Lessons for Living, As I Learn Them: Focus

Patterns.  

Not the pretty ones that change for the Spring lines. The ones that are ingrained into our daily living so well we just don’t notice them anymore. The past several days have illuminated a few of mine. Isn’t it great how life does that? Rather than doing what I usually do, this post is a bit of a meditation to let it really sink in. 

It goes something like this:

When something doesn’t seem to be working, my tendency is to keep searching, keep reading, keep researching, keep thinking, keep inquiring, keep trying to figure it all out. In short, I just want to know what I’m doing wrong and “fix” it. This is all wonderful in theory, except that doing so rarely fixes or changes anything and rarely gets me closer to my concrete goals. If anything, it just serves as the perfect distraction from really getting down to business. And while going to Meetups and gaining new web skills and learning Spanish are all goals of mine, none of them are currently #1 on my list. And in the case of my #1, all that’s necessary is good old focus.  

Focus. My Achilles’ heel. Nemesis. Whatever. Greek mythology aside, I just want to do it all, have it all, and be it all. But…

“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”  
―Author Unkown

I think many of us have at least five or six different rabbits we’d like to catch and I think a lot of us struggle with zooming in and balancing ideas with their execution. So what gives? I know a handful of people who make achievement and progress look really easy, and the more I observe them the more I see the simplicity, but what specifically works about their approach?

the99percent recently discussed self control and how it relates to productivity and achievement (I highly recommend anything they publish by the way). The part that really stuck out to me was this:

“Way back in 1926, a psychologist named Catherine Morris Cox published a study of 300 recognized geniuses, from Leonardo Da Vinci to Gottfried Leibniz to Mozart to Charles Darwin to Albert Einstein. Cox, who had worked with Lewis M. Terman to develop the Stanford-Binet IQ test, was curious what factors lead to “realized genius,” those people who would really make their mark on the world. After reading about the lives of hundreds historic geniuses, Cox identified a host of qualities, beyond raw intelligence, that predicted “greatness.”

After studying Cox’s findings, Harvard researcher Angela Duckworth identified two qualities that could better predict this greatness (outlined in her TEDx talk):

 

1. The tendency not to abandon tasks from mere changeability. Not seeking something because of novelty. Not “looking for a change.” 

2. The tendency not to abandon tasks in the face of obstacles. Perseverance, tenacity, doggedness. 
 

Okay fair enough, that makes sense. But what about the other five proverbial life rabbits? When ideas and inspiration flow I get pumped up and motivated and should ride that wave, right?

Not so fast.

The stories we tell ourselves about creative achievement nearly always focus on the holy grail of inspiration, and leave out the rather important bits about perspiration.  
―Jocelyn K. Glei 

My high school art teacher gave us print outs of two quotes. I never wondered why she specifically shared these, but I taped them in my sketchbook and have the very copies with me to this day. I am now connecting the dots.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” ―Calvin Coolidge

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back― Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” ―Goethe 

I don’t really have any brilliant conclusion yet, but it’s becoming clear to me that the ability to be present in life is directly tied to the ability to powerfully choose and then subsequently act with intention. And as time goes by, our goals and desires will also shift and change. As for me, it’s a practice. A practice in quieting the noise in my head, letting go of the need to figure it all out, giving up the idea that if I don’t chase rabbit A then I’m missing something, and detaching myself from the need to understand and control things. It sounds so hard but it actually requires much less energy. I will definitely be sharing anything useful as I go. For now, I’m going to go focus on the beautiful simplicity of absolute silence and a long awaited cupcake :)

xoxo

moving mountains

Hello ma babies.  I have a thrift post planned for later but for now, some random stuff. . .

Today I bought Red Velvet's new e-course, Dream Job and I'm reeeeaaaaallllly excited to do the homework.  I've been daydreaming and planning and notetaking about my own business for a long time but I need some structure.  I get easily distracted by insignificant details and I just end up spinning my wheels, changing my mind, and doubting myself.  In many ways, it's a bit silly that I'm taking on another project, but I have to focus on this aspect of my life.  The good news is that I also want to :)

(click images for full-size and source)

on web design, branding, and trusting our instincts

I have a few things on my mind today, peeps.  About creativity.  About being an artist. 

Once again, I am examining my website (and brand) and asking myself what's missing.  I'm not sure I'll ever be 100% content with it, but now I know what's missing: ME!  I think we all tend to compare ourselves to others, and I am no exception.  I easily get caught up in a battle I call, "Am I doing it right?" and it never serves the ultimate goal.  What I know is, that there is enough room in this world and industry for every single one of us, and our full self expression is all that is really required to "do it right".  Remembering this simple concept might be the ultimate practice for me.  

One of my most favorite quotes:

"Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come. It does come. But it comes only to those who are patient, who are there as if eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly silent and vast. I learn it every day of my life, learn it with pain I am grateful for: patience is everything!” -Rainer Maria Rilke

I have to remind myself of this so often that it's written on a gigantic chalkboard that sits between my room and kitchen.  Point is, the only thing to do is be you, however that looks.  

-End soap box-

This morning I spent some time watching the live hangout DJ and Andrew from Showit hosted and I came away so inspired.  I also cruised around the various tutorials for a while and watched the genius DYI tutorial by one of my favorite artists, Promise Tangeman.  Promise is one of those people who I think has mastered the art of being herself and infusing that into her brand in such a graceful way.  In the tutorial (and quite often on her blog) she talks about all of the steps she goes through to create a brand and website.  This reminded me that I've been trying to go from point A to point Z overnight.  No wonder I've been frustrated!  So. . .I finished watching the tutorial and then closed the computer, walked away, and pulled out my vintage books and some of the magazines I've been saving for years (issues of HOW from 2005 & 2006)!  I quickly discovered what kind of images and patterns I'm the most drawn to, which (duh) I had never really thought about before.  SO liberating!  24 hours ago I felt so stuck and now there is a flow of inspiration.  

Soon after the ripping and tearing and marking began, I was drawn to take a look back at my very first website.  I created it after going through a big break up and it was the perfect creative outlet, in -get this- November of 2004.  

Visually it's pretty awful, in fact I'm laughing at how nerdy I was about photoshop filters and rollovers, but at the wise age of 21, here is what I had to say for myself:  

Welcome to quietpandemonium. This site has a few different purposes. First, it is about making some noise in the world, using whatever art form is appropriate. We all have things to share and say and I would like to make this a place to do so. If you have something that you want posted, please email it to me at angela@quietpandemonium.com. Secondly, I would like this site to be a place to educate ourselves about what is going on in the world today, and facilitate in being citizens of the world who work to make conditions better for all. On the Issues & Info page you will find links to information about social, political, and environmental issues. Please let me know if there is a link that you think should be added. As I learn more and more about what personal expression means to me, the more I realize how important it is for me to continuously push myself with my art. That said, this site has also served as a new medium for me. A challenge that has indeed pushed me and now that I have something to show for it, here it is. Now, at 27 I am strangely proud of bold idealism I put out there, how unconcerned I was about what anyone thought, and the fact that at that time I had several friends share music, poetry and art of their own to exhibit on the site.  Amazing what can happen before we get in our own way.  Anyone else out there have a similar experience?  I would LOVE to hear it so please share if you feel so inclined :) xoxo