still feels at least somewhat extractive if I never produce anything myself. I do tend to consume things that I think are good for me in the long run, thought-provoking content, tutorials, philosophy, etc, so it could be worse but it does make me feel productive when I’m not actually producing anything which can be a little dangerous if I spend 100% of my time consuming and not creating anything, I’ll feel creatively bankrupt and it will only get worse with time. The hill will look steeper and steeper to do even the most basic of creating. The amount of effort it took to merely attempt to write my thoughts in a potentially public forum like this felt herculean.
Creating
There’s something therapeutic about finally starting something and working on it, some idea you’ve been itching to create, insanely difficult to start and then extremely enjoyable once you’re in it. These feelings are a great indicator that you’re on the right path. Fall down a 3 hour YouTube shorts bender, write down how you feel after that then do the same after an hour of working on something you’re interested in, the feelings are night and day and the people consuming non-stop wonder why they’re in a depressive funk. I am on the path while I write this even at the very low level that blogging is creating. It’s on the path, it’s a grade of trail that’s very easy but it’s still slightly upward in its trajectory and I’ll feel the sense of accomplishment I feel at the end of a small hike, it’s going to feel good. This is my pursuit.
The Project
This is the details I’m going to commit to here, publicly. I am going to produce one blog a week about some topic I find interesting. This will help me start working on the creativity muscle with a very low-level and easy creative task. It will help my ability to organize my thoughts on a subject I’m interested in and continually improve my ability to convey them. I will then create a video once a week conveying my thoughts verbally to a potentially public venue, so I have to try and tighten up my ability to convey the thoughts on the spot, no notes, no cuts\edits and post it despite the extreme hesitancy I’m already feeling merely thinking about it.
Here’s to my attempt at balancing the scales!
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