Dear wonderers,
I constantly ask myself what my ultimate goal as a creator is. (I still don’t see myself as a writer’s writer or an artisan, yet I know that each of us is a creator in our own way.)
After all, why are we doing whatever we’re doing?
One thing that constantly nags my conscious thoughts is that writing, deep conversations, art, popular culture, down to what we choose to eat and drink, or a sound close by, or the trace of a familiar smell etc. can spark a meaningful question in our mind. Questioning our choices and why we think what we think then becomes the ultimate ability and act of creation — everything changes, right?
So why is it so hard to do it?
In today’s letter to all of you, triggered by Adam Grant’s new theory of thinking again, I'm including a couple of creations that made me question my reality:
Writing well will only get you so far as a content marketer. The latest piece on Animalz’ blog is a wake-up call to what it means to do content marketing. After all, the writing bit seems to be so important — you’re trying to make people resonate with your way of thinking, right? Not so much! As Ryan Law puts it: Many content marketers come from backgrounds in literature or creative writing, and while many of the skills and expectations they create are useful in content marketing, many more become a hindrance.
Ultimately, there is no free will? This analysis-paralysis article in The Guardian will make your head spin, for sure. It’s the long-time debate on whether everything is a causal effect of the Universe and the laws governing it or humans have the freedom to choose their “consequences”. I’m with the compatibilists on this one: “we have the free will we think we have, including the freedom of action we think we have … by having some bundle of abilities and being in the right kind of surroundings.”
All that talk about free will actually reminded me of Psycho-Pass, an anime series you definitely need to watch if you enjoy philosophical conundrums: the Sybil System governs all of society, knowing who you are, what job you need to have, when you’re about to commit a crime before you do, etc. (probably sounds familiar). Apart from the smart puns on Greek supernatural abilities, Psycho-Pass questions humanity’s moral compass and decision-making processes, while making a point about how we’re better off being told who to be and what to do. What do you think? Plus, a Wisecrack analysis on the series (with some spoilers) — they are the best at deconstructing cinema and its philosophical claims.
The secular spirituality of everyday life. What if we can have spiritual moments every time we need or want them? Neuroscience says we can: “Although most of us don’t have access to an external ‘egg’ chamber, we can place ourselves at the centre of our own ‘sphere’ in daily life. By rooting ourselves, listening to our highest aspirations, and paying closer attention to our breathing, to the people we love and to the present moment, we can transcend the here and now to create a more ‘spherical’ life that changes our focus from basic needs and fears to values. This is further accompanied by an intentional shift toward a clear ‘goal’ state, represented by the centre of our inner sphere in Paoletti’s model. In this sense, spirituality can be seen as actions that are not separate from daily life, but rather congruently connected to its different aspects – the body, family, career, friendship, relationships, finance and society.”
But what about how we represent the past? While doing research on geisha culture and the constant mix with their oiran counterparts, I found this article that made me wonder, once more, what it means that history is written by “the winners”. And art is created as such. And stories are perpetuated as such. What can that mean for our current worldviews?
Enough questions for one edition. Do let me know what is one piece of creation that made you question your reality or worldview lately :) I would love to read them!