I see you
Manifesto for an authentic creative.
Manifestos. It is probably worthwhile to fashion your personal one at least once in your life. It gives you a sense of direction. A compass of sorts that points you to your true north. It is what you are all about.
A while ago I crafted mine for the The Happy Startup School. It has eight principles in it I would like to design my life around. Some of them I already live by to a certain degree. Others I still need to grow in considerably. As such, it is as much a rallying cry to myself right now as it is a manifesto. But it is me. All of it.
How much of it is you?
EXPLORE LIFE We only have one life and it pays to expand our boundaries bit by bit. We should explore what we are capable of, as we are all amazing in our own way. Even when we find it hard to believe so. We can grow by doing things that challenge us, like talking to a stranger on the bus, or simply saying hi if that already takes all the courage we can muster. By getting lost somewhere and asking directions in a foreign language, clutching our lonely planet. By taking an art class. Or, by really plunging in the deep end and learn to dance. The point is to step out of our comfort zone, daily. Leap and the net will appear. Stay curious. Explore freely. Explore life.
Leap and the net will appear — John Burroughs
NEVER STOP PLAYING It is amazing how many of us frown upon adults being silly or playful. We confuse childlike with childish. We have forgotten that we need play, as a very basic need, right until the end. It brings joy to our lives, breaks the monotony and is our greatest source of laughter — that fuel that invigorates us, even when we are not feeling okay. We should never skimp on it and play everything: instruments, board games, improv theater, even tag. Play tag. Get in touch with that inner clown and remember: Never. Stop. Playing.
In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play — Friedrich Nietzsche
FIND BEAUTY EVERYWHERE So often we are blind to the beauty that is all around and inside of us. So, take a moment, close your eyes and see. Truly see the beauty. It can be found in the flock of geese gaggling overhead. It is in the iridescent beetle that crosses our path. We can observe it in the ripples on a puddle on rainy autumn day or in the intricate structure of a decaying leaf. We can find it when we finally reach the summit and are gobsmacked by the stunning vista. It is in the smile of a child and in everybody’s story. Once we look for it, once we open our soul to it, we can find beauty everywhere.
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed — Albert Einstein
CREATE FEARLESSLY Every child is an artist, Pablo Picasso once quipped. The problem is how to remain one once we grow up. We are all creative. Yes, we all are, even we when believe we are not. Creativity is the driving force of our universe. It is the only thing that always has been and always will remain in abundance. We can celebrate it by telling our story, expressing our unique way of seeing things. We should not fear mistakes. There are none. We should venture to make some art, to make some bad art and then some more bad art. Only so will we learn to make beautiful art that touches people profoundly. We can unleash our inner artist, be adventurous and find quirky solutions, as long as we always create fearlessly.
Do not fear mistakes. There are none. — Miles Davis
SHARE GENEROUSLY We share our experiences, the good ones and the bad ones. We share our food and drinks. We share pictures of cats. But, all to often we fail to share effort. Seeing others as competitors, lacking the trust that they will reciprocate our generosity, we refuse to cooperate. We guard and corral the fruits our labor too. We start from scarcity. We create artificial scarcity, while we live in a world of abundance. There is enough for everybody, truly everybody, if we could only share. Gift your time and even your work. Cooperate broadly. Share generously.
Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present — Albert Camus
ALWAYS BE KIND It would be a shame if we spend the only life we have in anger or resentment. There is another way: by being kind and compassionate. By accepting our flaws and those of others, we can learn to get by more harmoniously and find inner peace. Throughout our lives we will be hurt and we will hurt people. We’d better be prepared to say we’re sorry and to accept apologies. Everybody makes mistakes, all the time, so we should be willing to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Ultimately, we are all equal and alike: woman, man, black, white, straight, gay, devout and godless. Everybody is fighting a battle we know nothing about. Be kind, always.
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted — Aesop
EMBRACE VULNERABILITY These days, it seems we can only shout on all media, “have you seen me?” because we no longer dare to ask “do you see me?” fearing they might say no, or worse, yes. In a world of celebrity-fakes, we have lost the ability to feel authentic. And can only project an image of us, hiding our true selves. Yet, if we dare to open our hearts and be seen, we can tap into our greatest strength: vulnerability. It’s okay to lean on friends when you have to. To ask for help or to need a hug. It’s fine to be sincerely moved by someone. We should never shy away from showing our affection. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Embrace vulnerability.
There’s monsters in all of us, but there’s also vulnerability — Finn Wittrock
CONNECT DEEPLY We are only who we are in relation to others. No one is an island. Everybody needs friendship, love and support. Deep down, even if others make us feel jittery and insecure, we all long to connect. We all long for security and that feeling of belonging, of being seen and appreciated, treasured even. It is such a fundamental need that it can happen in a split second. Briefly making eye contact, even with a stranger, is enough to bridge what once was a gap. A simple smile does wonders to forge a bond. To some this comes naturally, others have to work hard at it, but we all have the urge to connect. To connect deeply.
Loneliness is proof that your innate search for connection is intact — Martha Beck
