Regardless of your age, Disney princesses and stories never fail to impart new inspiration, ideas, or life concepts. As I thought about our current topic, a scene from Moana came to mind.
In this moment, after dedicating herself to her community and emerging as an exemplary leader, Moana positions her shell on the ancestral tower, elevating the pillar to touch the sky and cementing her legacy.
The concept revolves around not just absorbing what the world presents to us but also contributing to and enhancing it, leaving behind a more beautiful legacy than what we inherited. Striking the right balance between creation and consumption is key, ideally, it should be leaning towards a surplus of creation.
Now, let’s explore how the principles from the world of Disney can be integrated into our everyday reality. The contemporary world is rife with distractions – whether deemed necessary or as a necessary evil is a judgment we reserve for later contemplation. The crux lies in the excessive consumption of data, content, thoughts, and time. Many of us have personally encountered moments when this inundation leads to feelings of anxiety, comparison, struggles with time management, and ultimately, the frustration of not accomplishing our tasks.
This isn’t meant to steer you away from soaking up content; it’s just the opposite. I fully understand the need to stay in the loop, keep up with the times, and ride the wave of today’s fast-paced world. Without that awareness, we risk falling behind in our careers, relationships, and life in general. But, here’s the litmus test: we need to be mindful of our balance between soaking in information and actually doing something with it. That balance gets wonky when, despite having loads of knowledge and insights, we struggle to kickstart the process of using or applying what we’ve learned. It’s like getting caught in the perfectionism trap, where the “perfect” Day Zero moment to put our knowledge into action keeps slipping away, causing us to get stuck in a cycle of overloading on the information.
Remember, even a Sub-standard Day 1 is better than a Perfect Day Zero!
When we discuss the idea of producing more than we take in, it’s about embracing a different mindset. It involves the beautiful act of directing our energies toward crafting something fresh. Whether it’s expressing your imagination through words, colors, recipes, or any form, it brings a genuine sense of contentment, satisfaction, and a touch of magic.
Now before we dive deeper into this, let’s bust some myths that might have already cropped up in your minds…..
Creativity extends beyond the traditional notions we often associate with adults. It can be as straightforward as watering a plant and witnessing its growth. It might involve constructing a well-thought-out strategic career path or nurturing a relationship by intentionally expressing all five love languages. It’s about being mindful of your time and senses, applying what you’ve recently absorbed, whether it’s a fitness routine, a casual sport, an origami craft, or a simple closet organization method.
Monetization isn’t necessary. When we mention creation in the conventional sense, it’s not solely about curating content. It could be a source of joy derived from simple pleasures, breaking the monotony of our daily work routines. If I mention that it doesn’t necessarily have to be monetized, you might wonder why invest your time in it, right? The thing is, letting your creative side shine can significantly enhance your productivity, satisfaction, and overall joy. Why? Because it reconnects us with our childhood selves, unlocking a natural and effortless potential.
It’s not only these aspects that hinder us from creating something that genuinely brings us joy; there are more factors at play. Reflecting on this, I related it to my own experiences. Among the various activities I enjoy, writing stands out. However, I only began writing more frequently recently, starting with my LinkedIn posts. As I delved into the reasons behind this, I identified two significant factors.
“Ease” – the utter convenience of merely consuming what already exists in the world deters us from delving into our own ideas or information. This mindset of living in our comfort zone, surrounded by things crafted by others, fosters the belief that there’s no need for us to exert effort, dedicated hard work, or motivation. Why bother? Let’s just enjoy it.
The second one is “Fear” – the fear of criticism, of being open to feedback, of attempting to accept what’s deemed as valuable content, of being perceived as relevant, and more. This became apparent when I began being a bit more vocal and visible on LinkedIn, driven by the simple pleasure of staying informed about current industry trends and developing an opinion that could enhance both my communication skills and the reader’s experience.
To break free from the cycle of desiring to do something but struggling to begin, I adopted a few straightforward steps. The first involves understanding the clear purpose of what and why you want to undertake a task. Essentially, what motivates you to embark on a project and immerse yourself in its execution to achieve a specific outcome? This “why” question will serve as your internal fuel, especially during moments of procrastination.
The second step involves creating a ‘Not-To-Do-List.’ Valuing my time, I used to prioritize certain essential tasks, committing not to start them until I completed something I enjoyed. For instance, I planned to write a creative piece early on Sunday morning, scheduling it to be posted during Monday working hours.
Efficient time management often involves pairing a monotonous consuming task with a creative task. Personally, I used to write in my journal in the early morning on weekends while doing laundry on the terrace of my hostel mess. This way, I ensured that I didn’t compromise personal responsibilities for creative freedom. Lastly, it’s crucial to minimize distractions during creative activities, make realistic plans, and avoid overwhelming yourself with tightly constrained goals.
These are the little microhabitats that I implemented to create a healthy imbalance in this ratio of creating/consuming. Feel free to share your own hacks in the comments below, so we can all learn and benefit together!
