Stop Consuming and Start Creating
The Daily Happier Letter
October 15, 2024
Read time: 10 minutes
There is a small difference.
Consumption kills inner creativity.
We don’t even realize sometimes when we consume.
Whatever you do from my understanding of life, you will have both sides of the coin.
Consuming and creation.
Consumption starts whenever you are the one to scroll through your instagram page, go to a store a buy groceries, listen to videos on YouTube, go outside on a walk perceiving the surrounding, going to school acquiring the knowledge etc. I think you know the drill.
On the other hand creation.
That’s something that changes the game.
Creating means listening and actively being involved in a conversation, creating content to social media, writing, working out, creating your daily schedule.
If you can actively be involved in doing something, it means you snap into creative process.
Yet you need to make the changes not following the standard order.
You need to be actively engaged in the process of making something else out of something different, or making it from the scratch.
It’s essential to your growth.
Okay, without generalizing, because I realize how fun it is to talk a bit about my own experience except trying to be a know-it-all guy.
Activating your creative side.
I started playing video games and watching youtube since… the beginning of times!!!
It sounds not meaningful, because most of the kids nowadays are being brought up having that stuff around. I loved a game called Minecraft. Sooo much. :)
It’s so cool to write about it here, yet this is exactly how my creative side started developing.
In the beginning of my day, instead of thinking about school by mind was occupied with ideas what kind of house I will build in this game or what kind of strategy should I have working on bringing my island to the top of the ranking!
It was wild. Yet thinking actively by planning, scheduling, drawing made me have more fun during my days. I wasn’t waiting just to see what will happen to me, yet I had the control.
Creating gives you control.
You have the power of what will come out of your fingers and your brain.
You are the leader of your thoughts and can make the difference.
If you only want to… the doors to the world stay open! It sounds so funny, because I totally wanted it to sound like from a motivational video of some sort - yet unfortunately it’s true.
I am happy it’s true, but sometimes it overwhelms.
So many options, so many choices to make.
Shut. :D
Anyway.
Activating your creative side is a choice.
You can either stay passive to whatever that is happening to you right know.
Peer influence, parents influence, financial problems, burnout, your body sizing in the way you don’t want it - by giving your power away to consumption instead of acting on whatever you feel like changing… it will not lead you well.
What can you do? Start now.
Don’t get me wrong. I am a lazy ass.
That’s it. You just have to start getting the job done.
Close your eyes. Push yourself a bit further. Sign up to that gym.
That was my way of getting my freedom at the age of 16.
Instead of going with the flow of going to school every day, being tired, coming back to the house and getting the housework done.
I went to the gym. Watched videos on youtube, created my own workout plan. Was it the best idea ever? No. Not at all. Yet thanks to that decision and watching ACTIVELY and CREATING on my own - my brain started working like it has the power to create.
And power to create is the best power you can have.
And it’s accessible.
Even the power to be invisible or flying doesn’t compe… flying is cool.
I am waiting for the plane to England right now.
I am surrounded by many people with stories to share, yet so many of us are either scared to share them or have never taken the upper hand to make their own choices and do something actually meaningful they would be happy to share with us.
So many of us don’t smile for that reason.
For the reason that they feel ashamed of themselves, not to do something meaningful in their life.
That’s why when we hear someone has their own company we feel that they have the upper hand over their life. They create the rules. They are strong because they have the power to create.
I want you to give it a try. I want you to fall in love with creating.
Unexpected love
There are so many books that I love.
I will give you some titles here.
“The Creative Act of Living” Rick Rubin
“The War of Art” Steven Pressfield
“How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” - all of the books from Dale Carnagie are amazing to share with you.
I think reading these books we will be put in front of the choices that will distinguish our personality from being passive to taking action in our lives.
I am scared that not everyone reads books.
So many lost opportunities and not enhanced personalities.
Yet, when we create we start falling in love with who we are.
Starting by falling in love with creating.
It doesn’t begin with the big things.
Having instagram account full of content with millions or thousands of followers.
It starts with opening the Camera app on your phone and recording how you wish someone a good day. An easy example. You don’t have to do it, think about something else.
You see. You have a choice to think.
Take action in the different direction.
It doesn’t mean if you follow what I say right now you don’t create.
If it involves you being engaged and doing things in your own individually impacted way, you are on the winning way to bring your creative side to the surface.
It may be scary, it may feel wrong - yet it’s exactly the road you have to take to live.
Creating is living.
That’s what I would love to end this all, with this quote, yet I know some of you want actual steps how to work on yourself day by day and start making a difference.
Purpose and meaning is what you need
If we have no idea why would we start doing it, we won’t even start.
You say you know why you have to do something or want to do something?
I am telling you - your purpose is not enough.
Or you just got to comfortable with yourself.
Choose what’s worse.
Create your decision.
There are some awesome books all about critical thinking that may help you, the books like: “Critical Thinking”… seriously it’s longer tho like “Critical Thinking your Guide to Argu…” whatever.
Books like “The Subtle Art of not Giving a Fu*k” etc.
There is power in the things and people that surround you, take advantage and find ways to be involved.
Whenever you are in a conversation. → Ask questions (follow ups, get curious)
You are on instagram → add a photo or video from your camera roll (any latest is fine, the creative description and maybe editing will make the whole difference)
If you look in the mirror → give it a thought, what crazy can I do to feel more confident (either start working out, go on a walk, wash yourself, put on some fragrance whatever)
Make choices. What choices? No idea. It’s you, not me.
If I were you, I would buy YouTube premium.
When you involve money, even a small amount like this, you will fill that you are honest to yourself and want to make that change.
Download a playlist about content creating, meditating and running.
Watch 5 videos of each ending with “for beginners”.
You will thank me later.
Now. Go on a walk.
When you come back. Write everything you heard down.
Create a strategy of you getting involved in these activities.
When you have the strategy, start small.
Outcome will come within weeks, yet you need to make that starting push.
Get your running shoes ready, clean your phone gallery, prep a blankie you can meditate on.
Be true to yourself
We just established three types of hobbies for you.
One that will help you stay creative and let you passion driven side out.
One that will keep your body healthy and get you hormones on track.
One that will help you organize your thoughts and heal your soul.
Running is sometimes all of them at once, that’s why I love it so much, yet it’s for another piece.
Take care of yourself.
Do whatever feels right to you.
Peace.
Let’s find that smile and enjoy the life together a little bit more day by day.
Jacob